The VIEW Hotel - Monument Valley

Summer in the Valley - 2009

2009-07-14T12:20:00.007-06:00

Lobby

The Hotel has been open since the winter - and as the spring winds calm down, the summer heat sets in. Guests can now enjoy a cool oasis in the hot red desert and dine in comfort atop the mesa.

Rim Trail

Patio

Rim Trail

Monument Valley

2nd Story Lobby

Room Balcony

Eye on The Past

2009-03-12T14:30:00.000-06:00

Photos of the Completed Project will no doubt proliferate as time goes on, but they may be a bit misleading as to the true nature of the project.

The idea of an imposed pure form in a purer pristine environment - that is what the project aspires to be.

However, the hotel was not built on a pristine site, nor was it imposed on a pure landscape. On the contrary, it may actually serve to clean up and better organize the human activities in the immediate area.

Where the hotel now sits were the park's many maintenance buildings and storage facilities. They have been relocated down the road away from the rim and farther away from the park.

The hotel sits at the edge of the valley, not in the valley itself. It adjoins the 50-year-old Visitor Center.

Blessing for an Opening

2009-01-15T10:23:00.009-07:00

Major Players were on hand for the grand opening celebration. A quiet and clear January afternoon greeted dignitaries for the indoor / outdoor ceremony

Executive and legislative branches of the Navajo Nation were well represented and key members took part in the blessing ceremony

Completed hotel offers 96 rooms including 3 super suites

Dining Area accommodates parties of up to 275 people

South facing terraces were used for speeches and presentations

Blessing ceremony took place in 2-story lobby

- recent article on the happening:
http://www.navajotimes.com/business/index.php

Open for Business

2008-12-29T13:25:00.008-07:00

90 new rooms now overlook the old valley - Monument Valley is so old in fact that some of its rock layers predate land animals on earth - solid for half a billion years, the ancient dunes are slipping back into sand again as if right before our eyes.

Holiday in the Valley

2008-12-29T12:24:00.007-07:00

A dusting of show sets off the VIEW under quiet sky and soft solstice sun.
This was a perfect day to celebrate the opening of the new restaurant and hotel - a venue for overnight party goers to explore and enjoy.

Race to The Finish

2008-12-01T09:29:00.008-07:00

Final Element in Place overlooking the valley - the new dining facility will open by the first of the new year. It will serve as a multi-purpose space for the restaurant, hotel, and visitor center. There will be areas for Express Dining, Fine Dining, Buffet and Banquet Rooms, and the spaces can be combined for special events. The renovated 'VIEW Restaurant' will accommodate a variety of functions - from business retreats to weddings. The new add-on will serve foreign travelers, hotel guests, and offer local residents a spectacular gathering space to enjoy in groups or as individuals.

view of the Hotel, Restaurant, and Trading Post from the valley floor

Against all Odds

2008-11-15T01:43:00.003-07:00

The Long Road to Monument Valley has offered many challenges and many rewards throughout this project. Every visitor will have a different idea of how it has succeeded and how it has failed. The local people have their opinions as well. They have exceeded all expectations in terms of their hospitality, sense of humor, and long standing patience with the many transgressions that the 'new comers' brought to the project. Overall it has been a great success. Of course it has a long way to go and will evolve in the years to come . . .

Cooperative Effort

2008-10-16T09:43:00.009-06:00

The Hotel is Set to Open Soon but it could not have been completed if not for the cooperative efforts of Park Officials and Utility Company Representatives (NTUA). The infrastructure portion of this project was equal in cost and scope to the construction of the structures. It is with a deep sense of gratitude that the Hotel and Restaurant will welcome visitors from around the globe to showcase the extraordinary landscape and creative cultural traditions of the Navajo People

Restaurant Expansion and Sign for the VIEW, Monument Valley

2008-08-04T10:21:00.005-06:00

Design for the Restaurant at the Overlook is complete and construction is starting immediately. This animation shows the basic massing of the 5500 square foot addition to the VIEW Restaurant and includes the preliminary design for the sign monument at the front of the hotel.

Final Touches

2008-08-01T09:48:00.004-06:00

The Major Elements are in and done. Now it all comes down to the finishing touches. And there are a lot of them - from far afield. The final touches are all that stand between a construction site and a hotel that is open for business - where guests will enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience.

Restaurant Expansion to The VIEW

2008-07-25T17:13:00.001-06:00

As the Hotel nears completion, work on expanding the existing restaurant has begun. This image depicts how the final design will interface with the hotel. The kitchen at the gift shop will be utilized and expanded for the new dining room. A bridge will connect the restaurant and gift shop to the upper floor of the lobby via a sunset deck.

Monument Valley Celebration Day

2008-07-12T16:31:00.003-06:00

It Was a Great Day for a celebration. The hotel is nearing its Grand Opening and the park is awash in sight seers and onlookers. The carpet is being installed and looks great!

Nearing Completion

2008-07-02T20:35:00.004-06:00

Summer in the Valley - indeed
Temps have been hitting 100 dry degrees for weeks now and the trees would appreciate some water. The workers are about ready for some as well, but they've done a great job. Now all that remains to be done is some painting touch-ups, the asphalt paving, the 4-mile long underground electrical line, the new community-scaled water tank and state of the art water treatment system . . . we look forward to it all.

& check out that fireplace -

Summer in The Valley

2008-06-25T00:01:00.005-06:00

Scaffolding is off - Stucco is on - Just in time for refreshing summer rains and long sunsets over the valley. The finish line is in sight - excitement is building for the grand opening.

