Ft Tuthill Recreation Area

My husband is a medically retired army combat veteran. We just had things fall on us very spontaneously, and we will be in Northern AZ for a long period of time.
Adrian/​Adrianna, was very rude to us on the phone when asking questions. She was short and had a tone that came off as if our questions annoyed her or she just didn’t have the time.
When I asked for her name, she seemed very hesitant.
I just would expect to hear more friendless and politeness, especially when someone is employed to work with our country’s military.
I had more questions for her, but I could tell she didn’t want to help over the phone. I wanted to check more dates of availability, but I didn’t want to continue to converse with someone who seemed to be having an off day.
So, alas, my husband and I will not be staying in Ft. Tuthill.
Perhaps she was just having a bad day, or maybe my high pitch voice annoyed her, regardless, I’m embarrassed and upset that I couldn’t retrieve all the information I was trying to get from another adult.
I feel as if this instance was devoid of compassion or understanding.
It’s completely different than any experience we’ve had before; most military lodging employs kind, rational, and accepting individuals. I’ve never had a problem like this before, so I genuinely hope someone talks to her, or perhaps she just had a bad day.

Ft. Tuthill’s Lower Gorge rafting trip was FANTASTIC! The trip was incredibly well planned, the food was amazing, and the guides were outstanding. Not to mention the splendor of the Grand Canyon!
Tips from a first timer:
1. Call the moment registration opens or you probably won’t get a spot.
2. Check the weather link that comes in your welcome email, don’t try it yourself. The weather in the gorge is different! Mother Nature wins! Be ready!
3. We were given a Ft. Tuthill coffee travel mug in our room upon arrival. Be sure to take it with you or you won’t have a coffee cup. No cups/​glasses are provided during the trip.
4. Don’t forget a large water bottle.
5. Wear shoes that will go directly from the river to an uphill hike to more water. The hikes aren’t overly strenuous but you will need tread on your shoes, water sock type water shoes are strongly discouraged.
6. Pack sunscreen, bug repellant, lip protection, a wide brim hat with a strap, sunglasses with a strap, and have a lightweight button up type over shirt available anytime on the raft as the sun is HOT!
7. Snacks are provided on the rafts and meals are delicious and plentiful.
8. Pack a towel to improvise a pillow or a blow up type pillow if you’re a pillow sleeper.
9. Arrive expecting to meet amazing people from all over the world. We made friends of a lifetime type friends!
9. ASK THE GUIDES QUESTIONS! They are so full of facts and stories!
10. Have a little money to buy a snack or sodas/​beer etc. on the way to the Grand Canyon, money for lunch on the way back from the Grand Canyon. I recommend buying extra beer/​wine/​tequila/​your drink of choice as, at least for us, it was a very hospitable crowd and everyone was generous to share and share alike.
11. Pack money to tip your guides. You will feel terrible if you aren’t prepared to tip them after you see the extent they go to to ensure you have the experience of a lifetime!

We stayed at the Luke AFB Recreation Area in Ft Tuthill. For the money it was a very good place to camp. It did not offer full hook-​ups, but did have a dump station. Some sites offered no services. That said, the laundry facilities were good as well as the showers & washrooms. The place was quiet and offered significant shade from tall pines. Most or all sites had picnic tables and barbq’s. However Fire Danger conditions precluded their use during our stay. Overall this was a great value! I would absolutely stay here again!

