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Welcome to Hannagan Meadow Lodge, where temperatures rarely exceed
80°, wildlife is abundant, television is non-existent and the air
is pure and exhilarating! The other pages of the website can provide
you with all the information you need about the property itself.
Here are the answers to some frequently-asked questions about Hannagan
Meadow:
Who visits Hannagan Meadow? Answer: Everyone! Our
guests arrive from all 50 states, and even around the world. Some
are singles, some are couples, some are families and some are large
groups. Families bring their kids to experience the great outdoors.
Executives come to take a well-deserved break from schedules and
appointments. Couples come to spend time together or to renew their
relationships. Although there are hundreds of reasons why people
visit, what all guests have in common is that they have heard about
Hannagan Meadow and want to experience our peace and quiet, our
nature, and the unique feel that has been the trademark of Hannagan
Meadow Lodge since 1926.
What kinds of luxuries are at the Lodge? Let us point
out that this is not the Ritz-Carlton, and that we never plan to
be that type of property! But we have taken great care to provide
the comfort of modern conveniences which will keep you happy, while
still preserving the rustic "old-world" feel of your visit. We do
not have jacuzzi tubs (but the lakes are nice) or exercise facilities
(though you are welcome to use the thousands of acres surrounding
the Lodge). The only phone available for guests to use is a pay
phone in the lobby of the restaurant, and we have no plans to change
that anytime soon. However, don't think for a minute that you are
going to be "roughing it." All Lodge rooms are uniquely decorated
in gorgeous antiques and have private bathrooms. All cabins are
heated with fireplaces or woodburning stoves, and include at least
a refrigerator and microwave. And, if you get really desperate to
email your office or know the score of "the big game," we can help
you out, but you're going to have to produce a note from your mother,
three character references and a bribe (chocolate chip cookies work
the best). This is all for your own good. You're supposed to be
"taking it easy," remember?
 What
is there to do at Hannagan Meadow? Your leisure activities
are limited only by your enthusiasm and stamina. Check out our lists
of Eastern Arizona activities, warm weather activities and cold
weather activities. At Hannagan, you cannot see a movie, but the
view at sunset is unbelievable, and you can see a fabulous show
of stars once the sun goes down. We do not have televisions, clock
radios, satellite TV, pay-per-view, XM satellite radio, or newspapers
available; we suggest a deck of cards, board game, great novel,
visit to the bonfire, chatting with friends and family; or getting
out and enjoying all that beautiful Eastern Arizona has to offer.
Visit the horse stables, try your hand at pitching horseshoes, hang
out on the front porch (maybe the U.S. Fish & Wildlife officers
in charge of the Mexican Gray Wolf reintroduction program will stop
by and chat with you).
 We
run motorized buggy rides from May through October (during the warmer
months) on the forest service roads to see wildlife and other White
Mountain wonders. We also make a stop at the Blue Vista lookout.
The buggy seats 8 (including the driver) and has roll-down side
panels in case of inclement weather. The price is $10 an hour, per
person; $7.50 for children 6-12; and $5 for children 5 and under.
We run 1 hr, 2 hour, or 4 hour tours (which includes lunch at the
river.) Reservations can be made by calling the lodge, or signing
up at the front desk while you are here.
 What
if I just want privacy and to be left alone? This is also
totally OK at Hannagan Meadow Lodge. The greatest amount of privacy
comes when staying in a freestanding cabin up the hill from the
main Lodge. However, even in a main Lodge room, if you want to be
left alone, you will be! Many guests crave the quiet and solitude
and that's just fine with us. Our main concern is that your stay
at Hannagan Meadow is exactly the kind of escape that you want it
to be. You will not be forced to sing "Kum-Ba-Yah" around the fireplace
or to share your life story, unless you want to!
