I was going through a box of photos my mother had saved from her childhood and early marriage years, and I came across this collection of photos from Lake Odell in 1962 and 1963. As Lake Odell brings back fond memories for many in the Askew, Prettyman, Flaten, and Montgomery families, I thought I’d share them with you.
Odell Summit Lodge was run by members of my family until it was accidentally burned down in November, 1971. It was owned by my grandmother Harriet (Askew) Prettyman’s two brothers and one of her brothers-in-law—Bob and Frank Askew and Howie Flaten. The three men and their spouses lived at the lake year-round and together with help from other family members, they ran a lodge, rented out cabins, ran a store, rented boats, and served up meals. Every summer, members of our extended family would travel up to help run the lodge in the busy season in exchange for a nearly free vacation.
I’m gradually accumulating enough info on the decade-long run of the Odell Summit Lodge to write a history of our period of its history, from its purchase by members of the Askew clan, to the building of a new lodge, to the accidental burning of both old and new lodges, to a last-ditch effort to rebuild the resort after it burned. But that’s too much for a lazy Sunday. For today, I’ll just present the photos from 1962 and 1963.
First, here’s the photo business card for Odell Summit Lodge when it was being run by my family:
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So far I’ve only found one photo dated to Summer, 1962:
| Bill Prettyman proudly showing off two Mackinaw trout he caught: | |
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The rest of the photos are from the following summer (1963):
| Salt Creek Falls, about 5 miles northwest of (and an 8-mile drive from) Odell Summit Lodge. | |
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| Bonnie (Askew) Montgomery at the base of Salt Creek Falls. | |
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| Lake Vivian, a remote lake accessible only by a 3-mile uphill hike south from Salt Creek Falls. | |
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| The front entrance to the “Old” Lodge. The Old Lodge was the only lodge that existed at the time this photo was taken, but it came to be called the Old Lodge because the Askew clan built a new lodge nearby a couple of years later. | |
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| The front of the Old Lodge from a boat on Lake Odell. | |
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| From the shore of Lake Odell near the Lodge: | |
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| From the left: Harriet (Askew) Prettyman, Bonnie (Askew) Montgomery, Florence (Myott) Askew, Helen (Trimble) Askew, and Bob Askew sitting in Adirondack chairs in front of the Lodge. | |
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| Sillyness ensues: | |
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| Clyde Askew (L), Gert Askew (R), their daughter Harriet (Askew) Prettyman, and their dog Gidget on one of the docks. | |
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| Bob Askew, with another family member ( |
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| Clyde and Gert’s dog Gidget at the end of a dock. | |
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| Foliage. | |
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| View across Lake Odell to Maiden Peak (on the right) and an unnamed peak on the left. The peak on the left is the top of the Willamette Pass Ski Area. | |
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| View of one of the docks with an unidentified boy on a raft (the boy is not Dan Prettyman). | |
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| A double-exposure of 1) Polly (Prettyman) Black and her mother Harriet in a row boat christened the “Harriet,” and 2) someone (Rich Montgomery?) getting something out of the trunk of a Ford Galaxie. | |
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Thanks, fond memories for sure. Brings back good times.
When I was young, I went to Odell Lake every summer and was friends with Jason. I remember twin brothers Rex and Ross and there sister, but can’t recall her name right now. I also believe there was an older brother who was a state trooper. I’ve always wondered what happened to Jason and the family as I didn’t know their last name just lots of great memories. I remember the store that had a room upstairs that if my memory is correct, there was a foosball table. I remember Rex and Ross had a room upstairs in the old boat barn to the right of the docks when looking at the lake. If I remember correctly, one dock to the right of the boat ramp had some covered slips. I have memories of cleaning fish in the old fish cleaning shed and Jason and I playing in the trees and picking blueberries or huckleberries. Jason taught me about taking periwinkles of the rocks to use for bait while bank fishing. I would love to hear how the family is doing today.
Hi Ray,
Those names don’t ring any bells. I wonder if you knew the family who managed the resort before or after our family did, or perhaps if it was the other resort on the lake? What years were you there?
The would have been the early 70s. I can remember walking a distance over to where the original lodge was sometime after it had burned down. When facing the store near the boat ramp, the boat ramp was behind you. There was a old residence with a narrow enclosed entry/mud room to the left of the store. If my memory serves me, when you entered the house thru the mudroom the dinning room was directly in front of you. Do you how to find out who would have ran the operation after your family sold it?? I’ve been looking for 70s photos of the camp area, fish cleaning shed and the rest of the operation.
Hi Ray,
Our family operated the lodge until shortly after it burned in early November, 1971, so I’m nearly certain that the lodge as you remember it was run by whatever family took on the lodge after ours left.
As to how to find that, it’s probably going to be a matter of finding and conducting research at the right archives. As the lodge is on land owned by the Deschutes National Forest, you might write to them to see if they might have records of leases/concessions. As Odell Lake is in Klamath County, the county may have records (tax records, business records) that might shed light on the question. The Klamath County Historical Society (https://klamathcountyhistoricalsociety.org/) may also be able to help you out. The Historical Society may also be able to point you to newspapers likely to have ads or stories about the lodge during the time you remember.
Good hunting!
Michael
my dad .. bob askew … would write me and tell me he wished I could come out and visit the lodge..: never happened but looking at these pictures it looks very peaceful and serene.. sorry I never had the opportunity to do so
It really is a special place. Parts of the lodge/resort that your dad knew are still there—the old docks, the old fish cleaning house, several cabins (including one from the late 1800s), the ‘old’ lodge (the one that was there when they got the resort), an old boathouse, as well as all the trails, rivers, fishing, and lots I’m probably forgetting. I went there several times from ages 1–5 (and surprisingly remember a fair amount), but then hadn’t been there for nearly 45 years until my wife and I stopped by on a trip from Washington to California. So many memories came flooding back, which I took as evidence that the essential spirit of the place was still there. The new owners were on a building spree when I was last there, so who knows how long that old spirit will stick around.
Thank you so much for your insight and knowledge. I will do some follow up in the future as we are moving to LaPine in the next few months. We are looking forward to moving East of the mountains closer to gods country and the lakes.
Thank you again,
Ray Headley