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Phantom Ranch – The Heart Of The Grand Canyon

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The Phantom Ranch Cabins in The Grand Canyon

The Phantom Ranch seems to pique the imagination of every visitor to The Grand Canyon. But you cannot drive to it. You have to ride a mule or hike to it. Watch the video to find out more about Phantom Ranch.

Video Summary

  • Phantom Ranch’s Unique Location and Experience
    • Located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon along the Colorado River, Phantom Ranch is a junction where the three main corridor trails meet: the South Kaibab, the Bright Angel, and the North Kaibab trails. Despite millions visiting the rims annually, only about 1% choose to stay overnight at the ranch, experiencing a sense of joy and connection to the sacredness of the canyon.
  • Historical Significance and Development
    • Established in 1922 by the Fred Harvey Company with cabins designed by Mary Colter to blend seamlessly into the canyon’s environment. Colter, referred to as a part of the ranch’s “staff,” aimed to draw in a new audience including wealthy individuals from various fields, contributing significantly to the ranch’s history and development.
  • Role of Civilian Conservation Corps
    • In the 1930s, President Franklin Roosevelt formed the Civilian Conservation Corps, involving Camp 818 in enhancing the Phantom Ranch by improving trails and campgrounds, preserving the experience for hikers and maintaining the ranch’s rich tradition.
  • Modes of Arrival and Mule Tradition
    • There are three ways to reach Phantom Ranch: hiking, rafting, and mule riding, the latter being a tradition integral to the ranch’s operation, including mail delivery through “mailed by mule” stamped postcards. The ranch acknowledges the mules as essential, carrying almost everything to and from the location.
  • Current Experience and Connectivity to Past
    • Despite modernizations, Phantom Ranch offers a comfortable introductory backpacking experience for many. It fosters a deep connection to history, encouraging visitors to respect the canyon and appreciate the shared legacy with past visitors, facilitated through the absence of modern-day distractions like cell phones and the internet. It is a place where connections are built, not just with other people but with the rich past and the living, “breathing” canyon itself.

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12 Fun Facts About The Grand Canyon Skywalk

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Artist's concept of the Grand Canyon Skywalk

The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a breathtaking engineering marvel. Watch the video, and imagine yourself being there. You’ll be talking about your experience for the rest of your life.

The Fun Facts…

Fact 1

The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a horseshoe-shaped glass bridge that gives visitors an exhilarating view of the Grand Canyon’s West Rim.

Fact 2

It opened to the public in March 2007 and juts out about 70 feet out into the canyon.

Fact 3

The Skywalk is designed to hold the weight of seventy-one fully loaded Boeing 747 airplanes, which means it can sustain weights of over 70 million pounds.

Fact 4

The deck of the Grand Canyon Skywalk is made from five layers of Saint-Gobain Diamant low iron glass and DuPont SentryGlas. Together, these provide maximum clarity and strength.

Fact 5

The U-shaped bridge is capable of withstanding up to 100 mph winds from 8 different directions.

Fact 6

It is funded by the Hualapai Indian tribe which owns a million acres at the West Rim of the canyon.

Fact 7

This incredible engineering marvel is located at a height of 4,000 ft above the canyon floor. This is higher than any skyscraper currently in existence.

Fact 8

The Skywalk was not built from the edge of the canyon towards the center. Instead, it was constructed on top of the edge and then swung out over the open space, a feat achieved by the sophisticated precision of GPS units.

Fact 9

Contrary to misconceptions, the Grand Canyon Skywalk is not located within the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park, but instead on the land of the Hualapai Tribe. It’s a two-hour drive from Las Vegas.

Fact 10

The entire construction and installation of the Skywalk took two years to complete, from March 2004 to March 2006.

Fact 11

The Grand Canyon Skywalk cost about $30 million to construct.

Fact 12

Many visitors find walking on the Skywalk to be a thrilling and even nerve-wracking experience due to the clear glass floor, offering a direct view right down to the canyon floor.

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Discover the Grand Canyon Like Never Before – On the Skywalk Glass Bridge

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Artist's concept of the Grand Canyon Skywalk

Situated at the center of the West Rim of the Grand Canyon, the Skywalk is a renowned glass bridge that should not be missed. Discover the reasons behind its reputation as an “engineering marvel” and delve into the fascinating history of Eagle Point.

Video Summary

  • The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a horseshoe-shaped cantilever bridge extending 70 feet over the canyon’s edge, providing a view 4,000 feet straight down through a glass floor.
  • Constructed with over 1.2 million pounds of steel and glass, it can withstand an 8.0 magnitude earthquake, wind speeds up to 100 mph, and the weight of 71 fully loaded Boeing 747s.
  • The Skywalk offers unique views of the Grand Canyon, including a front-row seat to Eagle Point, a site sacred to the Hualapai tribe and named for a rock formation resembling an eagle.
  • The Hualapai tribe reveres Eagle Point for its legend that an eagle warned people of a great flood, then turned to stone while watching over them from the canyon’s rim.
  • Visiting the Grand Canyon Skywalk offers a singular experience of standing at the intersection of a natural wonder and a marvel of human engineering, enhancing the view of the canyon’s depths below.

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Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours From Las Vegas

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Image of a helicopter leaving Las Vegas for a tour of The Grand Canyon

Did you know you can start a Grand Canyon helicopter tour from Las Vegas? Watch the video to see how the tour goes.

Video Summary

  • The helicopter tour starts from Las Vegas, offering an exciting ride with a view of several parks, Hoover Dam, and Lake Mead before reaching the Grand Canyon.
  • The participants are impressed with the beautiful views during the flight, comparing the experience to being in a movie and expressing awe at the natural beauty in the Grand Canyon.
  • Once at the Grand Canyon, there is an opportunity for a picnic accompanied by champagne, allowing guests to enjoy the spectacular scenery in a relaxed setting.
  • The return journey includes flying over the Las Vegas Strip, with some suggesting that the views are even better on the way back, potentially enhanced by the champagne enjoyed earlier.
  • The tour is very well received, with attendees praising the impressive views, the fun experience of flying in a helicopter, and the unique opportunity to land in and experience the Grand Canyon firsthand.

Check out one of these tours yourself for the experience of a lifetime.

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