Parry Lodge

Parry Lodge is the place to stay if you want a slice of Hollywood history with your canyon country road trip. The Parry brothers, who did more than anyone to promote Kanab as a filming location, opened the lodge as a roadside motel in the summer of 1931 on what was then the main highway through town, US-89. Over the next decades the lodge housed the casts and crews of more than 100 films, including The Outlaw Josey Wales and The Lone Ranger, and its guest list reads like a classic Hollywood roll call: John Wayne, Gregory Peck, Frank Sinatra, Clint Eastwood, Maureen O'Hara, Dean Martin, Roy Rogers, Sammy Davis Jr. and Ronald Reagan all stayed here. That history earned Kanab its nickname, Little Hollywood. In 1956 the lodge was named one of the ten best roadside inns in the United States, and today it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The property still feels like a mid-century motor court, with a colonial-style main building, a row of cottage rooms and shady lawns, and its rooms are simple and clean rather than luxurious. There is a heated outdoor pool, and in the warmer months, from mid-April through November 1, the Old Barn Theater shows classic Western films each evening, introduced by a short film history presentation. Downtown Kanab's restaurants, galleries and the Little Hollywood Museum are within walking distance. Rates are modest, making it one of the best-value stays in the region.

What to expect. This is a historic motel, not a modern hotel, so expect character, period details and some quirks along with comfortable beds. Rooms vary in size and layout between the original buildings and the cottage row, so ask for details when booking. Many guests choose Parry Lodge precisely because of its history: walking the grounds where Hollywood legends once relaxed between shoots, and watching a Western in the Old Barn Theater, adds a memorable layer to a park trip. The film nights run from April 15 to November 1, weather permitting, so winter visitors will miss them, but the lodge's history and value remain.

Location logic. Kanab is a hub for a multi-park road trip, with Zion's East Entrance about 30 miles north, Bryce Canyon about an hour and a half away, and Coral Pink Sand Dunes a short drive west. Page, Arizona, with Lake Powell and the Antelope Canyon area, is to the east. The town also has a Bureau of Land Management visitor center and plenty of dining options, which makes it easy to stay several nights.

Who should stay. Film buffs, history lovers, couples seeking character and budget-minded road-trippers. Travelers who want modern amenities, a fitness center or a free hot breakfast may prefer the Best Western Red Hills a few blocks away. For a stay that feels like part of the story of the American West, Parry Lodge is the pick.