Active construction and development operations continued at Crater Lake during the late 1970s and 1980s, designed in part to follow recommendations in the general management plan. In 1979 construction of West Rim Drive was completed, thus improving automobile circulation. During the early 1980s life-safety measures were carried out at the lodge to assure visitor protection. Various improvements to park housing and recreational facilities for personnel were begun in 1984. In 1983 planning was commenced for extensive structural renovation of the Ranger Dormitory, the Mess Hall, and the Administration Building. Actual work on the Ranger Dormitory and the Mess Hall did not begin until 1985 and on the Administration Building until 1986.
The adaptive rehabilitation of these buildings restored their outstanding architectural features, while making them more usable for contemporary purposes. It has also resulted in a new appreciation of the merit of the Munson Valley structures among the park staff. In November 1986 the park administrative offices were moved into the remodelled Mess Hall, which was renamed the Canfield Building. Two months later, the Interpretive Division moved into the remodelled Ranger Dormitory, which was renamed the Steel Center. Interior remodelling of the Administration Building was completed in October 1987. The administrative offices then moved back to the Administration Building, which was renamed the Sager Building. [66]
The 1977 General Management Plan left the question of lodging open for resolution at such time as the existing lodge had outlived its useful life. In February 1984 an NPS planning document described the status of the lodge and Park Service planning initiatives related to its future utilization:
Extensive studies . . . have indicated that the existing lodge cannot be renovated for public lodging in a cost-effective manner. Costs to provide structural stability and bring guest rooms up to modest contemporary size have escalated to nearly $8.6 million in 1984. The number of rooms would have to be reduced from 80 to approximately 56. In addition, the stability of the caldera in the lodge area is questionable. Although a catastrophic failure cannot be predicted, continued movement will require annual (and sometimes extensive) maintenance. Extensive improvements have been made to increase visitor safety, but ultimately, its use as a hotel must be discontinued. . . .
It is recognized that the development of alternative lodging facilities could very likely lead to a decision to demolish the lodge; however, it must be emphasized that this decision has not been made. The National Park Service intends to pursue a thorough review of alternative uses and funding sources for the lodge before making a determination as to whether the lodge has reached the end of its useful life.
In conjunction with the lodge studies an NPS planning team from the Denver Service Center began formulating a development concept plan for the Annie Spring-Rim Village corridor of the park. This plan was to provide guidance for the orderly progression of improvements within that portion of the park and constitute an amendment to the General Management Plan. The development concept plan was necessary because desired actions contained in the approved General Management Plan had been delayed while the lodging issue remained unresolved. Although the emphasis in the proposals for the development concept plan was on lodging facilities, the major result of the new planning effort would be a significant improvement in the visitor experience in the Rim Village area and the reduction of conditions having a negative impact on the natural environment and aesthetics of the Rim Village area.
