"Beyond the fact that a man named Mitchell lived and died near this point, there is little information available. He is reported to have been a trapper. Although there have been efforts to change the name to Storm Crest, the public has not looked with favor on the suggestion and prefers the old name. The famous Tunnel of Many Vistas on the Historic Columbia River Highway pierced Mitchell Point but was destroyed when I-84 was constructed."

The Mitchell Point Tunnel was known as the "Tunnel of Many Vistas" and was located on the Historic Columbia River Highway. A viaduct was built west of the tunnel while the tunnel was blasted through solid rock. It featured five windows overlooking the Columbia River. The Viaduct and Tunnel served as the primary car and truck route along the Columbia until 1932 when the Tooth Rock Tunnel was opened, offering an alternative route.

In 1955 Interstate 84 was built along the Columbia River, permanently closing the narrow Mitchell Point Tunnel. Then, in 1966, because of crumbling conditions, the famous "Tunnel of Many Vistas" was blasted from the cliff. Today (2018), there is discussion to re-bore another tunnel at Mitchell Point to connect sections of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail.

The Mitchell Point Tunnel was designed and constructed by John Arthur Elliott.

• 1912, 1915, and 1919 ... C.W. Parker Summer Home (Little Boy Ranch) ...
• 1930s ... Mitchell Point Tourist Spot ...
• Geology ...
• Historic Columbia River Highway ...
• Mitchell Creek and Mitchell Creek Falls ...
• Mitchell Point Drive ...
• Mitchell Point Overlook ...
• Mitchell Point Walls and Foundations ...
• Mitchell's Point, Storm Kings, Storm Crest, and Storm Cliff ...
• Sonny ...
• The Dalles and Sandy Wagon Road ...
• Wygant, Seneca Fouts, and Vinzenz Lausmann State Natural Areas ...
• Views from Mitchell Point Overlook ...

"SCENERY ALONG AUTO ROUTE NOW BEAUTIFUL" Hood River City and Valley Residents Are Awakening to Splendor of Natural Wonders Lying on Pathway to Their Doors. Home Commands Fine View. "An insight into the prophecy of LeRoy Armstrong in his "Hagar's Son," a story recently appearing in Sunset and which dealt with the Columbia River road of the future lined with hundreds of Summer homes, may be had when one takes a peep at the residence of C.W. Parker, a handsome long bungalow built beside the proposed highway just beyond the ramparts of Mitchell's Point. Mr. Parker has passed his life in newspaper work. His work has taken him all over the world, but of all the spots that he has seen, he says, he is most pleased with that in the Columbia Gorge, which, he says, he has selected as his Summer home. The log walls of the livingroom have many windows opening out on terraces and from which one may look to the west for miles down the Columbia. The view presented at sunset is particularly gorgeous. In Summer time the sun seems to drop out of sight in the very center of the gorge. Mr. Parker believes that it will be but a short time until the Columbia's banks will be dotted with many such homes. The Columbia will be the Western Hudson." Click image to enlarge NEWSPAPER Illustration, "C.W. Parker Builds Summer House", Mitchell Point, Columbia River Highway, Oregon. Source: "Sunday Oregonian", April 7, 1912, courtesy University of Oregon Newspaper Archives, 2014. Source:    "Sunday Oregonian", April 7, 1912, courtesy Historic Oregon Newspapers Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, 2014.

"Picturesque Homes Will Be Built Along The Columbia Highway" "The first picturesque home to be built in Hood River county along the route of the Columbia highway has been constructed just west of Mitchell Point by C.W. Parker. The "Little Boy Ranch," such is the name given the place, on account of its unique beauty arouses the admiration of all who see it. The house is constructed of great hewn logs. It presents the work of master craftsman. And the interior shows the same picturesque blending. Huge fireplaces yawn at each end of a large living room, from the center of which a large stairway leads to the second story. The grounds have been terraced and beautified. The home of the Little Boy ranch may be taken as a harbinger of what we may expect along the scenic Columbia highway." Click image to enlarge NEWSPAPER Illustration, "Little Boy Ranch", Mitchell Point, Columbia River Highway, Oregon. Source: "Hood River Glacier", April 15, 1915, courtesy University of Oregon Newspaper Archives, 2014. Source:    "Hood River Glacier", April 15, 1915, courtesy University of Oregon Newspaper Archives, 2014.

