Vista House Historical Reference

The View From The Side

Overlooking the mighty Columbia River. You can see the river in the background.

1954 Wooden Vista House

The Original Vista House was made entirely of wood. It was built at the highest point over 600 feet above Columbia River.

Vista House

Here is an early view from the Hook Lawn and if you look closely you will see that these paths are not yet made of stone.

1948 Lookout

The spot that the Vista House is built on was used as an observation lookout for enemy aircraft.

View from Hook Lawn

A more contemporary view from Hook Lawn from the 1980s. As you can see the tree continue to grow in this area.

Wishing Well Bench View

View from the wishing well bench up to Vista House taken in the 1950s. You can see the steep grade. Imagine what was like climbing up without handrails. This bench was featured in a national magazine.

Wishing Well

Taken in the early 1950s the wishing well has always been a popular attraction for both young and old alike. Once a year we remove the coins and the monies are used for garden enhancements.

Old Postcard Before Handrails

Can you imagine traversing the Gardens in the 1940s before hand rails? When the Gardens first opened there were no handrails and over the years they have been added for safety. This picture shows the view of the valley in the early 1940s.

Below Lookout Viewpoint

Before handrails! The stone paths were not intalled yet either. This photo shows the area below before the warehouses, Odabashian Bridge and Rocky Reach Dam which widened the Columbia River after it was built.

Wooden Vista House

Early Post Card shows the sute before landscaping and paths were installed. Herman's dream had always been to build a reproduction of a medieval castle here at the highest point in the Gardens. We will let you decide which is more in fitting with the Gardens.

Look Magazine, October 1945

Rofus Woods, owner of the Wenatchee Daily World guiding guests around the Gardens.