| What is it? |
A 1920’s era hotel, now an information center! |
| What makes it historical? |
Originally built from petrified wood, the Painted Desert Inn was a roadside resort for travelers headed west on Route 66! It was built by Herbert David Lore around 1920 and called the Stone Tree House. The National Park Service took over in 1935 and had the Civilian Conservation Corps remodel the hotel into the Pueblo Revival style that was popular in other national parks. They brought on Lyle Bennett to bring that goal to fruition!
The Inn operated from 1940 to 1942 under the Fred Harvey Company, then closed as resources shifted to the War efforts abroad. It fell into disrepair, got renovated by Mary Jane Coulter, then became the visitor center we know today! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? |
HERE’S HOW:
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Volunteer at Petrified Forest National Park!
- Donate to Petrified Forest National Park!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
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| Where is this place? |
1 Park Rd
Petrified Forest National Park
Holbrook, AZ 86028
From Flagstaff: ~118mi (190km) — 2hrs
From Phoenix: ~214mi (345km) — 3.6hrs
From Tucson: ~265mi (427km) — 4.5hrs
From Yuma: ~396mi (638km) — 6.6hrs |
| When should I go? |
The park road is open at different hours each month, with longer hours in summer and shorter hours in winter, so the safe zone to visit is between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM! |
