Written by Gemma Johnstone
It’s not just the spectacular scenery that takes your breath away in U.S. national parks. The grand historic lodges inside the park boundaries (and sometimes just outside) offer unparalleled views and access to nature, that’s for sure. But they’re also quite the spectacle in their own right. (Plus, they’re way more comfortable than camping.)
The “parkitecture” aesthetic, with roots stretching back roughly 100 years, remains a beloved architectural style for public and private spaces in and near wild places today, with examples dotting many popular trail maps. Some structures are original icons of the era, others are creative, modern interpretations.
New or old, these bucket-list destinations, from lodges to visitor centers, epitomize the ethos of this style and immerse you in the rarefied, rugged ambiance that can only be found in such remote places.
Photo: f11photo - stock.adobe.com
Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park
No parkitecture list is complete without mention of the oldest and arguably most iconic of the park lodges. Built in 1904, the Old Faithful Inn — named after the geyser it watches over — is one of the largest log structures in the world.
Walking into the seven-story, 76-foot-high lobby is a masterclass in the parkitecture aesthetic, which perfectly combines opulence and rusticity. The intricate interior lodgepole framework features an immense four-hearth fireplace made from more than 500 tons of rhyolite blocks formed by Yellowstone’s volcanic eruptions. There are also four impressive overhanging balconies with twisted branch railings made from local lodgepole pines.
Even if you can’t secure an overnight stay, booking a guided tour is possible, and if you're lucky you can snag dinner reservations in the grand dining room.
Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Grand Teton National Park
Alongside iconic historic lodges, you can see examples of parkitecture in visitor centers, trail shelters, ranger stations, watchtowers and more. Even modern buildings pay homage to the movement while looking for strategies to further reduce their carbon footprint and minimize visual impact on their surroundings.
Take for example the 22,000-square-foot Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, situated in a vast sagebrush meadow in Grand Teton National Park. Featuring a lower profile than many of the tall, sloping-roofed historic buildings, the center still maintains rustic elements including vast beetle-killed-pine timber columns and a stone fireplace that sits alongside the floor-to-ceiling glass walls.
Lake McDonald Lodge in Glacier National Park
This lakeside lodge opened in 1914 and stands out for its Swiss chalet-style facade, featuring a stone floor, a wood-frame upper and steep gable roofs.
The impressive three-story lobby is a well-preserved example of traditional parkitecture. The interiors, filled with imposing cedar columns, stick-style log railing, painted parchment lanterns and original hickory chairs and tables, will make you feel like you’re stepping back in time.
Photo courtesy of Blackberry Mountain
Blackberry Mountain near Great Smoky Mountains National Park
An example of how the original movement has made its way into modern aesthetics, parkitecture was a major influence for the architects involved in the design of Blackberry Mountain. The view-oriented main lodge, cabins and cottages of this 5,200-acre, refined-but-rustic resort feature locally sourced reclaimed wood and native stone. Even the green roofs of the cottages are inspired by parkitecture’s mission to tie manmade structures to the land and make them blend into their natural surroundings.
Timberline Lodge in Mount Hood National Forest
Fans of Stanley Kubrick’s classic horror movie, ”The Shining,” might recognize the Douglas fir board-and-batten siding and steeply sloping cedar shake roof of this lodge, as it served as the exterior of the film’s Overlook Hotel.
Open since 1937, the hexagonal lobby is the heart of the building, and the smooth logs used for the beams and posts set it apart from the rugged, handcrafted-style logs often used in this genre.
Unlike many other remote lodges, you can book a stay at the Timberline year-round.
Photo courtesy of Sage Lodge
Sage Lodge near Yellowstone National Park
This three-Michelin-Key destination in Montana (just 35 minutes from Yellowstone) is the ultimate in rugged luxury. From afar, the low-slung wooden design hints at a spirit similar to the humble designs of the Old West. But take a closer look, and the massive wall of modern windows and sleekly furnished interiors tell a more contemporary story. Inside and out, there’s plenty of rustic wood and stacked stone, but the entire property, from the main lodge to the “ranch houses,” is outlined in edgy, modern lines such a property might not have sported 100 years ago.
