Buffalo Point overlooks the scenic Buffalo River offers cabins and motel units in a quiet setting .
National park lodges you may not know about
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mention of national park lodges most likely brings to mind an iconic structure similar to Yellowstone ’ s Old Faithful Inn . Classic lodges in America ’ s most popular national parks garner heavy media attention . While Old Faithful Inn is certainly special , Yellowstone is home to nine lodging facilities ranging from rustic cabins without a private bathroom to modern lodge buildings . If this comes as a surprise , it is likely there are a number of national park lodges you may not know about .
Lodging in America ’ s national parks is quite diverse , with about 85 lodges spanning a wide spectrum in terms of age , size , season , amenities and price . Like Yellowstone , Grand Canyon , Yosemite , Shenandoah and several other national parks each host multiple lodges . Other well-known national park units such as Mesa Verde , Mammoth Cave , Zion , Bryce Canyon and Big Bend have only
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STORY AND PHOTOS BY David and Kay Scott
a single lodging facility . Some smaller , lesser-visited parks also offer lodging .
During more than 50 years of travel we have stayed in most of America ’ s national park lodges and thought it might be worth mentioning a few facilities that escape the notice of many travelers . Being less well-known often means a more intimate facility , and a more relaxing and less-expensive stay .
Buffalo Point Concessions Buffalo National River , Arkansas
Located in Northwest Arkansas , 135- mile Buffalo National River is one of the most scenic free-flowing rivers remaining in the lower 48 states . The river is especially popular for canoeing and floating with numerous concessionaires offering rentals of tubes and canoes .
The park ’ s only lodging facility is Buffalo Point Concessions that sits on a high ridge about 1.5 miles from the river . The complex includes a restaurant , five rustic cabins , eight modern cabins and four motel-type lodge rooms . Each has air-conditioning and a private bathroom with a shower . The rustic cabins each have a wood-burning fireplace . Rates from $ 100 to $ 106 .
Thunderbird Lodge Canyon de Chelly National Monument , Arizona Located in Northeast Arizona , Canyon de Chelly is home to ruins of ancient Indian villages constructed in steepwalled canyons . One monument ruin is accessible to the public via a 2.5-mile round-trip trail . Scenic rim drives offer excellent canyon views . Narrated canyon tours are offered by private guides .
Thunderbird Lodge , built in 1902 as a trading post on the Navajo Reservation , began offering rooms to accommodate an increasing number of tourists . The