What's up with wolves near Hannagan Meadow? National
attention was drawn to Hannagan Meadow once more beginning in 1997,
when Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt proceeded with the
Mexican wolf Endangered Species Reintroduction program as recommended
by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A press conference was held
in the fireplace room of Hannagan Meadow Lodge.  Through
the mid-1900's, Mexican gray wolves in Arizona were completely extirpated,
with only a few remaining in Mexico, and were officially listed
as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 1976. The reintroduction
program began with 11 wolves being placed into acclimation pens
off-limits to human contact. These wolves were initially released
into the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area in March 1998. The overall
management plan is to have 100 free-ranging wolves in the recovery
area (Arizona and New Mexico) by the year 2005. There are eight
wolf packs free-ranging in the area as of April 2003, including
the Bluestem, Hawks Nest, Cienega, Saddle, Francisco, Gapiwi, and
Luna packs, plus one lone wolf. These packs total 24 radio-collared
wolves, and based on other data from the field such as sightings
and tracks, biologists believe there may also be 16 uncollared wolves
in the wild. Uncollared wolves are pups born in the wild or wolves
with collars that are no longer transmitting. The wolves are not
interested in human contact and there has never been any documented
instance of an attack on people. The presence of wolves in the forests
near Hannagan Meadow is something to delight in, not to fear. Click
here for more information on about the Mexican Wolf Recovery
Program, and click
here for an update on the progress and location of the various
wolf packs being studied. Click
here to read an article about the wolves by wildlife technician
Rich Bard.
Can we visit the Lodge even if we are not staying there?
EVERYONE is welcome to stop by Hannagan Meadow while in Eastern
Arizona. Of course, the best way to experience the unique feel of
the property and all the fun activities is to stay right on-site.
But if you're just passing through, please stop and say hello! The
Restaurant and General Store are both open to the public; you do
not need to be a guest of the Lodge to enjoy them. Generally, there
is always someone in the Lobby or on the front porch who would love
to show you around.
The Lobby of Hannagan Meadow Lodge Welcomes EVERYONE!
Will we go hungry at the Lodge? There is absolutely
0% chance that you will be scrounging for nuts and berries in order
to feed yourselves (unless that's what you want to do!). The Hannagan
Meadow Lodge Restaurant offers excellent freshly-prepared food,
including a full breakfast buffet and gourmet dinner. See our restaurant
page for more information. We also have a variety of snacks
and drinks in the General Store. With advance notice, we can also
prepare a simple picnic lunch for you to take on your daily adventures.
If you are staying in a cabin, you will have the tools you need
to fend for yourself, if that's what you would like to do (although
you are invited to try the Restaurant, too!). The larger cabins
have full kitchens, including stoves, full-size refrigerators and
microwaves; while the duplex cabins have microwaves and small refrigerators.
We DO NOT have a bar or lounge on the premises any longer.
Can we plan group events at the Lodge? Certainly!
For a delightful family reunion, hunting party, womens'-weekend-away,
group or club getaway... Hannagan Meadow Lodge is happy to provide
you with the perfect location for your gathering. Many of our groups
have reserved the entire property for their affair, or perhaps just
the cabins or just the main Lodge rooms. If you're a smaller group,
you are welcome, too! We can comfortably accommodate groups from
4-62 and also provide special services such as buffet-style catering
or use of the restaurant as a meeting room. Just ask! If you want
to use our restaurant as a meeting room, you must make prior arrangements
with the staff. We are not set up for retreats or summits, and we
DO NOT do weddings or receptions.
What are the people in Hannagan Meadow like? You will
find that the people of Eastern Arizona are incredibly friendly
and down-to-Earth. If you are in front of the Lodge, you will notice
that each time a car drives by, the inhabitants will usually stick
their hand out the window in greeting. Many locals and area visitors
stop by the General Store to stretch their legs and enjoy a refreshment.
Our staff is also happy to talk with you and share their knowledge
of the area. Ask our Resident Guide about his day and he's likely
to tell you that he spent a few hours trying to lasso a wild horse,
or to show you the skull of a cougar that he shot when it was threatening
him. Because we are such a small property, you will find that by
the end of your visit you will probably have chatted with just about
everyone on-site before you leave. Hopefully you will have great
stories to share with friends and family when you return to the
reality of your regular life.
Did you know?
Hannagan Meadow Lodge maintains the highest-altitude weather reporting
station in Arizona.
The nearby Mogollon Rim (a couple-hours' drive to the north) has
the world's largest concentration of lightning storms.
The Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest is the world's largest stand
of ponderosa pine trees.
The nearby Blue Range Primitive Area is the only remaining primitive
area in the U.S. National Forest System.
Due to our high elevation, Hannagan Meadow frequently has the first
and last winter snow in Arizona.
The first specimen of the colorful butterfly speyeria mormonia
luski was discovered at Hannagan Meadow.
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