Reader Participation Day: Which is Your Favorite National Park Lodge?
The Old Faithful Inn has many fans. It is your favorite national park lodge? Photo by QT Luong, used with permission. www.terragalleria.com/parks
Yellowstone has its magnificent log cabin, Yosemite its blue-blooded Ahwahnee, Grand Teton its charming Jenny Lake Lodge. These are just three of the many lodges, hotels, and inns that can be found throughout the National Park System. Which is your favorite, and why?
Easy as that question might seem, arriving at an answer is no easy task. Where else but the Old Faithful Inn can you stay in a massive, century-old log cabin next to the world's most famous geyser? Book a room at Lake McDonald Lodge in Glacier National Park and when the sun goes down it almost feels as if the park is your own private paradise, as the day visitors vanished, leaving you on the shore of that incredible lake.
The list goes on and on. Bryce Canyon Lodge has its colorful amphitheater, El Tovar its fantastic canyon, LeConte its rumpled mountains, Rainer that grand inn.
So tell us. Which lodge is your all-time favorite?
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Comments
Connie
Our family's #1 pick has to be the Old Faithful Inn! We have stayed there many times over the years, including the year of their centennial! In fact, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law have a short appearance in the "Yellowstone: America's First National Park" special that was taped there that same year. You see them inside the Inn on the balcony watching Old Faithful erupt! We ALWAYS stay in the Old House section, tons of atmosphere and charm! Our friend Rich Holstein was allowed to reclaim the flooring from the restoration project and has made frames, mirrors and even a coffee table for us! He is a talented artisit who has gifted back to the Inn mirrors and frames. Additional works of his can be seen at the Mammoth Springs Hotel Gift Shop.
Having said that, Many Glacier Hotel is second on my list. I love being able to watch the sun set over Swiftcurrent Lake and my husband has a spectacular photo of a moose in the lake with Many Glacier Hotel in the background. Couple that with catching David Walburn's media presentations on "Lewis & Clark", "Montana" or his "Cabin Song" which chronicles his homesteading and building a cabin with friends from College, is the best way to top off a great day in the Park.
Connie Hopkins
Denton, Texas
LeConte Lodge in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
You can only hike to it so there are no crowds, plenty of quiet, comfortable lodging, hearty food, and beautiful surroundings. The only negatives are that it is tough to get reservations to, the hikes are not easy, and you cannot predict the weather.
I found the Oregon Caves lodge to be very quaint and chariming. Snuggled up against a hillside it had a fairy tale type appearance and the creek running through the building itself brought the outdoors indoors.
Connie
Technically not a Lodge but the Sperry Chalet in Glacier NP is pretty incredible! In 2007 my son and I went up by horseback and met my husband and his brother who hiked in from Gunsight Pass. The dining room is the only facility with lights, etc powered by propane brought up by horseback. The staff was incredible and Albert makes the best pies ever! The next day we took an all day hike with a sack lunch they had prepared to Sperry Glacier. The mountain goats are all over the premises and you can see Lake McDonald far below!! The chalet is only open for * 10-12 weeks in the summer and it's one of our family's best memories!!
My favorite is the Charit Creek Lodge in the Big South Fork since it is the only one I've stayed in. I would recommend a visit. Great food, nice scenery and you have to hike or horseback ride in to it.
Sperry Chalet in Glacier is a small gem. Unbelieveable setting, great food and friendly staff. As Connie Hopkins noted, It is tough to get one of its 16 rooms which become available in early winter and are often filled by January. My wife and I worked there in 1986 and returned in 2004 with our kids and grandkids. No TV but the GK s including teens loved it.
It is difficult to beat the view from the Crater Lake Lodge. Its the only place you can stay overnight with a view of Crater Lake. Taking in sunset from a rocking chair on the back porch is sublime. Inside, the lodge was rebuilt in the rustic style matching the original stone fireplace. And the food's pretty good too.
Phantom Ranch may not have the granduer of Old Faithful Lodge or the overlook in Glacier but afterall you do have to work you tail off to achieve a night either in the cabins or bunk house. Starts 23 months in advance trying to get a reservation, from there, all down hill, literally, 9 miles before you can unstrap your boots and enjoy an ice cold tecate or ice tea. By the time the dinner bell rings you have been smelling the steaks grilling as the smoke drifts up the canyon tempting those starting their descent from the north rim. After dinner soak your feet in one of mothers natures true wonders, the ice cold Colorado River, quickly dispensing the pain and getting you pumped up for the 9 miles climb the next day unless you are blessed enough to spend a couple of nights below the rim.
