[JonnyQuest]

Passed by the T-bird lodge on a hike 10+ years ago, and it was in decrepit condition back then as well. Explored around it a bit (despite the warning signs) and found a door ajar. So, I snuck in to reminisce. I have fond memories of grabbing a hot drink and warming up in there by the fire while taking night skiing lessons back in the winter of 1979 & 1980.

[snoqpass]

The lodge has been torn down and the material is being removed from the mountain, two of the photos are from this week and the other is from last winter

[snoqpass]

One more from a couple weeks ago

[snoqpass]

Bert A Tucker was one of the architects who designed the Thunderbird Lodge, he also designed some other interesting structures https://www.docomomo-wewa.org/architect/tucker-bert-a/

[kw]

Thought I would add since I didn't see this elsewhere, adding a "food and beverage outlet" to the top of Wildside is now part of the Summit's "Middle Term" project list on their website (https://summitatsnoqualmie.com/summit-2030). I'm guessing the new restaurant will be significantly smaller, but it will be interesting to see what they do up there in the coming summers. Replacing Wildside with a realigned quad is higher on their priorities, so it's possible the demolition was in part done to add space at the top for a new top station.

[Randito]

It will be interesting to see what they do. They have been offering scenic chair rides on Pacific Crest this summer. Which seems whacky to me. However a realigned Wildside chair with easy access from the parking lot to a facility near the old Thunderbird lodge has some appeal , particularly if it has a large area with Guye Peak and Snoqualmie Mtn as the backdrop. It would be a scenic place to have a beer, but more profitablely operated as a wedding venue. Crystal started offering weddings at their mountain top lodge after they installed the gondola and my understanding is that it has been 100% booked since opening.

[Stones]

Well, that's sad. Sorry to see it go. My fondest memory of the Thunderbird Lodge was back in the late 1990s. The firm I worked with at that time had American Tower as a client. We were evaluating environmental conditions of many potential cell tower sites in the region. One of them I looked at was the Thunderbird Lodge. It was May, the ski area was closed but there was still plenty of snow. I brought my backcountry skis to reach the lodge. A ski area employee offered to take me up on a snowmobile. "Nah, I'll just skin up." It was a sunny spring day. After I looked around the lodge, took photos, made notes, I skied down on some perfect spring cheater snow. One of my better days at work. Over the next few days I looked at a few more potential sites in South Cle Elum, Thorp, and Ryegrass Summit.

[snoqpass]

[Randito]

[kiliki]

[Randito]

It's easy to be jaded by experience-- but from a cruise ship tourist point of view , the view of Guye Peak and Snoqualmie Mtn from the old Thunderbird lodge location is objectively quite nice. I wouldn't mind drinking a beer while enjoying that view. Typically semis aren't using their exhaust brakes crossing Snoqualmie pass, those tend to get applied while they are crossing the Denny Creek Bridge.

[snoqpass]

I lived at the pass for a little over 25 years and they most definitely Jake going EB and don't get me started on the ones with the giant exhaust pipes...

[Randito]

[thunderhead]

Good to see that eyesore gone. Whatever you want to say about its architecture or future plans, this particular structure passed its point of no return decades ago...

[snoqpass]

Just about gone