The Village of Government Camp is located at the 4000-foot level, on the southerly slopes of Oregon's best-known and largest mountain, the majestic Mount Hood. Approximately one hour east of Portland, This little village had its beginning with Sam Barlow, who rather than pay the high cost of boat transportation down the Columbia River, made a new route from The Dalles across the mountain and into the valley.

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Four years later an army party was forced to abandon wagons and supplies when they were hit with heavy early snows. They set up a camp that early travelers referred to as a "Government Camp." With early and consistant usage the name stuck and the village is still called Government Camp.

The first homesteaders, Oliver Yocum and William Steel, were the first to fulfill the residency requirements and build a log cabin. Yocum platted downtown Government Camp. Cottages were soon scattered through the town.

Government Camp was primarily a summer resort prior to the opening of the winter road in 1926. In fact, the summer resort dominance continued for a number of years. There were no ski lifts or evern rope tows until the later 1930's. The large winter weekend crowds came to see the exciting jumping events held by the Cascade Ski Club at Multorpor.

Multorpor Mountain and Mt. Hood Skibowl are among the oldest centers of skiing in the country. Once the winter road was opened in the late 1920's, Portland's large Scandinavian population established the Government Camp as a recreational area for skiing and ski jumping. During the 1930's the Civilian Conservation Corps cleared the burned over forest of snags from the area behind Government Camp and designed a ski shelter at Multorpor that still stands today. Multorpor-Skibowl continues to be an area of winter recreational fun on Mt. Hood.

Seventy-five years after a government work party came to a snow-caused halt in the shadow of Mt. Hood, Government Camp remains a diamond in the rough.

GOVERNMENT CAMP TODAY

The core area of Government Camp is the central commercial and mixed use district located along Government Camp Loop Road which serves as the business loop of Highway 26. Sometimes referred to as Main Street, the Loop Road was once the main highway before the existing bypass was constructed about 45 years ago.

With $5 million recently invested in a new water and sewer system, expansion was set to begin. And, Collins Lake Resort at Mount Hood represents the first new residential housing development in Government Camp in 31 years.

Government Camp forms the core of the summer snow ski and board community and has been the home to the United States and other ski teams from around the world. Nearly all equipment manufacturers for the ski and snowboard industry set up business here to welcome the world class athletes who filter through every summer. Government Camp is at the center of hiking, biking, fishing, mountain climbing, golfing, water fall viewing, nature photography, rafting, kayaking, and any number of other outdoor recreation pursuits on Mt. Hood each summer. With the Adventure Park at Skibowl and all of the fun things to do in the area, Government Camp has become a great place for the entire family.

GOVERNMENT CAMP TOMORROW

The proposed aerial tramway will travel from Collins Lake Resort and move in one direction to Ski Bowl East and the other to Timberline. Under the current proposal, residents of the Collins Lake Resort will have ski-in/ski-out access to either ski area without ever having to enter their two-car garage to start their car. The new streetscape of Government Camp is now complete. New sidewalks, street lights and much more are a beautiful addition to Government Camp. With new vacation chalets at Collins Lake Resort, and plans for a new hotel, convention center and retail sites, Government Camp will truly be a world class destination area.