Among the visitors to the park during 1917 was a large group of members of the Knights of Pythias Order. On August 14 the group held initiation ceremonies in the crater of Wizard Island–a practice that had been commenced several years earlier. [3]
Weather continued to play a major role in determining the extent of park visitation. The light snowfall of only ten feet during the winter of 1917-18, combined with warm weather early in the spring, made it possible for automobiles to reach the lake by June 18, one month earlier than the preceding year. As a result visitation to Crater Lake increased to 13,231 in 1918. The numbers of visitors entering the park were:
| Pinnacles Road | 1,193 |
| Fort Klamath Road | 5,625 |
| Medford Road | 6,413 |
|
13,231 |
The statistics relating to the means of transportation of the visitors were:
| Crater Lake Stage | 516 |
| Automobiles | 11,471 |
| Wagons | 1,022 |
| Motocycles | 10 |
| Mounted on Horse | 185 |
| On Foot | 27 |
|
13,231 |
The number of motor vehicles entering the park were:
| Pinnacles Road | 267 | |
| Fort Klamath Road | 1,305 | |
| Medford Road | 1,533 | |
|
3,105 |
[4] |
In 1919 visitation increased by more than 25 percent to 16,645, while the number of motor vehicles entering the park rose by some 50 percent to 4,637. Several delegations of visitors toured the park in 1919, thus showing the increasing popularity of the park Among the visiting contingents were 66 members of the Massachusetts Forestry Association on July 28-30 and 17 members of the Travel Club of America on August 16-18. The most illustrious visit, however, occurred on August 11 when nearly 400 members of the National Editorial Association visited the park. Since the lodge could not accommodate all of these guests, the Ashland and Medford chambers of commerce furnished blankets and camping supplies and the park contributed tents for the convenience of the group. [5]
