Urgent Update: Grand Canyon South Rim Lodges Halt Overnight Stays Due to Water Line Breaks
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ – Overnight accommodations at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim are temporarily unavailable, beginning Saturday, due to multiple breaks in the park’s primary water pipeline. The closure impacts the historic El Tovar Hotel, Luminous Angel Lodge, and Maswik Lodge, as well as campground water services.
Park officials are prioritizing water conservation for the approximately 2,500 year-round residents of Grand canyon Village and park staff, necessitating the suspension of overnight lodging.Residents are being asked to limit water usage through shorter showers, infrequent toilet flushing, and turning off taps while performing hygiene tasks.
This marks only the second time in the park’s history that overnight stays have been suspended due to water shortages. A similar situation occurred in August 2024, forcing a shutdown during a peak visitation period.
The 12.5-mile (20-kilometer) Transcanyon Waterline, built in the 1960s, is the primary water source for the South Rim. It has been a long-standing maintenance concern,with a portion of park entrance fees allocated to cover repair costs.
Repairs are currently underway, with welding work progressing despite recent snowfall. Park spokesperson Joëlle Baird stated in an email,”Assuming the planned repairs proceed smoothly,we expect to restore water service and gradually reopen overnight lodging as soon as next week.” The repair schedule includes flushing and recharging the system in the coming days.
Day visitors are still welcome at the Grand Canyon, and lodging options remain available outside the park boundaries. despite being a slower season, over 41,000 people utilized overnight lodging within the park last December. In 2024, the Grand Canyon welcomed nearly 5 million visitors, with roughly 90% visiting the South Rim.
A extensive $208 million rehabilitation of the Transcanyon Waterline and associated delivery system began in 2023 and is expected to be completed in 2027. The national Park Service has identified this project as a crucial investment to ensure a reliable water supply for the park’s residents and visitors.
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