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?
Comments
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.