View Hotel Poster

2008-05-24T09:15:00.000-06:00

This Poster (along with the architectural model) attended the official ground blessing ceremony shortly before the finals of the Reg Bull Air Race - an action packed day to say the least!

Springtime in the Valley

2008-04-25T07:35:00.000-06:00

After a Long Winter, it is finally springtime in the valley. The framing for the hotel is complete. Windows are in. Roof is on.
And the tourists have returned to find a new structure in the valley.
Though quite noticeable from below in its present form, the stucco color will match the red cliffs of the escarpment when the project is complete and the hotel will meld with its surroundings.

Design Renderings

2008-03-20T11:13:00.000-06:00

Final Design Renderings were created shortly before construction began.

Monument Valley in Winter

2008-03-12T11:38:00.000-06:00

Monument Valley in Summer - most people remember their Valley visit as spectacular to behold, but dusty, hot, and dry - - - because most people visit the park during the hottest, windiest, driest months of the year.

The Park in Winter is a magical place. Have it to yourself. Still. Quiet. Sunlight is low and soft. Mysterious.

Now, with a Hotel in the Park Year-round, visitors can see for themselves what a marvelous place it is!

February 2008

2008-02-07T12:11:00.000-07:00

Northern Arizona has experienced a cold winter - coldest in years! Mud and show have trapped many local people in their houses. Navajo Nation has declared a state of emergency!

Monument Valley, AZ - - -
Despite all this, the Hotel project is only about one to two weeks behind schedule - so when the weather gets better it will be catch up time in the Valley

Framing is about half completed and the project marches on.

Sunset on Mexican Hat

2008-02-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

A quiet evening on the frozen San Juan River - Southern Utah
Sunset on the Mexican Hat Rock - a God who escaped the Valley of the Gods to sit a little closer to the mighty river
. . . mysterious, snow dusted . . . Raplee Anticline in the background

The View Restaurant

2008-02-05T12:36:00.001-07:00

The View Restaurant - expanding the gift shop into the existing restaurant area has been a top priority from day one - but you still need a restaurant.

Making use of the existing kitchen facility and traffic flow between the new Hotel and existing Gift Shop have been concerns throughout the design process. Capturing as many views as possible from the new restaurant has also been a primary issue.

The latest scheme allows the public to circulate between Hotel and Restaurant overlooks and maintains connections between 2nd floor of the lobby to the gift shop level and direct connection from kitchen to restaurant and express food areas.
Other issues involved:

1 Size of facility
2 Cost of construction
3 Privacy of guest rooms from public areas
4 Catered convention / gathering space options
5 Public (non hotel guest) circulation to restaurant and gift shop
6 Public bathroom access
7 Fire separation
8 Climate control in New vs. Existing buildings

Construction Update

2008-01-17T10:48:00.000-07:00

Monument Valley, 2008, Middle January- Another cold day in the valley.
Although the weather forecast was for a calm 40-degree day, concrete was poured during a bitter mid-twenties gale. The framers continue onward and upward, adjusting for delays in slab placement where they can. The superintendent decided to frame a tent structure over the final pour, as even colder weather in on the way. Despite the unprecedented cold snap, the hotel continues to grow one room at a time on the escarpment.

Early Design Images

2008-01-12T19:26:00.000-07:00

- some early design images - The first scheme was a four-story tall structure that was later lowered to three stories to lesson the impact that the building would make visually on the valley below.

January 2008

2008-01-08T20:41:00.000-07:00

The first of the new year brought new snows the Valley - however, construction continues and the hotel continues to take shape on the escarpment - one more floor to go.

Preliminary Design Images

2008-01-08T18:59:00.000-07:00

We are under construction at last - but there is a story behind the current effort. The design of the hotel went through a few transitional versions before the current version was decided on. Here are a few of the preliminary images -

A High Desert Winter Drive

2008-01-03T14:24:00.000-07:00

The drive from Farmington to Monument Valley is a beautiful drive any time of the year, but the winter drive up the northern route through Bluff is truly a 150 mile joy.

Bluff is a sleepy little town with plenty of live stock nearby - so the drive is recommended during daylight hours.

The geological wonders of Southern Utah are wide ranging. This road cut leads toward a giant wash formed by a fantastic sandstone fracture that is 80 miles long and up to 1,000 feet high. It runs from above Bluff to below Monument Valley.

Comb Ridge directs the Comb Wash toward the mighty San Juan River. The San Juan is a major tributary of the Colorado and its depth relative to the surrounding geology defines the entire region. The drive along US 163 West basically follows this watercourse (where it can).

The road crosses the river at Mexican Hat - a notable rock formation with the likeness of a Navajo blanket, the Raplee Anticline, falling into the abyss in the background.

The lowest spot of the trip comes at the river itself - about 4,000 ft above sea level - much lower than the surrounding topography.

- Then up and over the 5600 ft pass to Monument Valley

- A wonderful ride - and no one else is on it this time of year!

Annimated Flyover of the Project

2008-01-01T16:16:00.000-07:00

During the design phase a number virtual models were constructed to help others visualize the project. The 3-dimensional models were first constructed in autoCAD and moved into SketchUP to animate within a background context. This video shows various clips from two slightly different annimated models.

Framing has Commenced

2007-12-24T14:25:00.001-07:00

Despite bitter conditions at the job site, framing was started today. Though the conditions were not favored by the workers, a dusting of show on the scenery made for some wonderful photos. Rarely visited in winter, Monument Valley is a beautiful place to behold that time of year and by fall of 2008 it can be enjoyed by visitors to the hotel year-round.