Zion Lodge
Architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood, responsible for many noteworthy national park lodges, designed the original Zion Lodge, which opened in 1924 but was destroyed by fire four decades later (the neighboring guest cabins survived and are still in use today). It was hastily rebuilt in about 100 days, and then in 1990, it received a painstaking restoration that brought it back to its original rustic style, in some cases down to the very paint color. Natural beauty is on display inside and out, from the lobby's rock columns and exposed wood to the cottonwoods shading the sprawling lawn. The main building includes a gift shop, an upscale restaurant, and an outdoor café with a large patio and beer garden. One way to experience the lodge and its surroundings is through an open-air narrated tram ride (the fare is $17).
