Only Hotel on North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park Destroyed in Fire

Though the original structure was destroyed by fire in 1932, it was quickly rebuilt and reopened in 1937. It was the only hotel on the North Rim of the national park, and was a shining example of national park architecture from the 1920s, or “parkitecture,” with massive stone columns, log ceilings, and large decks and windows overlooking the canyon. It was built in a time when the Union Pacific Railroad was developing destination tourism through its “Loop Tour,” offering package deals that linked parks like Zion, Bryce, and the Grand Canyon via rail and motorcoaches.

In the 1980s, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, both for its architecture and its role in shaping early Western tourism. Unlike many park lodges that saw significant updates, much of the lodge was left intentionally rustic to preserve its historic character. It was one of the most popular lodges in the National Park System, usually booked out months in advance.

In addition to destroying the Grand Canyon Lodge, the fire has also destroyed between 50 and 80 other buildings and cabins, including a visitor center and other historic buildings. Because the fire is not contained and still spreading thanks to strong winds, the park already announced that the North Rim will be closed for the remainder of the season, which normally runs through mid-October. Also closed are trails and campgrounds in the area, including the North and South Kaibab trails, Phantom Ranch, and the Bright Angel Trail beneath Havasupai Gardens.

With the complete loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge, visitors to the North Rim now have no lodging options within the park, other than camping. The closest lodging is Kaibab Lodge, about five miles from the park entrance, with rustic cabins and a small restaurant. The next option is the Jacob Lake Inn in the town of Fredonia, roughly 45 miles north of the North Rim. But the closest town with any type of tourist facilities is Kanab, Utah, a solid two hours from the North Rim entrance.

For visitors who had reservations at the lodge, park concessionaire Forever Resorts noted that it will be reaching out with refunds and details on cancellations. “As stewards of some of our country’s most beloved national treasures,” wrote a fire update from the resort, “we are devastated by the loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge and numerous other historic buildings at the Grand Canyon’s North Rim.”

What other historic national park lodges remain?

Though several of the country’s most historic national park lodges have been destroyed by fires, including Glacier National Park’s treasured Sperry Chalet. Others have been rebuilt, demolished, or repurposed. Fortunately, more than a dozen still remain throughout America’s 63 national parks.

• Old Faithful Inn (Yellowstone National Park): Built in 1904 and considered the largest log structure in the world
• The Ahwahnee (Yosemite National Park): Yosemite’s crown jewel, finished in 1927 and blending Art Deco, Native American, Middle Eastern, and Arts and Crafts design influences
• El Tovar Hotel (Grand Canyon National Park): Opened in 1905, making it one of the first major lodges in the park system
• Bright Angel Lodge (Grand Canyon National Park): Built in 1935, with a similar log-and-stone aesthetic as Grand Canyon Lodge
• Paradise Inn (Mount Rainier National Park): Opened in 1917 and a classic example of rustic alpine lodge design
• Lake Crescent Lodge (Olympic National Park): Built in 1915 overlooking Lake Crescent, with antique furniture and wraparound porches
• Crater Lake Lodge (Crater Lake National Park): Opened in 1915 and extensively restored in the 1990s to preserve its original look
• Glacier Park Lodge (Glacier National Park): Built by the Great Northern Railway in 1913 and known for its massive timber lobby
• Many Glacier Hotel (Glacier National Park): A Swiss-style chalet built in 1915 to attract wealthy summer tourists by rail
• Lake McDonald Lodge (Glacier National Park): A slightly more affordable option, completed in 1914 and designed with a similar Swiss-alpine aesthetic
• Zion Lodge (Zion National Park): Also designed by Underwood and built in 1925, though it was rebuilt in a similar design following a 1966 fire
• Chisos Mountains Lodge (Big Bend National Park): A slightly later build, constructed in the 1940s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)
• Bryce Canyon Lodge (Bryce Canyon National Park): Yet another Underwood design, finished in 1925 and still standing in its original form today
• Phantom Ranch (Grand Canyon National Park): A preserved backcountry lodge completed in 1922 and accessible only by foot, mule, or raft
• Big Meadows Lodge (Shenandoah National Park): Another CCC project with a rustic stone-and-timber design, finished in 1939
• Skyland Lodge (Shenandoah National Park): One of the oldest lodges in a park (1895), predating the park itself
• The Inn at Death Valley (Death Valley National Park): Opened in 1927 as the Furnace Creek Inn to attract tourists riding the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad
• LeConte Lodge (Great Smoky Mountains National Park): Established in 1925 and still in operation as a hike-in-only backcountry lodge