An Outdoor and Indoor Oasis
By Roberta John
MONUMENT VALLEY – It’s all about the mystical view.
That is the view of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park here on the northern outskirts of the Navajo Nation.
For the past several years, visitors have had an opportunity to wake up to the soothing rays of the sun overlooking towering chestnut-colored rock formations at Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park from their room at The View Hotel – the only hotel in the world that is located in Monument Valley.
However, owners of The View Hotel Armanda and Art Ortega, soon learned there are also visitors who want to connect with Mother Earth yet still be able to embrace the warm welcome of early morning dawn from a whole new level. Visitors who revel in outdoor adventure yet want a haven where mother nature abounds and wake up to a feeling of openness.
With that concept in mind, the Ortegas planned and designed a multi-dimensional campground, which is called The View Campground while the cabins at the campground are called “The Cabins at The View.” Located just north of The View Hotel, The View Campground has 29 separate cabins that authenticate a cultural retreat and vintage peaceful pleasure.
And whether you’re talking about scenery or The View Campground, it echoes the spiritual solitude and calmness of the valley.
“The view captivates what we want visitors to see and experience,” said Armanda Ortega. “It just seemed appropriate to name our hotel and now our new RV campground using the word view.”
The word view has proven to be an effective marketing tool for Armanda who is the president of her company called Shadi’i’ Co. Shadii means older sister in Navajo.
Most visitors who visit Monument Valley are so amazed that they often come back for a second visit.
The View Campground also includes 30 RV spots and 30 wilderness campsites, which attracts outdoor enthusiasts who want to capture the essence of rustic living and a dust of authentic Navajo history.
Thanks in large part to Armanda and her father Art’s creative ingenuity, there is an abundant amount of options for lodging at Monument Valley from their perfectly located accommodation called The View Hotel and now The View Campground & Cabins at The View.
Photos courtesy of The View Campground & Cabins
The cabins have a rustic look on the outside to imitate a natural age pantina, but have a warm and timeless realm of western nostalgia on the inside.
No expenses were spared….giving this ranch-like campground a sense of legacy and retreat.
Armanda explained that the RV spots are dry and the cabins are fully furnished and equipped just like a private hotel room.
In traditional Navajo culture, touching Mother Earth is a form of healing and medicine so it was important to design the rooms with a ground level ambiance and give visitors a down-to-earth experience.
The RV campground has full shower facilities with restrooms, WIFI and access to all of The View Hotel amenities including discount breakfast at The View Restaurant.
Armanda explained that since they are still in their first year of operation, many visitors did not know there was a RV campground or cabins at Monument Valley until they arrived.
“We are working to change that very quickly,” she commented.
The Navajo-owned company hired up to 20 people during the peak of the tourism season in the summer. The View Campground was completed in June 2014; however, there are additional plans for improvement.
“It is a work in progress,” Armanda added. “We are working behind the scenes to help visitors enjoy the magnificent beauty and wonder of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. However, we know the true beauty of this valley are the Navajo people who are the cultural treasures and an integral part of this world-renowned attraction.”
Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department Manager Martin L. Begaye reverberated his support of The View Campground, noting, “We are very pleased that there is a multi-use RV campground and cabins here within Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. The new addition has helped create new jobs for the local Navajo people and provide a new avenue for visitors to experience the unique solitude that can only be found here at Monument Valley. The View Campground has also helped increase visitation to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park and increased revenues that will help maintain and improve the park. Lastly, The View Campground also allows visitors to stay longer.”
The View Campground…where the stay is as important as the view.
A place to bask in the quiet and hear the sound of nothingness.
The perfect retreat to hear silent whispers of Navajo culture.
For more information about The View Campground or The View Hotel, contact them at www.monumentvalleyview.com
www.theviewcampground.com
www.cabinsattheview.com
