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Show NFS Form 10-900-a (8-86) OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES CONTINUATION SHEET Section 7 Page 5 Washington County, UT Zion National Park MRA circular area in the immediate vicinity of the lodge entrance. This area was planted in cacti. Scattered cottonwoods also grew within the drive area. To the north of the lodge, along the drive, there appears to have been a second parking area, considerably smaller than the one in front of the guest cabins. A 1947 map indicates plans to construct a parking area immediately south of the swimming pool. This parking area was soon constructed, as it appears on a 1954 site map of the area. After the main lodge was destroyed by fire in 1968, the lodge was rebuilt. The swimming pool and bathhouse (and presumably the walkway) were removed in 1974. In the mid-1980s, the portion of the loop that was in front of the lodge was closed to vehicular traffic and replaced with concrete patio and pedestrian walkways. A new, larger parking area was built in the vicinity of the pool site (see "A" on 1982 site map) and a much larger, teardrop-shaped lot was superimposed over the parking area north of the lodge (see "B" on 1982 site map). In addition, the parking area at the guest cabins was lengthened on the north end (see "C" on 1982 site map). Of all the features in the entry area, only this last parking lot retains any degree of integrity. Because of its historical association with the lodge guest cabins, it is considered a contributing landscape feature to the Zion Lodge Historic District rather than the Floor of the Valley Road (an amendment to the district nomination should be prepared at a later date). The Zion Lodge Entry Area does not meet National Register criteria as a designed landscape, nor is it a contributing feature to the Floor of the Valley Road due to loss of integrity. Grotto Campground/Picnic and Parking Areas The original Grotto Campground was modified into a picnic area in the 1960s. A vehicular drive and parking area were superimposed over the campground and all original camping sites were obliterated. At the same time, a second rectangular parking area was constructed directly across the road. Both parking areas allow visitor access to the Emerald Pools and East Rim trails. Other than two comfort stations (already listed on the National Register), there only water spigots remain to indicate the area's earlier use as a campground. Fire hearths installed by the CCC in the 1930s have been removed. The campground area no longer retains its historic appearance as a campground and is ineligible for the National Register, either as a designed campground or as a contributing road feature. Both parking areas are nonhistoric and are thus noncontributing road features. Bridle Trail Sited between the Floor of the Valley Road and the North Fork of the Virgin River, the gravel surfaced bridle trail was constructed in 1931 when work was begun on the Floor of the Valley Road. The original trail was just under 4 miles long and seven feet wide, constructed "in order that park |
