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Grand Canyon Lodging: Kachina Lodge

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

When making the decision of which Grand Canyon lodging choice to pick, things can get quite confusing. Is it important to ask yourself what your goals are. If you want a great location combined with cleanliness and a view, the Kachina Lodge is for you. Your vacation to Grand Canyon National Park is a chance of a lifetime. You will want to have your bases covered so you can venture away from the Grand Canyon hotels and explore the best of Grand Canyon National Park. The south rim has a lot to offer visitors to Grand Canyon National Park with many gift shops, restaurants and services in the Grand Canyon Village.

The Grand Canyon hotels on the south rim are mostly a fair distance from the actual rim. The Kachina Lodge is butted up to the south rim with spectacular views of one of the seven wonders of the world, Grand Canyon National Park. Not only is the location ideal to the Grand Canyon, the Kachina Lodge also enjoys immediate access to the bustling Grand Canyon Village. From this prime location, guests can venture away from the Grand Canyon hotels and out to the most popular vistas in Grand Canyon National Park such as Yavapai Point and Hopi Point. Everything is at your fingertips when you stay at the Kachina Lodge.

Grand Canyon Yavapai Point From the Kachina Lodge

Yavapai Point photo by Tobias Alt, available from wikipedia

The Kachina Lodge is a great choice for those who find disappointment in arriving at their hotel only to find that their room has been smoked in or has been used for pets. This scenario doesn’t happen at the Kachina Lodge because of their no smoking and no pets policies. This is an important element for those with animal dander allergies or intolerance to the smell of smoke. The Kachina Lodge is a well kept Grand Canyon hotel.

When figuring out your Grand Canyon lodging, definitely consider staying at the Kachina Lodge. This Grand Canyon hotel provides just the right amenities while also exhibiting an ideal location on the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The rooms are comfortable, clean and many have canyon views. The location is just right with the El Tovar and Bright Angel Lodge just steps away. The Grand Canyon Village offers entertainment and access to tours as well as services. Staying at the Kachina Lodge puts guests right in the middle of the action, which is where you wanna be if you are on the south rim. Give US Park Lodging a call to arrange your Kachina Lodge or Grand Canyon lodging reservations.

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The Historic El Tovar Hotel, Grand Canyon National Park

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011

As the transcontinental railroad was completed and train travel exploded onto the American frontier, the Santa Fe Railroad Company extended an interior rail to the Grand Canyon in 1901. Prior to the completion of this spur, travelers to the Grand Canyon arrived by stagecoach. The El Tovar Hotel originated as just a sparkle in the eyes of the Santa Fe Railroad partnered with the Fred Harvey Company, as a destination resort. The accommodations between the east and west coasts were somewhat primitive which begged for the El Tovar Hotel’s creation in 1905 to provide a luxurious experience for the Santa Fe Railway travelers. This focus led to the Grand Canyon evolving from a forest reserve into a national monument in 1908 and eventually a national park in 1919. In this year, 1919, there were over 44,000 visitors to Grand Canyon National Park. Today the Grand Canyon receives more than 5 million visitors each year.

El Tovar Lodge, Grand Canyon circa 1908 from Haines Photo Co. Courtesey of the Library of Congress: Prints and Photographs: Panoramic Photographs: LC-USZ62-97315

The El Tovar Hotel on the South Rim of the mighty Grand Canyon is an historical landmark as well as a top Grand Canyon vacation destination. As one of the first national park styled lodges built over 100 years ago, the El Tovar Hotel helped pave the way for a legacy of grand and rustic national park lodges around the country. This iconic Grand Canyon National Park lodge is situated just 20 short feet from the south rim of the Grand Canyon. This makes the El Tovar Hotel a breathtaking place to experience the glory of the Grand Canyon.

The El Tovar was also a trendsetter for the famed Grand Canyon activity of riding mules down the Bright Angel Trail, which was vigorously promoted by the Fred Harvey Company via the El Tovar. These new trails were built upon the paths of the Native Americans who traveled it long before the days of the El Tovar. In 1922, the Fred Harvey Company finished the construction of the Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon. This addition made it possible to offer the utmost in service, even at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

This iconic national park hotel is still a luxurious hotel with attention to service and detail, even 100 years later. For visitors to Grand Canyon National Park, staying at El Tovar will make all the difference. For those who miss it, they are truly missing an historical and grand experience.