"National Park Lodge Guide"
Your Guide to Great Park Lodges
Take a tour of America's Historic National Park Lodges within this guide you will find information, guides, photos, and links to fifteen of this Nations most enduring National Treasures, its Beautiful National Park Lodges.
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Slide Below"
For more Information
"Red Bulls Eye Dots" for Information about that National Park Lodge. or "Click" for Photos and more Information.
These crown jewels of the National Park Service were built for the most part just after the turn of the last century, in some of this countries most beautiful, wild and remote back country. Small armies of old world artisans and craftsmen showcased their skills to craft these historic icons from materials found on location within the beautiful remote national parks each represents.
These unique marvels of craftsmanship are registered landmarks that have been unequaled for a century or more and should be treasured, preserved, and enjoyed by all generations of outdoor loving enthusiasts.
Let this guide help you plan your adventure to one of these amazing historic lodges and the beautiful national parks they reside in.
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"The Ahwahnee Hotel"
This National Park Lodge is located in the heart of Americas most Beautiful Valley - Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California. Opened in 1927, this magnificent luxury hotel is the Crown Jewel of the National Park Service.
The Ahwahnee Hotel is a massive six story structure of rough-cut granite and timber, nestled at the base of soaring granite cliffs with spectacular views of the beautiful Yosemite Valley.
If you want a truly memorable experience, book a visit to The Ahwahnee. There is a reason why Presidents, stars, and even Queen Elizabeth II have chosen to stay at this Grand National Park Lodge.
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"Bryce Canyon Lodge"
Located on top of a "Mesa" about 1/8 of a mile from the rim of Bryce Canyon, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.
Opened in 1925-1929, this National Park Lodge is a two-story, rustically-styled natural stone and local timber structure. "The Views and Unique Geology" are what you come to Bryce Canyon for.
This National Park Lodge offers an accommodating, convenient place to enjoy or explore this beautiful National Park.
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"Crater Lake Lodge"
Perched
on the edge of beautiful Crater Lake,
Crater Lake
National Park, Oregon. First opened in 1915, and then re-opened after
extensive renovations in 1995.
This national park lodge is a grand four-story stone and wood structure that will immediately charm you with its rustic northwestern atmosphere.
No other national park lodge anywhere on earth offers the unique combination of sheer surroundings. 2000 ft. cliffs frame this deep-blue lake created by a collapsed volcano. A picturesque island stands as a beacon in the center of what many consider America's most beautiful lake.
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"El Tovar Hotel"
Built only feet from the very edge of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.
Opened in 1905, this multiple level elegant national park lodge looks as if it literally sprung out of its rock surroundings. A virtual mix of large notched timbers and native rock combine for the look of a castle and a chalet.
"Once called the most expensive log house in America", this national park lodge has had many distinguished visitors over the years. Presidents Taft and Roosevelt, along with George Bernard Shaw are just a few of the noted guests.
There are many reasons to visit the El Tovar Hotel but for me the simple splendor of watching the sunrise and sunset over the vast expanse of the Grand Canyon is reason enough.
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"Furnace Creek Inn"
Located at the base of the Funeral Mountains in the vast desolate desert of Death Valley in Death Valley National Park, California.
This one is exceptional. Opened in 1927, this sprawling stone and adobe structure, built in the Spanish Mission style, is certainly among the most opulent four-star national park lodges in the National Park System. The Furnace Creek Inn is surrounded by a lush oasis of towering palm trees, mineral springs, streams and ponds.
You can relax and be pampered in a sauna, enjoy massage therapy or swim in a hot, mineral spring-fed swimming pool.
Play golf at the worlds lowest in elevation 18-hole course. It's all available and more at this remarkable desert oasis destination.
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"Glacier Park Lodge"
Located at the base of Dancing Lady Mountain, just outside the East boundaries of beautiful Glacier National Park, Montana.
This great national park lodge was the first I visited as a child, and still holds a special place in my heart. My family lived for a while in nearby Great Falls. My Dad was an avid outdoors man. Over the years we visited or stayed at all of Glacier’s many national park lodges and chalets, some repeatedly, as we trekked many miles exploring this parks great wonders on foot and horse back. My love of the great national park lodges started here as a child, and has only grown over the years.
Opened in 1913, this grand
national park lodge needed a railroad spur laid to the
building site just to transport in the 60 enormous Douglas Fir columns,
40 feet tall, 36-40 inches in diameter.
It is estimated that
when cut, these trees were between 500 to 800 years old, and weighed
upwards of 15 tons each. Many were used to frame the towering central
atrium styled after early Christian basilicas.
When the local Blackfeet Indians saw the giant trees unloaded, they were so awed by the size of them that they dubbed the new building "Oom-Coo-Mush-Taw" or "Big Trees Lodge", a name that has stuck ever since. When you enter the lobby you will understand why, it's an awe inspiring sight indeed.
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"Grand Canyon Lodge"
The only lodge perched on the remote North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.
