Fifteen Mile Crossing

Fifteen Mile Crossing was the first fording over the Snoqualmie River after leaving North bend. It is located about 15 miles east of North Bend. James Beard became one of the toll collectors when the wagon road became a toll road in 1883. Beard built a cabin at the 15 mile crossing about 1890 and he ferried travelers across the river for an additional fee. Later he built a toll bridge over the river and named it Fifteen Mile Bridge. A few years later, he built some log cabins for tired travelers and called the new camp "Bide A Wee". This rest stop served weary travelers for many years. In 1893, the County took over the wagon road and it became County Road No. 353 and all tolls were removed.

In 1915, when the Sunset Highway was completed. The crossing at 15 mile was bypassed by the new highway that remained on the north side of the river toward the summit. Bide A Wee continued to flourish with travelers going over the mountain and campers who came in from Seattle for a relaxing weekend.

In the early 1920’s, M. C. Mason purchased the camp from Beard and renamed it Camp Mason. He soon built better cabins, a restaurant and grocery store next to the Sunset Highway. The camp lasted until the 1950’s, when the property was purchased by the State Highway Dept. The camp was then bulldozed to make way for the new 4 lane highway. Nothing remains of the once vibrant camp and rest stop.