World War II brought an end to this intensive period of development at Crater Lake. Nearly all of the landscape design at Rim Village had been implemented by this time, and maintenance had become the primary concern as the park lost its CCC forces and much of its park staff.
In the years after 1941, the designed landscape of Rim Village was virtually neglected. During the war years little thought or care was given to the maintenance of the plant material that had painstakingly been added to the site. Park staff turned their attention to other areas and concerns in the park.
In 1955, after many years of neglect throughout the National Park system, the NPS implemented the system-wide Mission ’66 program. With the program’s thrust of economically standardizing improvements in the national parks, Crater Lake’s Rim Village once again became the focus of attention. In many ways, however, this attention resulted in the beginning of the dismantling of the designed landscape at Rim Village. A variety of features and elements comprising the significant design period (1927-1941) were altered or removed entirely; rustic motifs were replaced or covered over in the effort to “modernize” the park facilities; pedestrian walkways and rock walls were realigned and rebuilt. Later, camping was removed entirely from the rim and the former campground was converted into a day-use area for picnickers. Rustic tables and fireplaces were replaced with more contemporary models.
The landscape at Rim Village installed under the 1930s Master Plan has undergone a number of alterations over the decades. These changes, in addition to the impacts from intense visitor use, and a general lack of maintenance over several years has left much of the designed landscape ill-defined, and many structures at Rim Village in poor condition. In spite of the changes and impacts however, much remains of the designed historic landscape at the rim. Overall patterns, as well as many small-scale features are extant from the critical years of implementation — 1927-1941.
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