Opened in 1928, and rebuilt in 1937, the main lodge was constructed primarily of Ponderosa logs, and limestone with log-slab siding. This is a rustic structure divided into several levels that fit the canyon rim, providing multiple observation decks, overlooks, and open terraces.
Wrought-iron lamps and chandeliers, along with carved and painted Native Indian art, add to the lodge's rustic charm. This historic lodge is almost unchanged since 1937.
As with the El Tovar Hotel on the canyons South Rim, the simple splendor of the Grand Canyon views are this historic lodges main calling card.
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"Lake McDonald Lodge"
Situated
on the eastern shore of beautiful
Lake McDonald in
the heart of beautiful Glacier National Park, Montana.
Opened in 1914, this three-and-a-half-story lodge is a prime example of a Swiss Chalet. The lakeside views of Lake McDonald, the largest lake in the park, are as picturesque as you will find anywhere.
The lobby is memorable for its floors that are constructed to look like flagstone, inscribed with Blackfoot, Chippewa, and Cree Indian phrases.
The Lobby is further accented with balconies that overlook mounted trophy heads and chandeliers of Native American design.
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"Many Glacier Hotel-Lodge"
Located
along the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake,
deep in
the heart of Glacier National Park, Montana.
Opened in 1915, The largest hotel-lodge in Glacier Park, and for many years the largest hotel in all of Montana. This mammoth stretches along Swiftcurrents beautiful lake shore, five-stories at its peek designed like an enormous Swiss Chalet. The main hall is a smaller version of the grand Glacier Park Lodge lobby, with the same towering massive timbers supporting multiple-stories of interior balconies.
A large, round conical fireplace, with a hammered copper hood anchors the room providing a cozy warm atmosphere to lounge and relax. It's worth paying extra for a lakeside room where you can relax on your balcony and take in the awesome alpine views.
This is the only place in America to truly experience the feel and views of the Swiss Alps. The photo on the header of this page is a good example.
Guided lake tours can range all the way north into Alberta, Canada, where you will see the wildest, most beautiful alpine views of the entire Rocky Mountains.
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"Old Faithful Inn"
Located within sight of the famous Old Faithful Geyser, in historic Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming is the Old Faithful Inn.
Opened in 1904, the Old Faithful Inn, the "Undisputed Queen" of all the national park lodges, is a massive exposed log and wood structure almost 700 feet long.
The Old Faithful Inn is one of the largest log hotels in the world. The lobby’s ceiling soars over 90 feet above, and a man-made forest of timber surrounds you as light filters through the branches, as if you really are in an immense forest setting. A gigantic fireplace of stone sixteen square feet square dominates the main lobby.
The Grand Old Faithful Inn is as famous as the geyser it's named after and inspired the construction of all the other great national park lodges that followed.
The Old Faithful Inn was the first national park lodge built. Yellowstone National Park was the first designated national park, not only in America, but the world.
The geyser basin of Yellowstone National Park is the largest, most active, anywhere in the world.
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"Oregon Caves Chateau"
This beautiful chateau was uniquely built to span a wooded granite gorge in the Siskiyou Mountains near the entrance to the Oregon caves in the Oregon Caves National Monument, Oregon.
Opened in 1934, this six-story chalet-style building, was primarily constructed with local timber and materials, by local craftsmen. The large double fireplace contains marble blasted out during the construction.
A steep-pitched gable roof crowns the lodge and huge post and beams, support the rugged wood framed superstructure.
Though small by great national park lodge standards, this park lodge truly is great, and offers an abundance of unique features and charms. A stream flows through the dining room. Trout pools and a waterfall enhance the charm.
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"Paradise Inn"
This rustic old lodge is built high on the slopes of Mount Rainier in the heart of Mount Rainier National Park, Washington.
Opened in 1917, the distant Tatoosh range, Paradise valley and the summit of Mount Rainier can be seen from this two-and-a-half to three-story building, constructed from local stone and dead standing weathered cedar logs, in a post and beam style.
A steep-sloped multiple gabled roof helps protect the building from record snowfalls that regularly occur in this area. The lobby and dining room are impressive with a forested feel of timbers, hanging ornate lanterns, massive fireplaces, parquet floors and unique handcrafted furniture.
This park lodge has a historic past. Once used to house competitors during the 1934-35 Olympic tryouts as a ski-resort, and to house many notable guests over the years, President Harry Truman and Shirley Temple just to name a few.
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"Timberline Lodge"
Only a handful of lodges anywhere in the world can compete for regal beauty, and artistic charm with the Timberline Lodge. Set midway up the slopes of beautiful Mt. Hood in the Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon.
Opened in 1937, under the scenic backdrop of majestic Mt. Hood, Timberline Lodge is surrounded by a never-ending array of scenic beauty, vast national forests, and the slopes of the Cascade Range.
Built entirely by hand as a WPA project during America's great depression, a small army of jobless master artisans and craftsmen eager for work, showcased their skills on the immense four-story, 12,350 sq. foot project.