MITCHELLS POINT HAS ITS "GOOD SAMARITAN" C.W. Parker, Who Lives at Base of Noted Grade on Scenic Highway, Gives Aid to Scores of Stalled Motorists. "HOOD RIVER, Or., Aug.21. -- (Special.) -- C.W. Parker, whose home, "Little Boy Ranch," nestles in a cove at the west base of Mitchells Point grade, that tortuous portion of the present route of the Columbia River Highway that will be eliminated as soon as the long viaduct and tunnel at this point are opened to traffic, has won the name of "The Good Samaritan" of the Columbia River Highway. Scarecely a day or night has passed since the scenic highway was opened that Mr. Parker may not have been seen assisting some motoring wayfarer over the steep 24 per cent grade. Almost hourly he is called from his work to fill the gas tank of some automobile, having allowed a garage company to place an auxiliary station at his place. And when a machine becomes stalled on the heavy grade, Mr. Parker is one of the first to lend the strength of his arms and shoulders. It was about three weeks ago that a Salem minister and his wife, while motoring over the steep road, were caught on the most precipitous part of the grade. Their distress was seen by Mr. Parker who hastened up the hillside with a stick to be used as a scotch under the car's wheel. After a 15-minute struggle the automobile was eased to the level near the "Little Boy Ranch" home, where additional gasoline was procured, and it was then that the minister, looking the big owner of the unique place up and down, said: "Mr. Parker, I am going to christen you "The Good Samaritan of the Columbia River Highway." And the name has stuck. ... Inside and out the home of Mr. and Mrs. Parker is one of the most unique in Oregon. Mr. Parker has been in newspaper work both abroad and in America. From the British Isles, the Continent and the four corners of North America he has gathered interesting curios that now find a place in the Hood River County home. ... Home Is Unique. The entire main floor of the Parker home is given over to an enormous living-room. Two cavernous fireplaces, one at either end of the building, throw out a glow of cheer in the cool seasons. Around the entire home runs a broad, glass-inclosed veranda. The west view from this porch is declared one of the best along the entire length of the Columbia River. The towering crags of Mitchells Point rear themselves directly behind the rustic home. "Little Boy Ranch" home was completed four Summers ago. "I knew then," says Mr. Parker, "that it would only be a question of time until the highway would be built along the Columbia." The old State road passes through the terrace-like pass over Mitchells Point to the rear of the Parker home. The new highway takes a lower level, sweeping in a graceful curve directly to the east of the home is the wonderful open-window tunnel. ... "I will be very glad," says the hospitable owner of the artistic home, "when the tunnel and viaduct are ready for traffic, not that I am not willing to assist every automobilist that may get stuck on the grade, but I now live in constant fear lest somebody may be injured in an accident on this steep, twisting road. As you will see from wood strewn along the hillside, I have carried half a cord up after slowly moving machines, using the pieces for scotch blocks, whenever cars stall."" Click image to enlarge NEWSPAPER Illustration, "Little Boy Ranch", Mitchell Point, Columbia River Highway, Oregon. Source: "Sunday Oregonian", August 22, 1915, courtesy University of Oregon Newspaper Archives, 2014. Source:    "Sunday Oregonian", August 22, 1915, courtesy Historic Oregon Newspapers Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, 2014.

"Prominent Artist Here" "H. Ellsworth Bassett, an artist of Newark, N.J., who has just finished a sketching tour of the Pacific coast national parks, is visitng at the Little Boy Ranch, the country home of Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Parker. Mr. Bassett will make paintings of Mitchells Point, the towering cliff, known to the early Indians as Storm King, and the famed tunnel with its open windows looking upon the Columbia. The painter while here will make excursions to mid-Columbia streams for trout fishing." Source:    "Hood River Glacier", July 17, 1919, courtesy Historic Oregon Newspaper Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, 2014.

According to "waterfallsnorthwest.com" website (2018), Mitchell Creek Falls is the unofficial name for a 15-foot drop falls located on Mitchell Creek.

