Loon Lake, Washington — Vacation Cabins Became Homes

Loon Lake's transformation began less with discovery than with accessibility.

Rail service brought Spokane-area visitors into forested lake country, encouraging resorts, cabins and summer outings. Automobiles loosened the pattern further, allowing development to spread beyond the station and around more of the shoreline and surrounding roads.

Over time, many seasonal cabins became year-round residences. The community stopped emptying out quite so completely when summer ended, even as recreation remained central to the lake's identity.

Loon Lake is still a vacation destination. A growing share of the cabins simply stopped going home for winter.