| THE MAYHEW LODGE |
| The Ruins of Mayhew Lodge Mayhew’s Lodge, near the trailhead of the West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon, was once listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. On March 26, 1980, fire consumed all of the structures and it was delisted later that year when the Forest Service was unable to rehabilitate the lodge at a cost of $200,000. Unfortunately, arson was suspected. The first cabin at the site was built by Charles “Bear” Howard in 1870. His name “Bear” came from having allegedly killed five bears with his own knife. By 1881, “Bear” decided to head deeper into Oak Creek Canyon and sold it to the Thomas Family. The apple tree’s you see today, were planted by the Thomas Family as they sold apples and traded tobacco in Sedona. A second cabin was added in 1902 for a Phoenix Superior Court Judge, who later assisted the family in helping build the first road through Oak Creek Canyon in 1912. The movie of Zane Grey’s story called ‘The Call of the Canyon‘, directed by Victor Fleming (The Wizard of Oz), was filmed here in 1922. Carl Mayhew, a still photographer from Flagstaff, was reportedly working on the production crew. He loved the area so much that in 1925 he purchased the site with a partner whom he later bought out. Mayhew opened the cabins up as a lodge that same year and over the years connected the other two cabins. Over the years, he continued to add more rooms until his death in 1943. His family carried on with the business for many years following his death. In all, the lodge was operational in Oak Creek Canyon from 1925 to 1968. Rates were $15 per day, single; $20 to $24 per day for a double. Guests could travel to Flagstaff either by the Santa Fe Railroad or Frontier Airlines, then board the Santa Fe bus which took them directly to the lodge. During it’s time, famous guests such as President Herbert Hoover, Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Walt Disney, Maureen O’Hara and Susan Hayward all stayed at the lodge. By 1968, the Mayhew family was no longer able to continue operating the lodge and eventually sold it to The Forest Service. |
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