Oregon Caves Chateau Named Among America’s Most Endangered Places as Fundraising Efforts Intensify
The National Trust for Historic Preservation recently named the Oregon Caves Chateau one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2025. Following the unfortunate closure of the Chateau in 2018, a committee was formed to assist with public-private fundraising efforts to support its repair and restoration.
Oregon Caves Chateau Fundraising To Restore One of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places
Located in the Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve in rural southwestern Oregon, it is the first place in Oregon to be included on the list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Places since the program’s inception in 1988.
It has been part of Restore Oregon’s Most Endangered Places program since 2016.
Named one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2025, the Chateau has significantly contributed to the rural economy of nearby Cave Junction and its surrounding communities for 91 years.
Construction started in 1933, and since opening in 1934, the Chateau has provided overnight lodging and concessions to local and international visitors.
An example of rustic “Parkitecture,” as most building materials were sourced from the site and surrounding communities, ensuring the seamless blending with its heavily forested surroundings, the National Historic Landmark Chateau’s designer, Gust Lium, rerouted Cave Creek through the building to create a spectacular water feature in the Chateau’s formal dining room. A year later, Frank Lloyd Wright designed and constructed the famed Fallingwater House.
Due to the need for extensive repair and restoration, the Chateau’s closure in 2018 halted the economic benefits it had been supplying.
In the meantime, the need for additional unplanned structural and significant upgrades dramatically increased the total project cost, and the Oregon Caves need significant funding to resume operations and support local economic revitalization.
As the only lodging in the region, the closure significantly affects the local economy and the area. It also leaves the Chateau vulnerable to long-term deterioration by sitting empty.
The Friends of the Oregon Caves & Chateau, an official partner of the National Park Service (NPS), has convened a Blue-Ribbon Committee to raise awareness and assist with public-private fundraising efforts for the repair and restoration of the Chateau.
Substantial funds have already been raised to restore historic doors, original balconies, the Monterey furniture collection, original lighting, and more.
To ensure the long-term preservation of the Chateau, the NPS is collaborating with a team of architects and engineers to design plans for significant repairs and enhancements to the building’s foundation and structural support systems, and the Blue-Ribbon Committee is planning a public-private capital campaign to launch in the summer of 2025.
Once the Chateau is restored, it will reopen for public use, providing lodging and concessions to the region and visitors to the Monument. To support the Oregon Caves Chateau:
- Send photos and stories of your past visits to [email protected];
- Take a cave tour this summer: Details are on the NPS website
- Join the Friends for a celebration event on July 12th
- Donate to the Friends of the Oregon Caves & Chateau
Governor Tina Kotek said, “The Oregon Caves Chateau project reflects what Oregon does best… now let’s get to work to see this critical restoration through.”