Cascade Crest Exhibit

Watch as stocky, white mountain goats nibble at grass growing through the rocky terrain or rest on basalt ledges warmed by the sun. Learn how, despite this ecosystem’s ability to withstand blasting winds and freezing temperatures, it is easily damaged and may take decades to recover from human impact.

Animals

Cascade Crest features mountain goats in a beautiful exhibit with craggy basalt rocks and still waters of a cirque lake. These animals are exceptionally well adapted to their habitat with muscular bodies, thick wool to keep out cold winds, short sturdy legs and hooves with pads on the bottom for better traction on the rocks.

Features

At the time of its opening, the entry village was created to mesh with Cascade Crest through its design of Cascadian-style buildings with an alpine flair. Looking across from the entry village, the mountain goat exhibit provides a beautiful backdrop while being near to all the services you need.

As you enter, the large lodge-type building to your right is the Cascade Grill, with its spacious dining room, high, open-beam ceiling and cozy wooden booths. Many components of the restaurant have been themed to fit the Cascade Crest exhibit area.

Entering the Cascade Grill, a large stairway beckons visitors down to the private lower-floor banquet center. The high-ceilinged banquet room can seat 500 or be partitioned into smaller rooms. Every amenity is available, including wiring for audio-visual equipment, a reception area and a small terrace overlooking Steller Cove.

Beside the main path, the sounds of whistling wind and dripping icicles lure you into a snow cave. Learn about the tiny insects that live in snowbanks, creatures so small that 2.5 million of them could fit in a teaspoon.

Art Projects

The patterned carpet and wrought-iron chandeliers in the Cascade Grill were commissioned to have a Northwest feel. Deborah Mersky designed these with the Cascades in mind.

A life-size, touchable bronze statue of a mountain goat nanny and kid, created by sculptor Peter Helzer, shows how well adapted these animals are. Visitors can observe the stocky legs and tick wool needed to survive such a harsh climate.

The snow-cave soundtrack, composed by Mike Van Liew, Peter Whitmore (both also responsible for the Steller Cove soundtrack) and Linda Wysong, captures the feel of a snow cave and the alpine environment.