The development concept plan effort had four principal objectives. These were:
To provide a quality, year-round interpretive program
To provide a quality lodging/camping experience
To reduce visual intrusions/congestion in the Rim Village area
To reduce environmental impacts in the Rim Village area that could affect the Crater Lake ecosystem
To obtain these objectives the planning effort was based on seven underlying assumptions:
An adequate facility is needed within the park to provide audiovisual program, exhibit, and information services for summer and winter visitors.
A safe way to view the lake in the winter is essential.
Access to the Rim Village area in the winter cannot be guaranteed at all times.
Overnight lodging in the park is a desirable visitor experience; year-round lodging should be provided if feasible.
Some variety in accommodations and price range should be provided.
The existing lodge cannot be renovated to provide continued lodging in a cost-effective manner; alternative uses for the lodge structure and the possibility of its demolition will be explored.
Parking/roads will be removed from the Rim Village area to the extent feasible.
Any new construction carried out in the park under the development concept plan would follow design guidelines based on the rustic architectural theme already established in the park. The guidelines would address the basic principles of the rustic style and significant features of the style’s historical application in the park. [67]
By the spring of 1985 it had become clear that all of the issues addressed in the February 1984 planning document could not be resolved in a timely manner. Thus, an Interim Development Concept Plan incorporating noncontroversial elements of the document was approved in May 1985. This interim plan contained development and expansion proposals for the Annie Creek/Mazama Campground, Munson Valley, and Rim Village areas. New studies on the lodging issue and rehabilitation of the existing lodge for “rustic” accommodations were to be conducted. Camper services were to be provided adjacent to the Mazama Campground in the area south of the campground entrance road, including a general store, snack service, shower and laundry facilities, gas station, and registration office for the budget cabins. The cabins would be developed next to the camper services, replacing the deteriorated cold water cabins in the Rim Village area. Up to 50 additional camp sites would be designed for the Mazama Campground, and a group campsite was slated at the abandoned Annie Spring Campground, pending studies to determine if there was potential for such development to contaminate the park water source at Annie Spring.
The plan called for various changes at Munson Valley. Visitor information services would be relocated from the Administration Building to the adjacent former Ranger Dormitory. This structure was already in process of being remodeled to provide additional staff offices and work space in addition to larger visitor information facilities. The existing gasoline station was to be removed and the site redeveloped to provide a landscaped parking area.
Several improvements were planned for the Rim Village area. These included removal of the dilapidated cold water cabins behind the cafeteria building and the connection of all facilities in Rim Village to the Munson Valley wastewater treatment system. [68]
