Best Historic Lodges

 Arizona is be better known for its desert resorts but the Grand Canyon State has some terrific American lodges:

El Tovar, Grand Canyon South Rim, 1905.*
Grand Canyon Lodge, North Rim, 1937.
Molly Butler Lodge, Greer, 1910.
Bright Angel Lodge, South Rim, 1935.*
Greer Lodge, Greer, 1949.

Honorable mention: Kaibab Lodge, 1927, and Jacob Lake Inn, 1923, both north of the Grand Canyon North Rim, and the 1926 Hannagan Meadow Lodge near Alpine. 

*See National Historic Landmark report: bit.ly/2wa7xUi

North Rim Lodge, built in 1928, was rebuilt 8 years later after a 1932 fire.

El Tovar is perched on the South Rim on a mesa just above the Grand Canyon train depot. (Photos by Austin Corbett)

The lobby of El Tovar includes seating areas, gift shops and a large fireplace that warms guests in the winter.

Grand Canyon Lodge is built into the edge of the North Rim with Kaibab limestone, ponderosa log siding and high ceilings with exposed beams. I

Harold and Nina N. Bowman started with a gas station in 1923 and built the first lodge at Jacob Lake a year later.