The Grand Canyon has long been a place of sudden and dramatic change. The recent destruction of the Grand Canyon Lodge by the Dragon Bravo Fire serves as a vivid reminder of this truth. Amidst the ruins, author Scott Thybony holds onto a glimmer of hope, inspired by the remnants of Brighty the Burro’s statue.
Many years ago, as a guide at the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim, I delivered a geology lecture to a group of eager onlookers. We stood above the vast chasm, discussing how headward erosion played a crucial role in the canyon’s formation. As if on cue, a thunderous sound echoed through the gorge as a massive sandstone slab dislodged. “Like that!” I exclaimed, accompanied by laughter as a cloud of dust rose from the newly exposed rock face.
At the Grand Canyon, transformations occur with little warning. Debris flows might carve new rapids overnight, and rockfalls can reshape cliffs in an instant. This swift change was evident when a wildfire consumed the Grand Canyon Lodge, leaving only stone remnants behind. A striking photo emerged showing two Adirondack chairs on the terrace, unscathed amidst the devastation. The lodge had long offered a stage for such poignant experiences.
The Dragon Bravo Fire, which erupted on July 12, was visible from the South Rim, where I observed the rising smoke. Initially, there were only whispers about the lodge’s fate, but they soon became confirmed reports: the lodge and other structures had succumbed to the flames. Fortunately, an evacuation order was issued due to another fire near Jacob Lake, ensuring that everyone on the North Rim was safely evacuated before the fire reached the lodge.
The fate of Brighty the Burro’s statue became a point of curiosity. For years, the statue sat in the lodge’s Sun Room, a beloved symbol for many who learned about Brighty through Marguerite Henry’s book, Brighty of the Grand Canyon. The bronze nose was polished smooth from countless touches by children and firefighters alike, who sought good fortune in their endeavors.
A photo eventually surfaced showing Brighty lying amid the aftermath, partially melted with a gaping hole in its side. Though initially dismissed as a loss, a closer inspection revealed that the head remained largely unscathed. This small detail carries the possibility that one day, Brighty’s nose might gleam once again.
Scott Thybony is a Flagstaff-based writer. His Canyon Commentaries are produced by KNAU Arizona Public Radio and air on the last Friday of each month.
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