After years of renovation and new construction, lodges and cabins at Yellowstone, Zion and Grand Canyon nation parks are sporting new looks. The multimillion-dollar projects were undertaken by concessioner Amfac Parks & Resorts, the largest park-management company in the country.

Completion of phase one of the new Old Faithful Snow Lodge at Yellowstone National Park is scheduled for this month (it replaces the existing facility). Located behind the current lodge, the first phase includes 52 modem guest rooms, a family dining room and a lounge. Phase two will feature more guest rooms, a fast-food shop and a gift/ski store.

Long considered one of the most elegant lodges in the park system, the 78-room El Tovar Hotel, located at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, reopened after a $1 million renovation that improved the dining room, kitchen and 66 guest rooms. Along with its new look, the restaurant will unveil a new menu in the completely remodeled kitchen.

In March, after more than two years of restoration, Zion Lodge at Zion National Park reopened 40 cabins. The original cabins, built in the 1920s by the Union Pacific Railroad, have been painstakingly restored to reflect their historical significance.

Amfac's operations also include concessions at Death Valley, Bryce Canyon and Everglades national parks, as well as the Mount Rushmore National Memorial and other national and state facilities.

Copyright T L Enterprises, Inc. Jul 1998
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved