On July 13, 2025, the Grand Canyon Lodge and its surrounding cabins on the North Rim were tragically destroyed by the Dragon Bravo Fire, a lightning-sparked wildfire that swept through the Kaibab Plateau during a season of extreme heat and wind. For many, including my wife and me, this loss feels deeply personal.
We experienced the magic of the North Rim in 2018 during our first rim-to-rim hike of the Grand Canyon. After a 4-plus-hour shuttle ride from the south rim, we checked into our cabin, then headed to the lodge for bite to eat as the sun faded down canyon.
Read about the good, bad and ugly of our rim to rim hike.
Perched at 8,000 feet above sea level, the lodge served as a place of quiet reflection, where the canyon revealed itself through the iconic “Sun Room” windows. Sharing those photos now, knowing the lodge is gone, is bittersweet.
A legacy carved in stone and pine
The Grand Canyon Lodge was more than a hotel — it was a historic landmark and a symbol of rustic elegance. Originally built in 1928 for the Union Pacific Railroad, the first lodge burned down in a kitchen fire in 1932. It was rebuilt in 1937 using native Kaibab limestone and ponderosa pine, designed to harmonize with the canyon’s dramatic landscape.
- Age of the lodge: 88 years old at the time of its destruction
- Cabin count: 23 deluxe cabins and 91 standard cabins
- Operating season: Annually from May 15 to October 15, due to heavy snowfall and remote access
Historic moments and traditions
The lodge wasn’t just a place to stay — it was a stage for memory-making. In the early decades, college-aged staff greeted arriving guests with songs and sent them off with musical farewells. Evening talent shows and dances filled the dining room with laughter and camaraderie. The lodge also housed a 600-pound bronze statue of Brighty the Burro, a beloved canyon character immortalized in a children’s book and film.
In 1987, the Grand Canyon Lodge was designated a National Historic Landmark, recognized for its architectural significance and enduring legacy.
What We Lost — and what remains
The fire claimed not only the lodge but also dozens of other structures, including the visitor center, gas station, and water treatment plant. Thankfully, all guests and staff were safely evacuated. While the physical buildings are gone, the memories — and the spirit of the North Rim — endure.
As I share our 2018 photos and reflect on the lodge’s legacy, we’re reminded that places like this don’t just disappear. They live on in stories, in hikes taken, in sunsets watched from canyon edges.
Share your Grand Canyon Lodge memories
If you’ve ever experienced the Grand Canyon Lodge at the North Rim, tell us about it in the comments below.
