Ladder Creek Falls and Gardens were created by James Delmage (J.D.) Ross, Seattle City Light’s second superintendent, who combined his love of plants with his interest in electricity. Beginning in 1925, Ross developed a wonderland garden around the Gorge Powerhouse for visitor enjoyment and entertainment. Public tours of the Skagit Project had begun in 1922, and the first tour from Seattle was a three-day trip involving automobiles, trains, and boats. Ladder Creek Falls and Gardens became a highlight of the tour, showcasing the wonders of electricity. Tropical vegetation was planted, pools were added and stocked with trout and goldfish, and a zoo in nearby Diablo supplied exotic wildlife for the garden. Over the years, the garden changed, and the exotic flora was replaced with vegetation better suited to the climate. Most of the historic framework remains, and the gardens are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.