Grand Canyon SR

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Permalink Reply by Laurel on October 23, 2007 at 11:07pm

Have you worked in national parks before? I worked at Grand Canyon for 6 months for Xanterra (Xanterrible) and wouldn't really recommend it. The housing and pay are both terrible. Delaware North who operates some retail locations in the park has much nicer housing - new apartments instead of dorms with roommates.

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Permalink Reply by Traveler on October 26, 2007 at 10:08am

I worked at Grand Canyon South Rim in '96 and really wouldn't recommend it either.

Housing is dorm style, I had to share a room with a slob and drunk who stole many of my personal belongings when he was fired for showing up for his job under the influence. I seem to remember I had to pay about $15-$20 a week rent for this grand privilege too. When I reported the theft all Human Resources said was, "Gee, that's too bad. We put x on the bus to Flagstaff, if you want you can go to court and swear out a warrant."

Communal bathrooms/showers were outright nasty.

It was nothing to walk down hallway of dorms and find drunks passed out on floor.

Almost impossible to sleep at night because of loud partying, drunks fighting right outside my window. Lodge guests that sometime became lost and wound in in employee housing area actually feared for their safety in these areas (I don't blame them either). I had many approach me and ask if I would walk them back to their lodge/motel rooms.

Things were so bad in the employee housing area I even took to driving out into the Kaibab Forest and sleeping in the back of my truck just to get a little peace and quiet and be able to sleep.

Prices of everything at and in immediate area around South Rim were outrageous. The only place to get personal needs (clothing, grooming needs, etc.) at a reasonable price was miles away in Flagstaff.

If you just have to go contract for the shortest amount of time possible because I'm willing to bet after 2-3 months you'll be ready to leave. I thought about leaving almost every day after I was there for about a month but I stayed and honored my obligation.

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Permalink Reply by Barbara Shapiro on November 18, 2007 at 1:11pm

I agree...Xanterra is not the company to work for....I worked there this summer...No organization. Even though I was in management, housing was not acceptable, nor was the salary. Guess that is why they lost their contract with the park!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Too many complaints

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Permalink Reply by reggie on December 13, 2007 at 8:09am

so did they lose all the contracts for the parks

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Permalink Reply by Jason S. on January 19, 2008 at 10:32pm

They lost North Rim, not South Rim....

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Permalink Reply by Barbara Shapiro on January 20, 2008 at 8:54am

You are right but they still do not operate the property well. I was in management there and still did not get treated appropriately. They promised me private housing with a kitchen and they put me in a room with a bed and desk in it. Go figure......I reported them to the Park Service!!! for the way they treated the kids there.

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Permalink Reply by Susan Harrington on February 5, 2008 at 7:33pm

How are Forever Resorts on the North Rim? They called me about an employment opportunity.

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Permalink Reply by Barbara Shapiro on February 5, 2008 at 8:51pm

Forever Resorts are the new company managing the property. Xanterra managed it last year.

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Permalink Reply by coffeedave on January 19, 2008 at 3:07am

hi, i agree with everyone on xanterra. they change their name with the new lease. i did recommend working at grand canyon but outside the park. the helicopter/airplane companies were great, good pay and nice housing. my wife and i, and when my 15 yr daughter joined us, lived in a 3 bdrm double wide. then in a brand new 2 bdrm. my daughter worked at imax and loved it and i worked at papillion helicopters in the retail store and my wife a photographer for the airline tours. funny thing is, xanterra hired us sight unseen. when we got there the housing was so crappy that we used the time to look for other jobs which we got and never did have to work for xanterra. only had to stay in their outhouses (they called them employee dorms) one night! would we work there again? yes, but not for xanterra or whatever name they will hide under next lease time. hope that helps

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Permalink Reply by Susan Harrington on February 6, 2008 at 5:52am

Thank you for the info!

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Permalink Reply by coffeedave on February 6, 2008 at 8:15am

hi susan,
depending on where you are from and can swing it, you could do as i did and go to north rim, look at it, take their housing and then use the time to look at the other jobs. even macdonalds has better housing. dorm style. no married people as dorms are 2 huge building, 1 for the girls and one for the boys.
go to the websites about tusayan. the little town at the entrance of grand canyon. holiday inn, quality inn, rodeway inn, and more plus the imax and all kinds of cool little shops. try grand canyon airlines for cool photography jobs and papillion helicopters. there are at least 3 helicopter places. also delaware north has their stores in and out of grand canyon. i still loved the grand canyon of them all. its busy and tons to do.
makes me almost want to re apply and live there again!
coffeedave

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Permalink Reply by Susan Harrington on February 6, 2008 at 4:58pm

Thanks!

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