Victoria (Vicky) Nelson enters on duty as the Park's new Post Office attendant, a position she holds for over 15 years. Vicky drives to the Park each day from Chiloquin.

A long row of old wooden garages, built in the 1930's and located in front of the Stone Houses, is burned down. the fire crew used the occasion as a practice drill.

Guy Hartel, age 70, retires to Klamath Falls, after working 20 years as an equipment operator on road repair.

Self-service gas pumps installed at the service station for year-round operation, but soon ruled illegal and locked up because of Oregon's ban on self-serve stations.

Season 1970 Visitation: 534, 962

Early 1970s The boat crew, led by Lodge owner's son, Mike Peyton, turns Crater Lake into their own private lake by water skiing behind the launches and fishing after hours around Phantom Ship.

The Rim Road is turned into a one-way circle drive, beginning at the Rim Village Junction. Park officials feel that considering the Park's narrow and dangerous roads and with the size of motor homes becoming increasingly bigger, drivers would be much safer all driving the same direction.

A large concentration of California Tortise Shell butterflies are observed slowly fluttering their way through the east side of the Park.

All remaining historic log Boundary Patrol Cabins are raised by bulldozer in preparation of the Park's backcountry being considered for Wilderness classification.

Wooden Annie Spring garage torn down.

Season 1971 Visitation: 557,958

New $43,000 Sleepy Hollow sewer system constructed to replace the aging and failing 1920s septic tank system.

The beautiful dark headquarters woodwork is painted white because "it looks old, and is to dark and depressing. Repaint it!"

Parks new Master Plan is approved.

Mazama Sewer Lagoons constructed, along with the Annie Spring water reservoir and pipelines for the anticipated expansion of Mazama Campground and the construction of a new trailer village. ($227,000)

Reconstruction of the Watchman parking lot and overlook ($84,000). Because of the heavy use of peeler core logs being used around the the ancient and badly eroded White Bark Pine grove, the area has since been known as the "Corrals".

U.S. Commissioner's office abolished. Frank Van Dyke is retained as Park Magistrate.

Construction of the Concession's employee dorm is begun on the slope below the Lodge.

West entrance resident cabin torn down.

Also lifted out was the "Fisher," which was burned at the Park's old garbage dump. Two Park service chemical comfort stations are air-lifted onto the island, replacing two old pit toilet.

Government report: "There are ninety buildings in the Park owned by the government, 75 constructed prior to 1935".

Season 1972 Record number of visitors visit the Park exceeding the former record set 1962 by 2,000 Visitation: 594,343

Precipitation record for the month is also established at 24.15 inches.

Season 1973 Visitation: 539,708

A large concentration of Tortoise Shell butterflies flutter their way through the eastern portion of the Park.

Ranger Tom Young and wife Betty spot a cougar running across the West Entrance Road.

A 1974 - 1975 bear study following the closing of the Park's garbage dumps finds that 11 to 12 bear had to be destroyed because they could not adapt to returning to natural foraging. The study estimates that 40 to 45 bear still live in the Park.

The Forest and Wilderness Construction company sues Crater Lake National Park for $1,012 claiming in court that one of the 14 bears transported out of the Park during the past year had broken into and damaged the company's trail camp near Four Mile Lake. The Judge ruled that the bears had not been transplanted in a negligent manner and that the Government was not liable for the damage that had been caused.

New rusty metal boxy entrance signs are installed at the North and West boundaries after bulldozing the historic stone and Redwood entrance signs.

Latest snow removal in memory. Snow drifts remain in Rim Village throughout the summer.

The Park's Master Plan is revised. Many expansion and construction projects are dropped or put off. Public hearings on the new Plan are scheduled in Portland, Medford and Klamath Falls.

All public row boats are removed from the Lake. The boats were getting old and coupled with a more difficult job of establishing rowing limits at Cleetwood Cove and later afternoon winds, officials felt that public use of the Lake should be restricted to the Lake launches.

Because of the Park's reliance on Forest Service fire observation overflights, the Watchman Fire Lookout is closed.

Mazama Campground and the Rim Campground are placed on a nation-wide Park Reservation System. Because only 5% of the Park's campers make reservations, the administration of the system in the Park creates an administrative nightmare.

Season 1974 Visitation: 525,030. Down 3% from last year.

(Next stop 1975)