Outlook Inn

Built in 1912


whispers of yesterday

Outlook Inn

Built in 1912 at North 8th and Pacific by "The Bailey's", the Outlook Inn sat tall, overlooking the Pacific Ocean to it's west, and Lake Lytle to the East. A four story wooden structure with numerous windows on the second floor, seven gabled patio areas on the third floor, and two dormered areas on the fourth floor.

In 1921, new owners George and Helen Watts renamed the Inn to Lake Lytle Hotel. In 1935, it was owned by the University of Portland and provided housing for Coast Guard personnel during WWII. After more ownership turnover, it was sold to Art Middleton in 1962, but was no longer used as a hotel.

  • A three-story, dark-colored building with an American flag; a car parked out front.

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  • Vintage photo of the Hotel, a large building with a covered porch and unique angled windows on a sandy hillside.

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  • Lake Lytle Hotel, three-story building with dormer windows, wooden siding, men standing outside, sand dune setting.

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  • Back of a vintage postcard for the Lake Lytle Hotel in Rockaway, Oregon, advertising rates and amenities.

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  • Postcard, handwritten message, stamp, and postmark from Rockaway, Oregon, addressed to Astoria, Oregon.

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  • People sit on steps leading to the

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  • A bulldozer near a partially demolished two-story building under a blue sky.

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  • Damaged brick building with collapsed roof and debris.

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  • Black and white photo: Large wooden building with peaked roof, connected by a bridge. People are gathered on the bridge.

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The Lake Lytle Hotel eventually shut it's doors. It became a private residence and was left to crumble by the oceanside. Locals young at that time recall trespassing into the building, and seeing all the furniture still in place, and stuck in time. Eventually, the structure was demolished by bulldozers in 1967, the same year as the iconic Natatorium.

During the knock-down of the building, the man operating the equipment kept smelling whiskey. Sure enough, the operator discovered someone had bricked in a stash of liqour in the chimney. The man dropped his head upon realizing he had broken every bottle.

March 13th, 1940 Postcard from Lake Lytle Hotel owner Blanche:

Just a line. We sold the Hotel last week and moved to the cottage last Thursday. Such a scramble and such rain, but we are glad it's over. Our mail will still come to Rockaway. Children getting over their colds but still not 100%. Weather miserable most of the time.

Blanche

August 15th, 1916 Postcard from Outlook Inn Guest: Come on down Sis, and get a bath in the Ocean.

Aunt E

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