The National Park Service is searching for an operator for the Ross Lake Resort at North Cascades National Park Complex/NPS file

The National Park Service released a prospectus for the concession operation at Ross Lake Resort in the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. The complex, located in north-central Washington, consists of North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. 

The resort, one of only two NPS lodging facilities in the complex, is near the southern terminus of Ross Lake.  The other resort, North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin, is at the head of Lake Chelan in Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.  

Ross Lake Resort is a very unusual lodging facility even by national park standards. The resort consists of 15 cabins in four categories, ranging from small (sleeping four) to bunk houses (sleeping eight to ten). The cabins are attached to large floating logs near the shoreline of 12,000-acre Ross Lake with cabin access only by boat. The operation is primarily aimed at individuals who love to fish, although we enjoyed two nights at the resort and don’t own a bobber let alone fishing poles.

The cabins each have a full kitchen, private bathroom, electricity, wood stove (a few also have electric) for heat, and linens. Guests are required to bring all their own food and personal items. Cabins are typically available for rental from mid-June to late-October. In addition to cabin rentals, the operator is required by the prospectus to rent boats, motors, fishing equipment, and convenience items, along with operating a water taxi for transportation of visitors across the lake to the resort. 

Approximately 80 percent of the $1,274,284 in 2021 resort revenues were generated from lodging and boat rentals.

Maximum nightly cabin rates approved by NPS for the 2022 season are:

Little cabins                 $245

Modern cabins             $270

Peak cabin                    $435

Bunkhouse                   $340

The primary stumbling block for a new concessionaire is the estimated $2,143,475 initial investment, consisting primarily of $1,900,000 for purchase of the cabins, floating support structures, and floating rafts, all owned by the current concessionaire.  The remainder is to cover the required furniture, fixtures, equipment, working capital and start-up costs (staff hiring, training, marketing, etc.).

The draft contract is for ten years, beginning January 1, 2024.  The winning bidder is required to pay NPS a minimum franchise fee of 4.7 percent of gross revenues. Notice of an intent to submit a proposal must be received by the NPS by December 27, 2022. You can find more details here.

David and Kay Scott are authors of “Complete Guide to the National Park Lodges” (Globe Pequot). They live in Valdosta, Georgia.