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Painted Desert Inn, Petrified Forest National Park
Originally build almost 100 years ago, Painted Desert Inn is situated on the South edge of what's arguably the most colorful piece of land in the Western Hemisphere. It looks out over an ever-changing light show as the sun plays over natural sand deposits that range in color from dull grays to blues to browns to magentas to pinks to stark whites.
The structure itself is challenged since it was build on a seam of bentonite which swells and shifts whenever there's precipitation. The Inn was rebuilt in the '30s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and was later taken over by the National Park Service in connection with the Petrified Forrest.
In the 60's the interior was stripped of fittings in preparation for demolition, which was halted when the Inn was declared a National Historic Site. One of the rooms hardest hit was the lunch room, which had all the characteristics of a classic soda fountain.
A decision was made to restore the lunchroom in 2008. Desert Craftsmen was selected to do the work. The photos below show the result. The only original structures are the gray benches under the mural. We are proud to have been able to take part in bringing the Inn back toward it's historic appearance.
To learn more, follow the link.