El Tovar Hotel Grand Canyon

While Roosevelt may have been chagrined to see this impressive lodge built, he, along with several Presidents, numerous celebrities, and countless other visitors, have enjoyed staying at one of the jewels of the national park lodges.

Perhaps Roosevelt was thankful that the Grand Canyon El Tovar builders didn't let the hotel sprawl right along the rim.

The front entrance of El Tovar Grand Canyon

Instead, it sits just 20 feet away, curving in a graceful arc away from the canyon's edge, close enough to provide views but far enough away to not dominate the rim.

From there, they bumped and bounced in a 20-hour stagecoach ride to the Canyon, traveling over rough roads through pine forests and the rugged, dry Colorado Plateau.

In 1901, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch rail line from Williams to Grand Canyon Village at the South Rim.

The railroad knew that in order to attract more tourists to the South Rim, they needed a fine destination hotel that made a dramatic statement and reflected the romantic image of the American West.

Enjoying the El Tovar's veranda (Photograph courtesy © Grand Canyon National Park Museum Collection )

The architect, Charles Whittlesey, modeled the large, distinctive stone and log building after the European Alps hunting lodges of the 1800s, but he also incorporated distinctive western rustic touches.

Although the builders were able to use rock from the local area, they had to have Douglas fir logs sent by rail from Oregon.

Mounted animal heads on the wall of the lobby and a dark exterior color are part of this theme.

The hotel's formal parlors, art galleries, roof top gardens, billiard room, and fine dining restaurant were meant to entice the wealthy and well-heeled to come for a visit.

At one time, El Tovar Grand Canyon was considered one of the finest hotels between San Francisco and the Rocky Mountains.

When the Santa Fe Railroad built El Tovar over a century ago, many thought the lodge was a modern marvel.

The hotel had electricity, indoor plumbing, hot and cold running water and Western Union telegraph service in the lobby; uncommon amenities for a hotel during this time period.

El Tovar Hotel Grand Canyon must have seemed the lap of luxury to early visitors. However, some pundits described it as "the most expensively constructed and appointed log house in America."

The veranda looks out to the canyon

Nevertheless, this historic national park lodge has remained a popular destination, drawing crowds to its impressive lobby and beautiful dining room.

Any upgrades had to be in keeping with the hotel's historic architecture and most of the original character of the structure remains.

An original bedroom at El Tovar Grand Canyon (Photograph courtesy © Grand Canyon National Park Museum Collection )

Originally, El Tovar Hotel Grand Canyon had 95 rooms and one bathroom per wing.

To adapt it to modern preferences, the park added bathrooms to every guest room thus reducing the number of rooms.

Although 1905 guests wouldn't recognize today's rooms, the lobby is identical to when it first opened.

Today, El Tovar Grand Canyon remains the most upscale lodging in the Grand Canyon area. Of course, upscale is relative.

This is a historic building; therefore, it is not built to modern hotel standards. Rooms and corridors are smaller and narrower, amenities are fewer, and the hotel does not have an elevator.

Currently there are 78 all non-smoking rooms, including 12 suites.

Current bedrooms at El Tovar Grand Canyon are still small by modern hotel standards

They are small by today's standards, but are comfortable with a simple Western decor and mission style furniture.

There are four room types including a standard double, standard queen bed, deluxe, and the suites.

Every room has a large console with a cable TV, mini-fridge, telephone, and air conditioning.

The modest, white-tiled bathrooms have a full bath and Victorian style fixtures. Suites have a mini-fridge and rollaway beds.

The log-walled dining room seats 211 guests and the El Tovar Grand Canyon Lounge seats 60.

The dining room at El Tovar Grand Canyon

The room has a rustic, Western ambiance with pine and stone accents.

There are a few window seats that you can request in either room, but they cannot be reserved.

The El Tovar dining room is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Diners can get omelets, burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads and a wide range of entrées, many of which are made with sustainable and organic ingredients.

The menus are American and Southwestern inspired with dishes such as…

• buttermilk, blue cornmeal and buckwheat pancakes with honey pine nut butter and prickly pear syrup,
• wild Alaskan salmon tostada with corn salsa and tequila vinaigrette,
• vegan stuffed portabella mushroom with roasted tomatoes, artichoke hearts and quinoa.

If you'd like to sit outside, there is outdoor seating available on El Tovar veranda, which serves drinks and appetizers.

The outdoor seating for El Tovar lounge

Advanced dinner reservations are strongly recommended. El Tovar Grand Canyon Dining Room accepts dinner reservations 6 months in advance with El Tovar room reservations and 30 days in advance without room reservations.

So, if most rooms don't have a view and are on the small side, why stay at El Tovar Grand Canyon?

For some, it's the privilege of staying in a beautiful, historic national park lodge.

For others, it's the convenience of waking while darkness still blankets the canyon and dashing outside just 20 feet to the rim to watch the first rays of sunlight paint the canyon in glorious color.

And some just enjoy ambling out to the veranda in the morning to watch a few elk graze on the little patch of lawn in front of the hotel.

The Tovar family crest

It's the coat of arms for the family of Pedro de Tovar. The hotel is named for Tovar, a Spanish officer in Coronado's 1540-42 expedition to find the riches of the Seven Cities of Cibola in the American Southwest.

Tovar was the first European to learn about the existence of the Grand Canyon.

Based on his report, Coronado sent a small group under the command of Garcia Lopez de Cardenes to investigate the canyon and river.

With the help of Hopi guides, they became the first Europeans to see the Grand Canyon.

Tovar, however, was not a part of this expedition. Therefore, the hotel is named after an explorer who never saw the Grand Canyon.

Management:   Xanterra Parks & Resorts

El Tovar Hotel Grand Canyon Room Rates:   $178 to $426 (subject to change without notice)

El Tovar Hotel Reservations:   For the busy summer months, it’s recommended that you make your reservation at least 12 months in advance.

Best Room Availability:   During the winter months.

El Tovar Hotel Grand Canyon Dining Room:   Open all year. Dress code is casual.

El Tovar Dining Room Phone Number:   928-638-2631, ext. 6432.
Note: El Tovar accepts dinner reservations only. Breakfast and lunch reservations are not accepted.

Parking at El Tovar Hotel Grand Canyon:   Free self-parking. Note that spaces close to the hotel are limited and you will need to walk some distance from your car to the hotel entrance. You cannot drive up to the front of the hotel.

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