Roughing it...in Luxury
By today's standards the lodging at Two Medicine would've been viewed as primitive, but that would not mean it would be any less successful as a lodging operation. Compared to alpine camps such as Tuolumne Meadows Lodge at Yosemite -- which are perpetually sold out months in advance -- the cabins and rooms at Two Medicine were luxurious by comparison.
During the operational years at Two Medicine the alpine camp experience was regarded as the ultimate mountain holiday. Rooms were well maintained, meals were provided in compelling group atmosphere, and the central campfire provided a quiet end to the day. Guests left refreshed and invigorated by the cool mountain air. The attraction was such that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt stayed at Two Medicine Chalet in 1934, and in fact gave a radio address from the premises.
Today Two Medicine is simply a camp store and contact station for wilderness camping and backcountry pursuits. Now removed by more than half a century, it requires significant imagination to envision the once-thriving lodge complex. The store is a step back in time, although only a single table and chairs are said to remain from the lodging era. There is also a protected boathouse nearby; although this was built later and the concession was operated separately, it provides some insight into the past.
above, the Swanson Boathouse was built in 1936. Although not affiliated with the Chalet, it fit the visual theme and is today a protected structure. Photo courtesy the National Park Service.