"... The great projecting rock through which the bore was made was known among the Indians as the Little Storm King, while the sky sweeping mountain above was called the Great Storm King. ..."

Early Penny Postcards called Mitchell Point "Mitchell's Point" . "Storm Crest", was another name which showed up on the postcards, used in reference to Mitchell's Spur. Mitchell Point Tunnel was called "Storm Crest Tunnel".

The name "Storm Cliff" showed up in newspaper articles.

"Quite a protest is being made by the people of Frankton in whose territory Mitchell Point is located, about changing its name to Storm Cliff. We have heard dozens of citizens, and more especially the older settlers, express their regrets that an effort has been made to change the old name that is so familiar to all who have lived around the old crag so long to something else. It will be hard to make the change, and as there is nothing to be gained by it, why not stay with the old name, Mitchell Point." Source:    "The Hood River Glacier", August 12, 1915, courtesy Historic Oregon Newspapers Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, 2019.

Mitchells Point Will Fight Change of Name "HOOD RIVER, Ore., Aug. 13. -- When the State Highway Commission seeks to change the name of Mitchells Point to Strom Cliff, they will find that they will be unable legally to do so. Edgar Locke, who owns the larger portion of the great basalt barrier, his line extending over the crest and well down the west side, has registered officially the name of Mitchells Point under a state lwaw passed by the 1911 legislature. "I wrote to the governor this afternoon," said Mr. Locke, who was in the city today, "and told him that if the name of the scenic point was changed I immediately would place trespass signs on the property and refuse to admit campers on the property. "For 25 years Hood River people have visited the rock. Nearly every day during the summer months I can hear someone calling to me from the top of Big Mitchells. If the old name is allowed to remain unchanged, I do not care how many tourists travel over the cliff." Mr. Locke says the Point was originally a part of the Hayes donation land claim. "I have the old papers at home now," he remarked. "They are signed by Uslyyes S. Grant. Mr. Mitchell for whom the place is named, lived there 55 years ago." p> George Martin and C.W. Parker, who own the west base of the cliff, also are protesting against a change in name." Source:    "East Oregonian (Pendleton, OR)", August 13, 1915, courtesy Historic Oregon Newspapers Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, 2019.

Owner of Face of Mitchell's Point Opposes Portland Plan. "HOOD RIVER, Or., Sept.29 -- (Special.) -- Edgar Locke, owner of the face of Mitchell's point, the huge cliff jutting out over the Columbia river highway above the windowed tunnel there, protests the proposed plan of a Portland civic organization to name the promontory for Colonel McAlexander. Mr. Locke, who said the west side of the cliff is owned by C.W. Parker and the southern portion by Seneca Fouts of Portland, protested the application of the name "Storm King", as the promontory was said to have been called by Indians, when Mitchell's point tunnel was first opened. Mr. Locke, who says that he has a letter from an ex-governor, supporting him in his protest, cites that in extremely early pioneer times a man by the name of Mitchell settled at the east foot of the towering promontory." Source:    "Morning Oregonian", September 30, 1921, courtesy Historic Oregon Newspaper Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, 2015.

"... The Station west of Hood River bore an unusual name. It was formerly called Mitchell, but owing to confusion with another place in the state of the same name, it was decided by railroad officials to make a change. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Parker, owners of the Little Boy Ranch just west of Mitchell Point, tried to have the station named Little Boy, but this was not acceptable to the railroad because it was awkward in telegraphy. Mrs. Parker's nickname, Sonny, was finally selected as the next best thing."

Today this would be the approximate location of the exit from Oregon Highway 84 heading up to the Mitchell Point overlook.

• "This section contains three fragments of the historic highway [HCRH] between Perham Creek, on the west end, and Mitchell Point to the east. The short segment at Perham Creek is a remnant left where the historic highway curved south around a rocky point, away from the water line into the mouth of the Perham Creek draw. Historically, the highway then rose along the basalt rock shelf above the railroad, following the course of the old wagon road to Mitchell Point. At Mitchell Point the highway diverged from the wagon road over the point, going through Mitchell Point tunnel instead." [Historic Columbia River Highway Cultural Landscape Inventory Report, 2010]

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