Photos of Zion National Park
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Stephen Mather, leader of the National Parks Service, was instrumental in bringing more people to Zion. Mather helped to build a giant 5,613-foot long tunnel, part of the Zion- Mt Carmel highway that was completed in 1930. Additionally, the Union Pacific Railroad saw the potential of Zion and created the Utah Parks Company, which poured more that $1,700,000 into enhancements in and around Zion National Park. The most significant improvement was the construction of the Zion National Park Lodge and 46 rental cabins. The lodge was lost to a devastating fire in 1966. The Utah Parks Company quickly rebuilt the lodge, but omitted the rustic charm of the original building. During a 1990 restoration, much of the design from the original lodge was added to the building.