If you drive deep into the White Mountains, past the elk-dotted meadows of Eagar and up into the thin, pine-scented air of Greer, you’ll eventually hit a dead end. This is "the town on the road to nowhere." And right in the middle of it sits Molly Butler Lodge Greer Arizona, a place that has been serving prime rib since before Arizona was even a state.
Honestly, in a world where historic hotels are often gutted and turned into sterile boutiques, Molly’s is a bit of an anomaly. It’s lived-in. It’s a little bit creaky. It’s exactly what a mountain lodge should be.
The Woman Who Built an Empire on 25-Cent Meals
Molly Butler wasn't looking to start a resort. She was a pioneer who arrived in a covered wagon at age six. By the early 1900s, she and her husband John were just trying to survive the winters at 8,300 feet. Back then, hospitality wasn't a business; it was a survival tactic. Travelers would stumble into their homestead, and Molly would feed them whatever was in the pot. In exchange, they’d chop wood or haul water.
It was Molly’s daughter, Hannah, who finally had the business sense to say, "Hey, maybe we should charge for this."
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In 1910, they started charging 25 cents a meal. That was the official birth of the Molly Butler Lodge Greer Arizona. Since then, the guest list has read like a who’s who of the 20th century. John Wayne stayed here. So did Teddy Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover. Zane Grey, the guy who basically invented the Western novel, spent enough time here that the locals probably stopped looking up when he walked in.
What It's Actually Like to Visit Today
Walking into the lodge now, you get hit with that specific smell of woodsmoke and old timber. It’s comforting. The main building isn’t the original 1910 structure—that was torn down and rebuilt in the late '60s—but it feels authentic to the era.
The Food (And Yes, You Order the Prime Rib)
If you talk to anyone in Apache County about Molly’s, they’re going to mention the prime rib. It’s the law. They hand-cut it, and it usually sells out on busy weekends. But there’s a secret menu item that most people miss: the prime rib chili. It’s actually based on a recipe from a White House cookbook that President Hoover personally gave to the Butlers as a thank-you gift.
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They also do a dish called "Molly's Special Steak" with Mormon gravy. It’s not fancy, and it’s definitely not "fusion." It’s just heavy, delicious frontier food that makes sense when the temperature outside is dropping into the 30s.
The Lodging Situation
You’ve got two main choices when you stay here:
- The Lodge Rooms: These are attached to the main building. They’re "cowboy-chic," which is code for small but charming. If you want to be five steps away from the bar and the fireplace, this is your spot.
- The Rental Cabins: This is where the lodge has expanded. They manage about 50 cabins around Greer. Some are tiny rustic shacks for two; others are massive multi-million dollar timber frames that sleep a dozen people.
Why Greer is Different from Sedona or Flagstaff
People often compare Greer to other Arizona mountain towns, but it’s a totally different vibe. Sedona is for crystal shops and $400-a-night spas. Flagstaff is a bustling college town. Greer? Greer is where you go when you want your cell phone to stop ringing.
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The town is surrounded by the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. There are no traffic lights. There are no chain stores. If you need milk after 7:00 PM, you might be out of luck unless the Lazy Trout Market is still open.
The "Must-Do" Local List
- The Butterfly Lodge Museum: Just down the road, this was the home of author James Willard Schultz. It’s a weirdly beautiful little museum that feels frozen in time.
- The Little Colorado River: It runs right through town. In the summer, you’ll see kids splashing in it near Government Springs.
- Sunrise Park Resort: Only about 20 minutes away. In the winter, it’s Arizona’s biggest ski hill. In the summer, they run the lifts for mountain bikers and people who just want to see the views from 11,000 feet.
Misconceptions and Reality Checks
A lot of people think Molly Butler Lodge Greer Arizona is a luxury resort. It isn’t. If you’re looking for a Five-Diamond experience with a concierge and heated marble floors, you’re going to be disappointed. This is a place with taxidermy on the walls and floors that might have a slight slant.
The service can be slow when the "heat-crazed" crowds from Phoenix descend in July. You have to remember that the town's population is less than 200 people. When 3,000 tourists show up, the gears grind a little slower. Just order a beer, sit on the deck, and look at the trees. That’s the whole point of being here.
Plan Your Trip Like a Local
If you’re actually going to make the trek, here is the non-tourist way to do it:
- Go in the "Shoulder" Season: Everyone goes in July to escape the heat or in January to ski. But October? October is magic. The aspens turn neon yellow, and the crowds are gone.
- Check the Weather Twice: Greer is at 8,300 feet. It can snow in May. I’ve seen it happen. Pack layers even if the forecast says it’s 90 degrees in Phoenix.
- Book Dinner Early: If you want that prime rib, don't just show up at 7:00 PM on a Saturday. Call ahead.
- Fish the Lakes: Bunch, Tunnel, and River Reservoir are all within five minutes. If you have kids, River Reservoir is the best bet for catching perch or crawdads.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the Calendar: Look for "Greer Days" in June if you want a small-town festival vibe, or avoid that weekend if you want peace and quiet.
- Secure Your Cabin: Browse the Molly Butler Lodge website to see the specific cabin layouts—each one is privately owned and unique, so the "Cabin 283" experience is vastly different from a lodge room.
- Download Your Maps: Cell service is spotty at best once you leave Springerville. Download your offline Google Maps before you start the climb up Highway 260.