Yet another reincarnated schoolhouse  (see Old School B&Bs on pg. 28), Paradise Valley’s El Chorro Lodge was built by John C. Lincoln in 1934 to house Judson School for Girls. Within a matter of a few years the property had changed hands and took on a new life as a lodge and restaurant.

New owners, Jan and Mark Gruber, won patrons over with 25 cent drinks, their famous family sticky bun recipe, and the charming ambiance of their outdoor patio illuminated by the glow a mesquite fireplace. Many golden-era Hollywood celebs, including Clark Gable and Milton Berle, found their
way to the lodge to enjoy the Gruber’s hospitality.

Now in the hands of 55-year El Chorro Lodge loyalists Joe and Evie Miller, little has changed. The place may seat a few more than it once did, but the Millers maintain most of the traditions established so many years ago. Delicious sticky buns are served with the bread, guests can gather with the locals around a juniper fire burning on the hearth, and El Chorro’s main bar operates in the same room where Lincoln’s daughter Lillian attended classes over seventy years ago.

Photos courtesy of El Chorro Lodge