The 1950s witnessed considerable turmoil and change in the concession arrangements in Crater Lake National Park. In May 1950 Superintendent Leavitt referred to some of the problems that the Park Service was having with the Crater Lake National Park Company:
Most of the concessioners were disturbed by some of the new policies and the new form of contract adopted by the Service. Many felt insecure in their investment and their chances of continuing in operation. As a result, there was little effort made for improving existing facilities or constructing new ones. Now that many of the policy features that were questioned have been satisfactorily adjusted, closer cooperation between the National Park Service and its concessioners is to be expected.
The Crater Lake National Park Company finally completed its fire protection improvements at Crater Lake lodge at the beginning of the 1949 season, and these improvements together with the better control of the watchman service provided a reasonable protection to Crater Lake lodge and its guests.
The company was officially advised last winter that it might continue to operate the lodge for the duration of its contract period, which extends for another twelve years, but conditional on the installation of an automatic sprinkling system. If this project is carried out, the National Park Service will have to share the project because the furnishing of an adequate water supply at all times is one of the first and most essential requirements. [59]
During 1950-51 relations between the Crater Lake National Park Company and the traveling public, Park Service, and company employees “reached a new low.” Superintendent Leavitt noted, however, that there had been a “lack of cooperation on the part of the company with the National Park Service” for many years. A special effort to improve these conditions was undertaken on May 7, 1951, at a meeting held in Portland with NPS and company officials in attendance. As a result assurances were given by the company “that every effort would be made at once to improve relations” in the aforementioned three problem areas. [60]
The Crater Lake National Park Company was sold by R.W. Price in 1954 to Harry W. and Harry C. Smith, father and son restaurant operators from Spokane, Washington. The new proprietors made various improvements to concession facilities during the five years they owned the company. A new addition to the cafeteria was completed in 1956, and the dining room, lounge, lobby, sales area, and nine guest rooms in the lodge were remodeled during 1957-58. Other refinements were made to the lodge, and newspapers heralded the fact that it had 114 rooms able to accommodate 294 people and 90 employees. In 1958 the Standard Oil Company constructed a new service station and employees’ dormitory at park headquarters under the terms of its subcontract. [61]
On June 4, 1959, Ralph O. Peyton and James M. Griffin of Portland purchased the Crater Lake National Park Company. Their firm, Crater Lake Lodge, Inc., did not begin operating the park concession, however, until October 1. One of the first innovations introduced by the new owners was a temporary tent-top wood frame-and-floor structure to serve as an ice-salon and staple grocery supply point near the Mazama Campground for the 1960 season. [62]
As the existing concession contract was nearing expiration on December 31, 1960, Park Service officials entered into negotiations with Peyton and Griffin concerning new contractual arrangements. One of the principal issues discussed in these meetings was the deteriorating condition and future use of the lodge. Both sides felt that the lodge was not worth expending large sums for rehabilitation, modernization, and fire-proofing. For a period of time the Park Service considered purchasing the outmoded lodge and converting it into a visitor center with a museum, information room, and auditorium for lectures. If this were done the concessioner would build a two-story, 250-guest motel across the parking area east of the lodge and construct additional dining facilities. Nothing came of these negotiations, and a new contract was approved for the park concession in Fate 1960. [63]
