The Auto Park and Motel Era
By Curt Cunningham

In the early days of travel through the Pacific Northwest after a long day of walking or riding a horse you would make a camp before darkness came, and if you had a horse or oxen you hoped it was near some grass and water. In the 1850's there were few places a traveler going between the Columbia river and the Cowlitz Landing could stay the night and get a bite to eat. The first was west of Castle rock at a place called the Jackson Inn, which was run by William Jackson. His place was a nice two-story frame house. The next place was on the opposite side of the Cowlitz river at the mouth of the Toutle called Hard Bread's Hotel. This place was just a log cabin and you were served boiled salmon and hard bread. The last place a traveler could stay the night along the Cowlitz river was at Fred Clark's hotel at the Cowlitz landing.

After the departure from the Cowlitz Landing, it was 10 miles to the first stop on the Cowlitz Trail, which was known as the "Highlands." It was the residence of John R. Jackson who was very hospitable and assisted many a weary traveler. The next day after a hearty breakfast served by the Jackson's, it was 15 miles to the next stop called the "Skookum House," which was owned by Judge Sidney Ford on Ford's Prairie. The Skookum House was just north of Centralia. Here the traveler would enjoy the fine hospitality of Uncle Sid. After Ford's Prairie the next hotel was at Grand Mound where they would be attended to by J. W. Goodell or Benjamin Yantis. From there it was a good days ride to Olympia and Tumwater.

Many settlers traveling the muddy highway to Puget Sound had no money for a hotel and would camp out under a tree or any other place where water and grass was available. One such camping spot was just north of Claquato. In the cemetery there is an old tree known as the "Pioneer tree." This is where many a traveler spent the night. Near the Jackson Inn at Castle Rock there was another tree used as a camp spot which became known as the "Love tree." This was where a young couple met and fell in love. About 4 miles north of the Jackson Inn on the Military road was a place known as 4 Mile Springs.

From the 1860's to the completion of the Northern Pacific in 1874, stage lines would have stations along the route for their passengers who were worn out from being jostled around in an open wagon while traveling along a bumpy muddy road. These stations would serve them a hot meal and provide a bed for the night. The stage lines were using the Military Road and places like the Jackson Inn, Pumphrey's Hotel at Olequa, McDonalds Station at Napavine, the Davis place at Claquato, Tullis' Station At Centralia, The Grand Mound hotel and Hodgdon's Station at Tenino, would put travelers up for the night after feeding them a good meal.

In 1874 the railroad took away the need for these rest stops and travelers now stayed in the hotels which were located in the towns along their route. Travel back then was expensive which prohibited many from going too far from home unless it was needed.

The Auto Park

The automobile enabled people to travel cheaply, and the new "auto tourist" could "see" the country far from their homes. Many towns and cities quickly recognized the business potential of these new tourists, and began to cater to this welcome invasion of their sleepy little towns. Many municipalities would set aside some vacant land and allowed these auto tourists to park their cars and set up a tent for the night at no charge. This made overnight travel almost as cheap as if you just took an afternoon drive, and many began to see places they've never seen before.

It wasn't long before these vacant parking lots began to offer amenities such as, BBQ pits, running water, and toilets. Hot showers and gas for cooking stoves if they had them would be a nominal charge. Private individuals soon got in on this new "tourist industry" and constructed "auto parks" which included a store, gas station, camping spots, cabins, hot showers, cooking stoves and toilets. Those near lakes offered swimming, canoeing and fishing. Maggard's Auto Park at Castle Rock, Midway Park near Easton, Camp Mason on the Snoqualmie river, and Keechelus Inn on Snoqualmie pass were some of these resting and recreation places.

On February 23, 1919 the Oregon Sunday Journal printed an article about these new "auto parks" which were being established in the region. They said in part that; "It Is generally recognized that it is "good business" for a municipality to provide camping facilities for "automobile tourists or gypsies." So well is this principle established that there is now across the continent a chain of camping places. In nearly all instances free water and fuel are provided, and in many places the grounds are lighted and gas for cooking is furnished by meter at a small charge. In addition to the public camping grounds there are also private enterprises where all facilities are to be had for a nominal charge. In the northwest it is possible for the tourist to find a public camping ground all the way from Ashland to British Columbia every night along the main highways."

"Olympia, the state capital, offered the auto tourist free camping sites, in Priest Point park, there was free wood, free water, free access to clam beds and bathing beaches, and a limited number of free outdoor cooking stoves. The park contained more than 100 acres, much or it was in its native woodland state. Hundreds of gallons of wild berries (blackcaps and vine blackberries) were picked in the 1919 season in the park by visitors. The park has nearly a mile of frontage on Puget sound, a considerable portion of the beach containing different varieties of edible clams. All through the park are seats and tables for picnic parties. The Swiss chalet erected by a local brewing company at the Portland exposition, was transferred from there to the park and was used for dancing parties.

Water from two creeks which run through the park was piped to all parts of the camping sites, and numerous faucets were located close to the large concrete stoves with sheet iron tops which were used in season by local campers and tourists. A well equipped playground was a special attraction to the children. Many Olympia people camped months during the summer at the park, a slight rental being charged them for the privilege. No charge is made to tourists. The park, while within the city limits, was about one mile, over a macadamised road, from the paved Pacific highway, which runs through Olympia.

The Motel

By the 1930's at the entrances to the major cities and towns the Pacific Highway would be lined with motels, restaurants, and service stations. Back then gas stations were called service stations because they offered full service car repair shops. The auto tourist now provided thousands of jobs for people across the country.

Motels were low cost, and provided few amenities. But they became popular and served those who couldn't afford or didn't want to stay in the fancy expensive hotels. The word "motel" comes from combining the words motor and hotel. The Daffodil motel near Fife is one of the oldest continuously operated motels on the Pacific Highway. The place opened in the 1940's about 2 miles north of Fife at the northern entrance to Tacoma. Back then the Pacific Highway leading into Tacoma from the north as well as from the south was dotted with neon signs advertising a good nights sleep.

After the freeway was completed in the 1960's, the traffic patterns changed and many of the motels which were not close to a freeway off ramp lost business, which forced many to close up, or become seedy places where prostitution and drug dealing took place. The Pacific Highway between Seattle and Lynwood along Aurora Avenue and the highway between Sea-Tac and Federal Way were the most famous of these "strips" during the 1970's and 1980's.

In 1963 Before the freeway was opened across the Puyallup river Mrs. Harold Fernald who was the manager of the Daffodil Motel at the time said that business hadn't suffered because of the freeway.

Today the new motels and hotels are built at the entrances to the major cities near the freeway exit ramps, but there are still those few motels along the old Pacific Highway, such as the Daffodil motel and the Biltmore motel which have been in business for many years, which still offer weary travelers a good nights sleep.