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Painted Desert Inn

1 Park Rd, Petrified Forest National Park, AZ 86028
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The Painted Desert Inn dates back to the early 1920s when Herbert David Lore constructed what he called the “Stone Tree House” using petrified wood from the area. He offered a lunch room, a tap room and for those wanting to spend the night 6 small guest rooms were available for 2 to 4 dollars per night. Tourists could also choose from a variety of American Indian arts and crafts Lore offered for sale. All of that in a building with only a generator to provide electricity and water that was hauled 10 miles from Adamana.

Those who wanted to explore the Painted Desert a bit more could take a 2 hour motorcar tour.

The Petrified Forest National Monument purchased the Painted Desert Inn in 1936 and spent the next four years restoring and redesigning it and reopened it to the public in 1940. The Inn closed in October of 1942 during the war years and didn't reopen until after the war ended.

When it did reopen it was under the management of the Fred Harvey Company. The reopening brought some restoration and remodeling including adding new large windows overlooking the park.

The Inn closed again in 1963 when the Fred Harvey team relocated to the new visitor center. Demolition was planned but eventually rejected and the building reopen for the USA Bicentennial in 1976 the same year the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

The last postcard shown below refers to the Inn being located on the "Cutoff from Route 66" which never was part Route 66 itself, rather the cutoff eventually became part of the scenic drive through the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest that we enjoy today.

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Vintage Advertising Highlights

THE PAINTED DESERT INN
A unique hostelry built of petrified wood from a Forest within the Desert. Situated on a point of the rim projecting into the mystic desert of multicolored sands, you may look down 800 feet into the desert and morn or eve see the sun rise or set.

PAINTED DESERT INN
ON THE EDGE of the PAINTED DESERT
NEAR HOLBROOK, ARIZ.

Fred Harvey Restaurants
The Painted Desert Inn is located on a short scenic drive circling the rim of the most brilliantly colored section of the Painted Desert in Petrified National Monument.

PAINTED DESERT CUTOFF FROM HIGHWAY 66
TO PAINTED DESERT INN
and spectacular VIEW POINTS
This ancient volcanic area is formed of decomposed lava arranged in vividly colored mounds of strata by natures paint brush.

NOTE: These postcards pretty much illustrate the history of the Painted Desert Inn from its beginning to 1963 when it closed for several years. They show the very significant change from the original design to the later version, it's almost hard to realize they are actually the same basic building. The second card is undated but I'm guessing it is from the 1940-42 period. The third card appears to be from the early Fred Harvey years judging by the cars show. The image on the last card appears to show a 1963 Chrysler Imperial and the Inn closed in 63.
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