Just realized I haven’t given this place a review which is crazy since my husband and I have stayed here numerous times and have always had a blast!
We have stayed in a yurt numerous times. The yurt has electricity, microwave, small refrigerator, a table with 4 chairs, alarm clock, a wood stove and two bunk beds with plenty of bedding they keep in a plastic tub for you to use depending on how many are staying. They have a few garbage cans. Basically the basics. The mattresses are something you might find at a summer camp but my husband and I always take two mattresses and just make a nice cozy bed on the floor by the wood stove. If you get a yurt they will give you a key so you have access to free firewood that they keep chopped in a shed close by. You also get a key to the washrooms located across from the lodge where they have showers and bathrooms. They also have a few port a potties close by. Outside the yurts they have a picnic table and also a small charcoal grill to cook on. They are spread out just a little bit from the other yurts and campsites.
We have stayed in the one room cabins a lot also. One bed with a pull out couch sleeps 4 comfortably. The cabins have a kitchen with pots and pans and utensils. There is a coffee pot but bring your own coffee. They have a bathroom with standing shower and heat that works amazing! Small tv with some basic channels. A DVD player. They also have a picnic table and charcoal grill outside.
We have also stayed in an A Frame and have even went in with some friends and got the big cabin and had a blast. The A frame and big cabin are beautiful and amazing. The big cabin has a huge kitchen with table and an outback fenced yard. It has a separate living room with a tv, chairs and couches that have two double glass doors that open up to a beautiful wooden deck with a picnic table overlooking the area.
There is free coffee in the lounge and a small store with limited supplies. They also have a cabinet with games that they loan out for free on the honor system. The lodge is beautiful with a huge fireplace and sitting area. They have a place next to the lodge where you can rent sleds for the snow also. We have never got a room in the hotel so cant say much on that.
Great military place. Always a good time with friendly employees.

Tired from a days driving, we decided against staying in the Grand Canyon’s campgrounds and opted for a location closer to flagstaff. After a quick google search I discovered this campsite was nearly empty and we could easily get a space wherever we desired. Pulling through the fairgrounds parking lot I should have realized that this was the wrong week to come as they were preparing for the fair this upcoming weekend. This was omen number 1. Next we came to the camp host’s booth. Completely empty. No one on staff. Considering it was a Monday afternoon we figured they might just have been on break so we grabbed a form to fill out for a one night stay which it said was a-​ok to do… Omen number 2. At this point we drove around the site to look for a nice spot. A giant crow, or so we thought, was perched upon a the firepit at campsite b13 so we chose a neighboring site instead. OMEN NUMBER 3. Setting up our tent it started to thunder and I looked into a parting in the sky, thick black clouds began to roll in. We quickly set up the tent and hoped for the best, but expected the worst. ANOTHER OMENS? Got pizza (see fratelli’s review) and then came back. Tried to make a campfire but everything was soaked. We said, «screw that» to the fire. Due to our expert placement got in the now smoke filled tent. OMENS A PLENTY. Finally lightening struck in the forest six or seven times and we bolted to the car. Soaked in the car we decided to hotwire a hotel instead of waking up on a floating air mattress in the middle of the half assembled fairgrounds. The thunder shook the car as we almost skeleton keyed in the muddy path towards the exit. To be continued (see days inn review)
PS The camp host never came back.

Stayed in the motel. They have cabins, yurts, and a campground for tents and camping vehicles. Nice BBQ on Friday night, free, and friendly staff and folks. Operated by Luke AFB, you must have a military ID to enter.
Very nice, enjoyable, clean and safe. Reasonable prices.
The rafting trips are awesome!

I was here this past weekend for a wedding, and it was an awesome place to hold such an event! The wedding ceremony was held at a lookout spot about 10min away, but the reception (a chili cook-​off) was held at the Fort Tuthill Recreation area.
There was a kitchen and conference room for our use, and the grounds for playing on. There was a basketball court, volleyball court, tetherball and a nice gazebo where they set up the bar. After the reception, the after-​party continued in an A-​Frame Cabin, which was very roomy and comfortable.
We stayed the night in a hotel room in the main building, coincidentally a handicapped-​friendly one with one queen bed, since it was the last one available for the night. It was $ 65/​night, and very large. The bed was very comfortable! Everything was clean and well-​kept – the only complaint I would have is the walls were very thin and I could hear every footstep on the floor above.
The staff was very friendly, and the wedding party had an amazing time at Fort Tuthill. We will probably return on a future date, possibly to try out their Adventure Course…

Fully functional recreation area owned and operated by Ft. Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix. This place has it all and is my preferred place to stay in Flagstaff, Military ID current or retired is mandatory to stay here or sponsorship by someone. We have stayed here the last 3 years and have progressed from a tent site then a Yurt and this year a room in the hotel. The prices are inexpensive, the location is great and they have free showers. If you can stay here you’ll be in heaven.