The Historic National Park Lodge - America's Least Known and
Almost Forgotten National Treasure
Take a tour of Americas historic national park
lodges.
These crown jewels of the National Park Service are uniquely
located in some of the nation's most remote scenic back country.
Most of these remarkable landmarks were hand-crafted at or before
the turn of the last century. Small armies of old world artisans
and craftsmen came together to showcase their remarkable skills in
Americas newly formed national parks.
All of these remarkable century old structures are recognized
as historic national landmarks for their unique craftsmanship that
is unequaled and irreplaceable to this day. Each of them should be
preserved, visited and enjoyed by all generations.
No better locations can be found anywhere in North America to
experience the vast scenic outdoors. If you enjoy nature or
watching endangered wildlife roaming wild and free that are
virtually unavailable and inaccessible in their natural setting
anywhere else in the country. America's national park lodges and
the national parks they reside in are the only place to start your
adventure of a lifetime from.
Below you will find a short description of fifteen of Americas
premiere historic national park lodges, along with the
house apartments for rent.
The Ahwahnee Hotel
Opened in 1927, this magnificent national park lodge is
located in what might be America's most beautiful valley. Yosemite
Valley is in the heart of Yosemite National Park, California. This
renowned park is known the world over for its beauty and striking
geologic formations along with its many waterfalls. The
luxurious Ahwahnee Hotel sets
shaded under towering cliffs and offers guests luxurious
accommodations rarely found in a national park setting. Perhaps
that's one reason Presidents, world leaders, movie stars, and even
Queen Elizabeth II, have graced its halls.
Bryce Canyon Lodge
Opened in 1925,this rustic lodge sets atop a forested Mesa
next to the rim of Bryce Canyon in Bryce Canyon National Park,
Utah. This is the smallest national park in Utah, but offers
visitors the worlds greatest collection of unique geologic
formations called Hoodoos. These strange formations, along with
many other sight were created by erosion in this small beautiful
canyon along the eastern edge of Utah's Paunsaugunt Plateau.
Crater Lake Lodge
Opened in 1915 and rebuilt in 1995, this beautiful national
park lodge is scenically perched on the edge of cliffs overlooking
Crater Lake. This spectacular deep blue lake is considered by many
the most beautiful lake in America. No other lodge anywhere else on
earth offers visitors the unique combination of scenic surroundings
provided by the collapsed caldera crater in Crater Lake National
Park.
The EL Tovar Hotel
Opened in 1905, this architectural wonder seems to spring up
out of the very rock it is perched on overlooking the South Rim of
the Grand Canyon in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. Once
called "The most expensively constructed and appointed Log House in
America". The El Tovar still holds most of its rustic charm that
has attracted many noted guests over the years such as Presidents
Roosevelt and Taft, along with Bernard Shaw, Gugliemo Marconi,
Author Zane Gray and Albert Einstein.
The Furnace Creek Inn
Opened in 1927, in what is one of the most remote and desolate
locations on the North American Continent. Death Valley National
Park, California is not the place anyone would normally associate
with a lush green oasis of towering Palm trees, or
spring-fed gardens. The
luxurious Furnace Creek Inn breaks the mold and is certainly one of
the most unique lodge destinations you will ever visit. If the
beautiful adobe walls could speak, it's not hard to imagine what
tales they could tell of the bygone business moguls and Hollywood
types that have lounged around the hot spring-fed pools shaded by
lush palm trees over the years.
Glacier Park Lodge
Opened in 1913, the guardian to the gates of Glacier National
Park, Montana's eastern boundary. This truly grand national park
lodge needed a railroad spur laid to the building site just to
transport in the enormous timbers that frame its colossal central
atrium. When the local Blackfeet Indians first saw the giant
timbers unloaded they were so awed by their size that they dubbed
the new building "Oom-Coo-Mush-Taw" or "Big Trees Lodge" a fitting
name that has stuck ever since.
Grand Canyon Lodge
Opened in 1928, this stunning historic park lodge is posted on
a promontory overlooking the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Grand
Canyon National Park, Arizona. If you want to enjoy the Grand
Canyon without all the traffic and crowds that gather on the South
Rim, make reservations to stay at this stunning remote location on
the North Rim.
The Lake McDonald Lodge
Opened in 1914, on the eastern shore of beautiful Lake
McDonald deep in the heart of Glacier National Park, Montana, this
historic lodge is a prime example and one of the only remaining
Swiss Chalet style mountain lodges that early park pioneers strove
to create a century earlier. You will be hard pressed to find a
more picturesque alpine setting anywhere in North America to enjoy
views from the lakeside veranda.
The Many Glacier Hotel
Opened in 1915, this is the largest national park lodge in
Glacier National Park, and for many years the largest hotel in
Montana. The scenery here is world famous with sweeping panoramic
views of Swiftcurrent Lake whose shores this majestic lodge is
built along. If you are looking for a vacation destination that
offers striking views of the northern Rocky Mountains along with a
beautiful pristine alpine lake. You can enjoy it all right from
your rooms lake side balcony.
The Old Faithful Inn
Opened in 1904, next to the historic Old Faithful Geyser in
the heart of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. this is
unquestionably the "Queen" of all national park lodges. This
massive log structure hardly needs an introduction. It has reigned
for well over a century as the largest log building in the world,
and has influenced and inspired the construction of all the
national park lodges that followed. This was the first national
park lodge built anywhere in the world, and Yellowstone National
Park was the first designated national park anywhere in the
world.
The Oregon Caves Chateau
Opened in 1934, this charming lodge was built to span a wooded
granite gorge in the beautiful Siskiyou Mountains next to the
entrance to the Oregon Caves in Oregon Caves National Monument,
Oregon. You won't want to miss this one if you plan a trip anywhere
in the region. A live mountain stream flows through the dining room
providing an unforgettable ambiance you won't soon forget.
The Paradise Inn
Opened in 1917, high on the slopes of Mount Rainier in Mount
Rainier National Park, Washington, this historic lodge recently
went through a massive 35-million dollar restoration. Each stone
was numbered and cataloged then completely rebuilt. The term "no
stone was left unturned" literally fits in regard to the Paradise
Inn. Many notable guests and dignitaries have graced this lodge
over the years including President Truman, the crown prince of
Norway, Sonja Henie, Tyrone Power, Cecil B. DeMille, and Shirley
Temple just to name a few.
Timberline Lodge
Opened in 1937, and has a truly historic past. This national
park lodge was built during Americas "Great Depression" as a WPA
works project. A small army of out of work master craftsmen and
artisans eager for work camped out midway up the slopes of
beautiful Mount Hood in the Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon to
create this masterpiece. Few lodges anywhere in the world can
compete with Timberline Lodge for historic importance,
craftsmanship, or overall artistic detail.
The Volcano House
Opened in 1941, on the edge of Kilauea Crater one of the most
active volcanoes in the world in Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii.
This historic location has been host to some form of structure as
far back as the early 1800's. Easily one of the most unique
national park lodges you will find anywhere in the world. Not only
is Volcano House the only hotel in Volcanoes National Park, it is
the oldest continuously operated hotel in Hawaii.
Zion Park Lodge
Opened in 1905, this lodge was uniquely build on the canyon
floor in beautiful Zion National Park, Utah. This is an outdoor
enthuses dream, set amid a magnificent panoramic surrounding shaded
by striking 2000 ft. sandstone cliffs. If you like to hike,
backpack, bike ride, or horseback ride you will find this national
park lodge an ideal year-round destination.