The result is an unequaled example of architecture that captures the true spirit of the mountain.
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"Volcano House"
Located on the
very edge of Kilauea Crater,
in
the remarkable Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii is Volcano House.
Once a house to worship the volcano goddess, "Pele" this small but comfortable national park lodge offers crater views of Kilauea, the world's most active volcano, along with an overlook that showcases lush forests around the base of Mauna Loa Mountain, the world's most massive volcano.
Past guests, such as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Mark Twain have enjoyed the Koa-wood furnishing that offer a relaxing spot to enjoy this unique geological hot spot.
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"Zion Lodge"
Unlike
any other national park lodge at a canyon destination,
Zion Lodge is uniquely located on the canyon floor in Zion National
Park, Utah.
Originally opened in 1905, tragically totally destroyed by fire in 1966. The lodge was quickly rebuilt lacking most of its former style and charm. Thankfully, a 1992 remodeling project restored the historic lodge to most of its original glory.
Shaded by timber and massive sandstone cliffs that tower high above you, this two-story lodge is constructed of native sandstone and timber. It offers a peaceful, relaxed setting to enjoy spectacular views of the magnificent canyon surroundings.
This hiker's paradise allows you to explore vast canyons, narrow ravines and forested plateaus along the striking Virgin River.
Peak to Peak Trail and Wilderness Links
| Site
Map The following is a complete Site Map to National Park Lodge Guide.com. |
| National
Park Lodge Reservations A complete list of National Park Lodge Reservations with phone numbers and booking links for the National Park Lodges listed within the National Park Lodge Guide.com |
| The
Ahwahnee Hotel The Ahwahnee Hotel is the crown jewel of the National Park System, This National Park Lodge is located in the heart of Americas most Beautiful Valley, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite Valley California. |
| Bryce
Canyon Lodge The Bryce Canyon Lodge rests on a Beautiful Mesa on the rim of Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. This National Park Lodge is known for its Unique Geologic Features. |
| Crater
Lake Lodge The Historic Crater Lake Lodge is pearched on the very edge of Americas most beautiful Volcanic Lake, This National Park Lodge is located in Crater Lake National Park, Oregon. |
| El
Tovar Hotel The El Tovar Hotel sets on the edge overlooling the Majistic Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. This National Park Lodge was once called the most ecpensive Log House in America. |
| Furnace
Creek Inn. The Furnace Creek Inn. is the only National Park Lodge that Uniquely sets at the base of the Funeral Mountians surrounded by an Oasis in the heart of Death Valley National Park, California. |
| Glacier
Park Lodge The Grand Glacier Park Lodge also known as The Big Trees Lodge. This National Park Lodge is located at the eastern boundary of Beautiful Glacier National Park, Montana. |
| Grand
Canyon Lodge The Historic Grand Canyon Lodge is the only National Park Lodge located on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. |
| Lake
McDonald Lodge Lake McDonald Lodge is the best example of an Historic Swis Chalet style National Park Lodge in America. This Historic Lodge overlooks Picturesque Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park, Montana. |
| Many
Glacier Hotel The Mammoth Many Glacier Hotel is Glacier National Parks largest National Park Lodge, and offers guests the best Alpine Views in North America from the shores of Beautiful Swiftcurrent Lake, Montana. |
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Old Faithful Inn. The Old Faithful Inn. is the worlds most Historic National Park Lodge, it overlooks the famous Old Faithful Geyser in Historic Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. |
| Oregon
Caves Chateau The Oregon Caves Chateau Uniquely spans a Granite Gorge in the Beautiful Siskiyou Mountains of Oregon, This National Park Lodge is located at the entrance to the Oregon Caves National Monument. |
| Paradise
Inn. Paradise Inn. is located high on the slopes of Mount Rainier, This National Park Lodge is world famous as an Historic Ski Resort and overlooks the Paradise Valley of Mount Rainier, Washington. |
| Timberline
Lodge The Historic Timberline Lodge crowns the slopes of Majestic My. Hood in Oregon. This National Park Lodge was built as a WPA project back douring Americas Great Deprision, this ski resort is in Oregon |
| Volcano
House The Volcano House is the only National Park Lodge located on the edge of an active Volcanic Crater in Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii. The Historic Volcano House overlooks Kilauea Crater. |
| Zion
Lodge The Spectacular Zion Lodge set on the floor of Zion National Park, Utah. shaded by Massive Sandstone Cliffs. |
| About
me page An About me page introduction by the author of National Park Lodge Guide.com |
| Relative
Links On this page you will find Relative Links to a number of helpful sites that are either related or helpful to National Park Lodge Guide.com |
| Travel
Links On this page you will find Travel Links to a number of helpful sites that should be helpful in planning your travel adventure. |
| National
Park Lodge Guide, Your guide to Americas Historic National Park Lodges The National Park Lodge Guide is a personal guide to Americas Historic National Park Lodges with information, maps, guides, photos and links to some of this Nations most enduring National Treasures. |
