Historic Grand Canyon lodge the second impacted by natural disaster in over a year

Key Points:

• In late August 2025, flash flooding severely damaged Phantom Ranch and surrounding infrastructure at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, marking the second major disaster in just over a year following a destructive wildfire in July 2025 that destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim.
• The flooding, intensified by climate change and exacerbated by the prior wildfire burn scar, caused significant damage to trails, footbridges, and utilities, leading to indefinite closures of Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, and large sections of inner canyon trails.
• Two people died in the flooding, with one hiker still missing, and 62 individuals were evacuated; fortunately, the closure of the ranch’s dormitories due to the pandemic likely reduced potential casualties.
• The July 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire, sparked by lightning and fueled by extreme weather, destroyed 85% of the Grand Canyon Lodge, the park’s only North Rim lodging, which has yet to receive a reopening timeline as recovery planning continues.
• Despite the fire damage, the iconic Brighty the Burro bronze statue was rescued and is currently preserved at the Grand Canyon Museum Collection facility, with no set date for restoration or return.