Off the Beaten Path: Exploring the Vista House and its history
The Vista House sits at an elevation of about 5,900 feet, and there are spectacular 360-degree views of the Cabinet Mountains and the Selkirk Crest in North Idaho.
SPOKANE, Wash.—The Inland Northwest has some pretty spectacular views, and one of the best spots to take it all in is from the top of Mount Spokane.
At the top of the local mountain is one of the most iconic land marks in the region: The Vista House.
The Vista House was built back in the 30s, and it has been a tourist destination for decades.
But that does not mean everyone is familiar with its true history.
“There was this magnificent view up here, there was a road to the top, and people could drive up to it," said Cris Currie, president of the Friends of Mt. Spokane State Park. "So there needed be some kind of developed attraction here. So they built the Vista House, and then at the last minute they decided to put a fire lookout on the end of it so it would actually be functional for some serious purpose other than just having tourists hang out here."
There is a popular myth that said the Vista House was a Civilian Conservation Corps project.
But that was just not true. Currie says the people who built it were skilled stonemasons, not young boys without any skills. And it has always belonged to Washington State Parks.
The rocks that went into the building came straight from the mountain. Contractor Einar Fieldstead led the project.
His great nephew, Steve Tesdahl, said there is a lot of family pride in the house.
“Oh, it's awesome, not only the family pride part of it, but just the community," Tesdahl said. "In addition to enjoying it for the winter months, we love coming up here and mountain biking and hiking in the summer. So, we spend a lot of time, and there is a feeling of a personal connection, but it's just more of enjoying the area and the environment that's up here."
Visitors enjoy the Vista House, no matter the season.
In the summer, couples say “I do” inside the building and pose for photos outside with mountains as a backdrop.
Hikers and horse riders also make their way the top when the weather is warm.
The Vista House sits at an elevation of about 5,900 feet, and there are spectacular 360-degree views of the Cabinet Mountains and the Selkirk Crest in North Idaho.
When the seasons change, visitors make their way to the Vista House by snowmobile, snowshoes, skies, or boards.
