Lodging

Posted by Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

Mazama Motor Inn

Our family of two adults, two teenagers, and a yellow Labrador Retriever with really bad breath, was trapped in a beige mini van for nearly six hours. We were taking a road trip to Oregon and our first night was spent at the Mazama Motor Inn. Unfortunately for us, we were shut out of Crater Lake Lodge. It seems you need to be one of those advance planner types to get a reservation at the Lodge. If I’d known we were planning on visiting this national park, I could have made reservations on-line up to 13 months in advance.

We’ve been road tripping to Oregon for at least 20 years, yet we’ve never taken the kids to Crater Lake. The National Park is located in Southern Oregon on the crest of the Cascade Mountain range. It’s 100 miles east of the Pacific Ocean and 110 miles from the California border on 1-5, if you’re into random statistics.  My kids wanted to know how long we’d be in the car and if there was cell service and a TV at Crater Lake. I wanted to know if there was internet access and were pets allowed.

For those wanting to get away from it all, there is no reliable cell service, no telephone or television and no air conditioners at Mazama Motor Inn. For those wanting to take the dog, Crater Lake doesn’t offer pet-friendly lodging. The cabins at Mazama Village are located seven miles from the rim of Crater Lake in a grove of Ponderosa pines, fifteen minutes by car to the lodge. Each of the 40 guest rooms has one or two queen beds and a private bath, but I gotta tell you, this is a no-frills type of facility. On my comment card, I noted that the shower control knob was very difficult to operate. The gentleman next to our room said his shower didn’t work at all.

Mazama Cabin I

Our room #3, one of four rental rooms in building “I,” had two queen beds and cost $126. Check in was at 4:00 p.m. and I haven’t made our dinner reservations were at 6:15 at the Lodge. FYI, I asked about dress code and it was casual. I also asked if there was a kid-friendly, hamburger, pizza, type of option, menu and there was a long pause.  The hostess mentioned Annie Creek’s buffet, but it was not within walking distance of the lodge. We decided to dine together at the Lodge and that was a great decision. The restaurant was family-friendly and the food was very good.

Mazama Motor Inn  1 (888) 774-2728

569 Mazama Village Drive

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon 97604