A swift wildfire razed a historic lodge and dozens of structures on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, prompting officials to close the area for the season.
The North Rim’s Grand Canyon Lodge—the only in-park accommodation—burned down, park Superintendent Ed Keable announced Sunday. About 50-80 structures were destroyed, including the visitor center, gas station, wastewater plant, administrative building and employee housing. In addition, “numerous” historic cabins in the area were destroyed, the park said.
A Landmark Through the Years
For decades, the Grand Canyon Lodge and its surrounding cabins stood as the only lodging option within the North Rim — a quieter, more remote section of the park, known for its higher elevation and lighter crowds.
Originally opened in a 1928 structure also destroyed by fire, the rebuilt Grand Canyon Lodge opened in June 1937 with a limestone facade and massive ponderosa pine trees that served as support beams, holding up a sloped roof capable of supporting heavy loads of snow.
By walking across the lobby and descending a stairwell, visitors could get their first view of the Grand Canyon shining through windows across the “Sun Room.”
Two North Rim wildfires, White Sage and Dragon Bravo—both still active at press time—were sparked to life by lightning on July 4. Dragon Bravo, which damaged the iconic lodge and surrounding structures, was initially managed with a “confine and contain” approach, but officials switched to aggressive suppression a week later as hot weather, low humidity and strong winds rapidly expanded it to 7.8 square miles (20 square kilometers).
No injuries were reported, but Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs said in a statement on Sunday that a federal investigation into the National Park Service’s “inadequate” response was in order. Her statement on X emphasized two crucial points: first, authorities must take aggressive, decisive action to contain the still-active wildfires; second, Arizonans—and all Americans—deserve a full accounting of how this natural treasure was allowed to suffer such devastating damage under federal protection.
Millions of people visit Grand Canyon National Park annually, with most going to the more popular South Rim. However, many cherish the North Rim due to its remoteness and fewer tourists.
