Camp Ghormley Historic Sleeping Cabins Photographs, Sept. 2002

In the 1930s, Dr. Charles Ghormley, associate pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Yakima, was instrumental in developing a site for its First Presbyterian Church Camp in Rimrock, Washington. After Dr. Ghormley’s sudden death in 1948, the camp was re-christened Camp Ghormley. The camp was intended to “provide accessible outdoor camping experiences for spiritual and physical development” for young people in Central Washington. The camp is best known today as Ghormley Meadow Christian Camp.

The sleeping cabins depicted in these photographs, all built circa 1939-1945, are examples of early recreational buildings in the Pacific Northwest. The five cabins – Wildrose, Foxglove (formerly known as Buttercup), Chicory (formerly known as Pine Drop), Tiger Lily, and Lupine – are very similar in structure and layout, and were built largely through volunteer effort. New foundations, stairs, and railings were added in 2001 in compliance with the Yakima County Fire Code. Prior to further modernizations, the cabins were evaluated and documented by Shane Scott, Naches Ranger district archaeologist.

The former names of Foxglove and Chicory cabins were Buttercup and Pine Drop, respectively; the names are used interchangeably in the accompanying historical information. This finding aid uses the current names, Foxglove and Chicory.