I would have to say El Tovar at the Grand Canyon. The beautiful lobby, mezanine, rooms, and dining room are spectacular!! The memories of visiting the Grand Canyon will always be hand in hand with the El Tovar for all of the wonderful experiences we had there!
I'm not sure what really qualifies as a "lodge". Many of the lodge buildings at NPS sites are really the central dining and front desk commons for self-standing cabins. Some are a combination of attached rooms with outside cabins.
Of course the Ahwahnee is an amazing building which just oozes a different era when the elite would get their own little slice of Yosemite. They do happen to have a few cabins.
If "lodge" isn't specifically defined, I'd say Roosevelt Lodge at Yellowstone. I just love the rustic charm, which includes water served in mason jars with handles as well as the employees all wearing cowboy hats. The old-fashioned front door adds a nice touch. While I suppose Old Faithful Inn is a fine building, Old Faithful Lodge next door is in my opinion a more remarkable building design (by Gilbert Stanley Underwood).
I'd say Many Glacier Lodge in Glacier National Park. We have two special memories from there in 1996. First, the summer staff put on a wonderful musical of oldies that kept our whole family laughing and highly entertained. Also, since there was a noticeable creosote smell in the hotel, when we got to our third story room, my husband pointed out to our three children (ages 12, 10, and 7) the fire escape ladder outside on the brick wall. The next morning, while I had gone to the lobby and my husband was in the shower - the alarm went off! Our children dutifully did just what they had been told - complete with teddy bears in arm, and including a several-foot jump from the bottom of the ladder! Fortunately, a kind elderly couple on the ground floor saw what happened and helped get them back where they belonged.
The lodge I'd most like to stay at is Crater Lake Lodge. I'd love to go in winter, with the white snow contrasting that indescribably blue water.
We try to eat a meal at the lodges, because usually we are camping or just traveling through. The views are amazing at Grand Canyon North Rim and Grand Teton.
Many Glacier Lodge - Glacier National Park Montana, spectacular setting surrounded by mountains and set on a beautiful lake, 5 story fireplace in the round, milky way in clear view at night and grizzly bears during the day all from the lodge deck, the best hiking in North America for any level of experience, glaciers, waterfalls, horseback riding, fishing, it's the ultimate outdoor experience
Connie
Are you referrring to the Old Faithful Snow Lodge? We will be leaving 2 weeks from today, staying at the Snow Lodge for 8 days, spending Christmas in Yellowstone! we stayed there in january for our very first Winter trip to Yellowstone. I haven't stayed at Roosevelt yet but we did do the Chuck Wagon dinner ride from there n 2004 and that was a lot of fun!
I've never stayed at the Ahwahnee, I've been inside of it though! WOW! We always stay at Wawonna down around the marisposa Grove area when we hike in Yosemite!
Happy Hiking!
Connie
Having never actually stayed in a lodge in any National Park, but having visited dozens, I would have to say my favorite one is at Oregon Caves National Monument. I blends in so well with its surroundings with the cedar bark siding, is smaller than many and just seems so right for the location. Having said that, every lodge I have visited has been memorable in some way, and I agree with all the others posted here, incredible locations with incredible scenery, how can you go wrong!
I've stayed in at least 15 lodges (not counting the Canadian lodges) and I have a 3-way tie.
For pure National Park Lodge Awesomeness, I choose the Crater Lake Lodge. It's location can't be beat and it's construction is gorgeous and rustic.
For location, I choose Jackson Lake Lodge. There is nothing cooler than the Teton range outside your window with a herd of elk in the foreground.
For comfort and convenience, I choose Old Faithful Snow Lodge. I've stayed in 3 of Yellowstone's lodges, and the Snow Lodge is always the first choice if it's available. It's right in the middle of the geyser-basin activities, and its modern amenities make coming back to the lodge a joy. I can't wait till I get to do my "Christmas in Yellowstone" and stay there in the winter.
I haven't necessarily stayed in these places, but maybe I can knock of my checklist of places I've visited. I'm not going to include any place where there didn't seem to be at least a proper lodge building.
The Ahwahnee Hotel - Yosemite. Very expensive. Have dined there. Possibly the greatest building ever constructed in the "National Park Rustic" style.
The Wawona Hotel - Yosemite. I have dined there during the winter. The lobby at night was filled with people drinking Irish coffee and hot mulled cider.
