Big Four Inn, A Wilderness Playground For The Wealthy
Big Four’s Grand Opening was on July 2, 1921 with the doors opening at dawn. The Hartford-Eastern Gas Car, known as the “Galloping Goose” and trailer transported those who lodged at Big Four from Hartford, which was a little north of Lake Stevens, to their wilderness paradise. The only way to this paradise retreat was by rail, it will be decades before any of the roads will be built. Money seemed to be no obstacle in the creation of this lavish Facility. Bethel and Wyatt Rucker, the creators of Big Four Inn, transported all of the necessary lumber from their sawmill at Hartford via the railroad. Celebrities and the wealthy flooded to this remote inn, willing to pay the extravagant price for this grand wilderness experience set amidst beautiful natural surroundings.
Perry Creek was dammed to create a large lake and provide electricity for the lodge. All of the rooms in the inn, including cottages and cabins, had hot and cold running water. The ice caves, a natural feature formed in the snow banks at the foot of the mountain, were a popular attraction at the Big Four Inn. The grounds around the inn had tennis courts and a nine hole golf course, all irrigated by Perry Lake.
In spite of the troublesome railroad plagued with washouts and snow avalanche it was kept open at great cost keeping this retreat for the wealthy open year round. By 1924, 6,000 guest checked in to enjoy a wilderness experience playing golf, hiking the mountains, horseback riding, enjoy libations in the lobby by the massive fireplace, fine meals and evening dances. In wintertime many came to ski or toboggan, horse drawn day trips and more. The cost was $6.00 for two to stay at the lavish inn, including finely prepared meals.
When the stock market crashed in 1929 the wealthy no longer traveled to the wilderness paradise of Big Four Inn. In September of 1942 the U.S. Coast Guard occupied the inn as a “Duty Station” to train enlistees and would continue occupation until June of 1943. The inn changed hands several times throughout it’s history. At one point it looked like it would again reopen but poorly maintained roads and questionable transportation prevented this.
On Wednesday at 6:30 am, September 7th, 1949, Big Four Inn burned to the ground in a conflagration that narrowly missing the fuel tanks for the Hartford-Eastern Gas Car, which could have caused a major forest fire.
Today you can go to the Big Four Picnic Area and see what little remains of the big dream of the Big Four Inn, such as sidewalks to nowhere and the large fireplace.