Best Historic Lodges
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Arizona is 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, 1924. Both are north of the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Also the 1926 Hannagan Meadow Lodge near Alpine. *See National Historic Landmark report: bit.ly/2wa7xUi **Grand Canyon Lodge was destroyed in wildfire in July 2025. No word yet on whether it will be rebuilt. |
North Rim Lodge was built in 1928 and burned down in 1932. A new lodge opened in 1937. That building was destroyed in a July 2025 wildfire.
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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
Kaibab Lodge, open since 1927, is 18 miles from Grand Canyon North Rim.
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The remote lodge boasts that it has no TVs, phones or cell phone access.
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Harold and Nina Bowman built a gas station in 1923 and a lodge a year later. It's now known for its tasty cookies.
A North Rim cabin near the main lodge. The North Rim facilities are generally open from about May 15 to Oct. 15.