Old Faithful Lodge - Yellowstone. Highly underrated. The view is as good as the Old Faithful Inn. Unfortunately I haven't been in the Old Faithful Inn for years. The last time I visited Yellowstone the Inn was undergoing seismic upgrades.
Yellowstone Canyon Lodge. I didn't particularly like it. The strange International Style seemed way out of place. I do like the diner though.
Yellowstone Lake Hotel and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. Similar styles. I guess those were constructed before the rustic style became popular.
Roosevelt Lodge - Yellowstone. Mentioned before. Just a main commons building. Not snooty, which is a bonus in my book.
Jackson Lake Lodge - Grand Teton. Now that's International Style that looks like it belongs there.
Crater Lake Lodge. Really nice with a great view of the lake.
Kalaloch Lodge - Olympic. Great view of the ocean. Good store but haven't tried the restaurant.
National Park Inn - Mt Rainier. Somewhat secluded. Just get a drink and find a seat on the porch.
Paradise Inn - Mt Rainier. Good lobby area. Nicely done in the rustic style.
Bryce Canyon Lodge. The wavy roof lines make it rather interesting.
Zion Lodge. Ate hear. I understand that the original building burned down and the newer one was reconstructed closer to the original design.
El Tovar Hotel - Grand Canyon. I bit dark but definitely the nicest hotel at the South Rim.
I know the Wuksachi Lodge at Sequoia NP gets a lot of criticism because it's so high priced and essentially replaced less expensive cabins that were at the Giant Forest Village. I found Cedar Grove Lodge at Kings Canyon NP rather unremarkable.
I think that's about it. When I visited Everglades NP, the Flamingo Inn was already destroyed by a couple of hurricanes. It was before it was condemned, but I didn't get a good look.
To help fill in some of the gaps....
Lake Crescent Lodge -- Olympic. Nice lakeside setting. Restaurant was incredible last time I was there. Roosevelt Cabins seem to be the way to go.
Kalaloch Lodge -- Restaurant's not bad, setting is great, I've really enjoyed the cabins on the bluff.
Zion Lodge -- Western cabins are the way to go.
Bryce Canyon -- Ditto on the cabins.
Far View Lodge -- Mesa Verde. Haven't stayed in any of the updated Kiva rooms, but the standard rooms were nothing special when I was there. Restaurant is one of the better ones in the park system.
Jackson Lake Lodge -- I'd quibble mightily with you, YPW, on this place. One of Underwood's worst creations, in my opinion, after all the work he did with parkitecture. The surrounding cottages are nice, though.
Colter Bay Village -- Grand Teton. The cabins are charmingly rustic and perfect for the location, though they can be stiflingly hot in August.
Lake McDonald Lodge -- Glacier. Rooms are small, restaurant is pretty good.
Furnace Creek Inn -- Death Valley. Highly priced, but beautiful architecture and setting.
Furnace Creek Ranch -- Nothing special, but affordable.
Connie
I love all the feedback! Our National Parks are true American treasures!
Connie Hopkins
I quite liked Jackson Lake Lodge. However - I'm heavily biased about that big room with the window pointing at Jackson Lake. If there's one thing Underwood was good at, it was pointing his windows.
I did stay at one of the Bryce Canyon cabins. Now those are some remarkable buildings. I heard that Underwood designed each one differently.
I've also stayed at Maswik at Grand Canyon. The cabins were unremarkable, but very affordable. Their lodge building wasn't all that great compared to the other lodges with views of the Grand Canyon.
Bryce Canyon Lodge is on top of my list! It's a classic throw-back to the lodges of old. Front desk staffs are both knowledgeable and courteous. Dinners were extremely good. Two-thumbs up for me!
Loved the lodge. We asked if they might have our cabin available early although that didn't happen.
However - we had an interesting experience at the Bryce Canyon Lodge dining room the day before (when we were staying at Ruby's Inn). We got in for a late lunch and there was only one member of the wait staff and about 12 tables occupied. We were polite to her (sort of understood her predicament). However - other patrons were complaining loudly and ranting about the slow service. So she starts rushing out with food stomping on the ground, other patrons are still complaining, and she stomps back into the kitchen and pretty much loses it. We could hear her screaming in the kitchen that she couldn't handle this alone and I think she might have been relieved for the day with the manager taking over. We asked a busboy what the deal was, and apparently they don't usually have much of a late lunch crowd and the manager didn't provide backup. The food finally arrived and was quite good.
I loved the Jackson Lake Lodge. The views were to die for and the little cabins were stylish, clean, and very eco friendly.
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