A Hidden Resort in the Cascade Mountains
For decades, Garland Mineral Springs welcomed travelers seeking healing waters deep in the forests above Index, Washington.
Originally developed during the 1930s as a remote mountain spa resort, Garland became known for its natural hot mineral springs, pristine wilderness setting, and rustic Pacific Northwest charm. A grand lodge, 22 cabins, stables, and an Olympic-size pool fed by the mineral springs drew visitors from across the region.
In the 1950s, Rev. Cameron Sharpe, Medora Sharpe and her sister, Laura Mae Mooney purchased Garland and transformed the property into a youth camp and church conference retreat. Families gathered beside the steaming mineral pool, cabins lined the banks of the North Fork Skykomish River, and generations built lifelong memories beneath the towering Cascade peaks.
A devastating flood in the fall of 1959, followed by the destruction of the historic lodge by fire in January 1961, marked the end of Garland’s resort era. Though the mineral springs and many of the cabins survived for decades afterward, much of Garland was ultimately lost in the catastrophic flood of 2025.
Today, the story of Garland Mineral Springs — and the families who shaped it — lives on through photographs, film, artwork, and memory.