MOWITZA LODGE now called LEGENDARY LODGE

Mowitza Lodge (now Legendary Lodge) was built by William A. Clark Jr. son of the "Copper King" William A. Clark. It was built as a summer family retreat in 1915 on Salmon Lake. Aside from the lodge there were several cabins which remain, a bowling alley, shooting gallery and a mountaintop lookout. Construction required hauling materials from Missoula, 40 miles away and rafting them across Salmon Lake. William Clark Jr. died in 1934 and was buried in the family mausoleum in Hollywood, CA.

Al and Thelma Wertheimer were owners in 1938. That comes from only a letter and picture dated 1938 from a private source. The Wertheimers were involved in gambling and entertainment for Hollywood celebs. Evidently they bought Legendary Lodge for peace and quiet and also as an entertainment center for their close friends from Hollywood and the Detroit Purple Gang. Things began to get out of hand, however, and they divorced in about 1943. Al continued the "good"and "bad" life in Palm Springs until his death in 1953.

Randolph and Audiss Bohrer bought the lodge sometime after 1943. Randolph was an attorney in Chicago and enjoyed the lodge with his family and friends until fall of 1950 when it was sold to the Catholic Church as a summer time youth camp. Lyle Williamson was the caretaker during the years the Bohrers owned the lodge. The Catholic Church renamed it Legendary Lodge.

 

Salmon Lake State Park lies on the lakeshore.

Information submitted courtesy of Gary Williamson, nephew of the lodge caretaker, Lyle Williamson.

If you have further information, Gary would love to hear from you at G.R.Williamson[at]comcast.net