Overview of Thunderbird Lodge

At the mouth of Canyon de Chelly, you'll find the Navajo owned and operated Thunderbird Lodge, the closest hotel to the national monument. Canyon de Chelly's Thunderbird Lodge is built on the site of a trading post from yesteryear. The red-adobe construction of the lodge itself is reminiscent of ancient pueblos, and the presence on the property of an old stone-walled trading post gives this the Thunderbird Lodge a lot of character.

Enjoy sitting in the shade of cottonwood trees planted in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The lodge sits on the site of a trading post built in 1896, and its cafeteria-style restaurant is located in the trading post's original building. The all-day cafeteria serves Native American dishes as well as continental cuisine. Adorning the walls of the dining room are excellent examples of Navajo rugs and artwork available for purchase. In the center of the dining area is a vault-like room that at one time served as a jail for the trading post.