Visitors to the Grand Canyon now have a new option for in-park accommodations. After a $35 million reconstruction by Xanterra Travel Collection, Maswik South Lodge is the first new lodging inside the park in more than 50 years. Just steps away from the Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim, it provides visitors with easy access to a host of activities in the popular national park, such as hiking, rafting, and more.
Built in 1971, the original 90 rooms have been replaced with 120 new lodging units across four new lodging structures in the same general location. The 4.5-acre property features two types of accommodations: 90 standard rooms and 30 rooms with kitchenettes. All rooms now include private balconies that let guests enjoy the great outdoors. Maswik South Lodge is near Maswik Lodge where guests can access the Maswik Food Court, Pizza Pub, Transportation & Activities Desk, and the Village Loop (Blue) park shuttle line. The new units are approximately a 10-minute walk from both the South Rim itself and the Hermit’s Rest/Village Loop Shuttle Bus Transfer Station.
“Maswik South aims to prepare Grand Canyon National Park for the next 100 years,” says Marc Ducharme, general manager of Grand Canyon South Rim. “As stewards of the parks, Xanterra is proud to offer modernized lodging that will serve millions of visitors across its lifetime and enhance the national park experience.”
With a nod to the original lodge constructed in 1927 by the Fred Harvey Company and the Santa Fe Railroad, the architecture preserves the original stone pillars from the historic lodge buildings. With modern furnishings, the rooms are decorated with textiles inspired by Native American artwork of the Southwest. The interiors of Maswik South Lodge reflect the colors of the Grand Canyon: rusty red, sage green, tan, and ocher. Artwork in the guest rooms showcase studies of local fossils, after which each building is named, and a historic map of the Grand Canyon area.
Xanterra Travel Collection’s stewardship of national parks and long-standing commitment to conservation and sustainability played a major role in the building’s design. Designed and constructed to the LEED Gold standard, the design includes the extensive use of sustainable building materials, high-efficiency lighting including outdoor solar lighting, efficient mechanical systems and plumbing fixtures, use of reclaimed water (coming soon), water-efficient landscaping, and Dark Sky compliant lighting that ensures the lodges do not interfere with the stunning view of the night sky at the Grand Canyon. Amenities include electric-vehicle charging and water-bottle filling stations.
