On rare occasions, a natural disaster or other unfortunate event severely damages a recommended hotel. Over the years, properties that we’ve loved have been lost to hurricanes and fires (like two of those below), as well as mudslides, tsunamis and even a volcanic eruption. Less dramatically but more commonly, a lack of investment causes a significant decline, making a restoration as expensive as rebuilding from scratch. The hotels on this list have all come back from the dead in one way or another, and in their new incarnations, they’ve surpassed themselves.

Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa
Jackson, Wyoming

We’d long recommended this lodge, which opened in 1990 in the town of Jackson, but it burned to the ground in 2019. The owners, the Harrison family, might have just called it quits, but they rebuilt. The Rusty Parrot has reopened, and it’s better than ever, expanded from 32 to 40 rooms. Guests’ cars are now parked under the hotel, allowing space for a flower-lined patio with outdoor dining tables, a hot tub and a spa terrace. Our room had a cozy fireplace and a scenic balcony, plus attractive contemporary Western art. We indulged in creative drinks and a delectable dinner at Wild Sage restaurant, and I enjoyed a relaxing yet invigorating Energy Force treatment in the spa. Within walking distance of Jackson Town Square, the Rusty Parrot once again rules the roost.

Read our full review of Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa »