touring cars could reach zion canyon by the summer of 1917. the first visitor lodging in zion canyon, called wylie camp, was established that same year as a tent camp. the utah parks company, a subsidiary of the union pacific railroad, acquired wylie camp in 1923, and offered ten-day rail/bus tours to zion, nearby bryce canyon, the kaibab plateau, and the north rim of the grand canyon. the zion lodge complex was built in 1925 at the site of the wylie tent camp. architect gilbert stanley underwood designed the zion lodge in a rustic architectural style, while the utah parks company funded the construction.