Forest Service seeks concessionaire to reopen Mondeaux Lodge in May 2022
The Mondeaux Lodge could reopen for business as early as next spring.
On October 15, the USDA Forest Service announced that the multi-year renovation of the lodge complex was 98% complete and that the forest service was taking applications for concessionaires to run the popular vacation destination including the restaurant and grounds.
According to a statement from the Forest Service, they are awaiting delivery of the final supplies to complete the project and have the goal for the selected concessionaire to open by Memorial Day Weekend 2022.
“The Mondeaux Dam Lodge has been home to weddings, reunions and other events and is important to the local community it serves,” said District Ranger Dan Eklund. “We’re as excited as anyone that this treasure of a site will reopen to the community soon.”
The Lodge is a gem of the forest’s Medford-Park Falls Ranger District, about 20 miles northwest of Medford. Originally built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, it’s on the National Register of Historic Places. The forest worked with the State Historic Preservation Office to ensure that renovations maintained historical integrity.
For more information on how to submit an application for the concessionaire permit visit https://go.usa. gov/xMH5f . Alternatively, search for CHENI10132021 at https://sam.gov.
Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. CST on December 1, 2021.
Under the management of previous concessionaire Steve Kalmon, the Mondeaux Lodge became a destination restaurant for visitors as well as locals. The lodge overlooks the 411-acre Mondeaux Flowage and is located adjacent to the dam and recreation area including picnic, playground and beach areas. The lodge is a focal point for the larger recreation area which includes Eastwood, Spearhead, West Point and Picnic Point campgrounds as well as the dispersed sites within the surrounding National Forest.
The Lodge has been closed since fall 2016 when Kalmon retired. At the time, the Forest Service decided to make necessary upgrades and repairs to the building in order to continue its operations for years to come.
The lodge was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and includes a restaurant building, caretaker’s residence and garage. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The renovations of the Mondeaux Dam Lodge are being coordinated with the State Historic Preservation Offi ce (SHPO). The Forest Service is working closely with the SHPO to ensure proper steps are taken in design so that the Lodge is not only repaired for enjoyment of future generations, but the historical integrity and feel of the buildings are not lost.
This aging facility was starting to show significant signs of deterioration to the foundation and upon further investigation, the Forest Service confirmed that water was infiltrating the building’s crawl space and compromising the integrity of the entire structure.
Starting in 2017, steps were taken to expose the foundation and stop runoff from further deteriorating its structural integrity. At the same time, efforts were placed on finding a permanent solution to repair facilities while maintaining historical integrity.
The reopening of the Mondeaux Lodge has been eagerly anticipated by area residents and those involved in the tourism industry in the county as they note its ongoing importance in serving the region and its visitors.
