By Anne Groebner



Hidden among the pristine landscapes of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest is the small and quiet village of Greer — a safe haven for fishermen and hunters and a playground for outdoor enthusiasts. It sits perched along the shores of the Little Colorado River and it is the access and destination points of many trails. Through the years I have visited Greer either to hike from the trailheads of the east, west fork, and Government Springs or complete a long trek from other trailheads and then sit down for a great and well-deserved meal at one of its restaurants. 

Greer has great history. When you eat at Mollie Butlers, ask them to tell you about the local history. Molly Butler’s Lodge played a huge role in the settlement of Greer and because of incredible hospitality by Mollie, it drew many visitors to the area, including some famous like Presidents Herbert Hoover and Teddy Roosevelt, Authors Zane Grey, Mary Roberts Rinehart, and James Willard Schultz. Shultz actually built a cabin there, which is now the Butterfly Lodge Museum.  

It’s been a while since “Aunt Mollie” served up one of her famous home-grown, home-cooked meals but her name is still prominent in the small mountain village. She came to Arizona from Utah in a covered wagon when she was six years old. She was married to Lorenzo Crosby when she lived in Greer around 1902. They had three children, Hannah, George Ellis, and Lester Lorenzo. Her husband, Lorenzo, was shot and killed in his berth on a train while traveling back from his mission in Missouri. It’s rumored that he was killed by the Smith Gang. Before his mission, Crosby had helped the Arizona Rangers track the Smith Gang after they had robbed a train in Arizona. 

Mollie married John T. Butler, a carpenter and jack-of-all-trades. He did most of the building in Greer, built most of the houses, did the plumbing, furnished horses and teams, and cut logs. He guided hunting and fishing trips and is remembered as a “real character of Greer.” He could tell you a lot of interesting things and knew a great deal about hunting and fishing. 

They started the lodge officially in 1908. At first, it was a free lodge, where anyone could come and stay when hunting, fishing, or vacationing. There were beds all over the place and everyone helped. Someone would get the water, others would get the wood, and another would do chores. Eventually, Mollie’s daughter Hannah started charging twenty-five cents for meals. Rooms were added and attached to each other creating the longhouse and the square house, which are still standing, and the log lodge, which was torn down in 1967.

John T. Butler died at the age of 54. Mollie Butler lived to the age of 87 and died in 1964. She never realized the real value of the meals she served, but she had a large collection of friends. Her daughter and son-in-law, Rue Kimball tore down the original building to build something new. Hannah saw the foundations poured in the spring of 1967. But died of cancer on May 5 of that year. Kimball operated the lodge for a while then sold it to Harry and Barbara Petroff in 1974.

Jake and Sue Jacobs bought the Lodge and owned it until 1999 when Irene and her former husband Tom bought it. They owned Mollie’s until 2007. They sold it to some investors, but in 2016 it defaulted and the business came back. Close friends, Irene and Sandy, who have been at Mollie Butlers for many years, decided the Village of Greer needed Mollie’s, took it on, and have kept it running ever since. It’s their passion. 

Today, Mollie Butler’s stands in the center of town as a monument to its historic past. The buildings have been changed or renovated but the ambiance and the hospitality still remain, thanks to the hands-on management of Irene and Sandy. You will always see them either serving meals or cleaning tables along with their staff. 

The Lodge was under construction from 2018 until just last December and they have opened three beautiful rooms. Eventually, as renovations continue, they will have an additional room and will include the longhouse and the square house to complete the entire Mollie Butler’s Lodge as it once was. 

"Greer is a special place,” Sandy tells me. “I don’t think you will find anything like it. It’s still small. If you come here, you won’t find grocery stores or gas stations and maybe the internet isn’t great, but you will find wildlife, hiking, fishing, peace and quiet, and lots of scenic beauty — and that’s what you come to Greer for.”

Irene tells me that their specialty is their prime rib. They also make their chili out of the prime rib and they have continued Mollie’s special steak (not fried or breaded) with Mormon gravy, a recipe that has been on the menu for over 60 years. They also serve the “Wink Burger” made from homegrown beef at the X-Diamond Ranch, owned by Mollie Butler’s granddaughter, Wink Crigler. Her ranch is one of the best places to find out about the history of the White Mountains. From John Wayne’s movie set items and several player pianos from all over the country to the settlement of the White Mountains range.

At Mollie’s, there is Football Sunday in the bar and Thursday is Local’s Day, but you don’t have to be a local to come in and get their drink specials. They are open for lunch on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and serve dinner every night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Irene and Sandy told me that they might close early if business is slow, so if you are coming for a late meal, give them a call so they know you are coming. And, once in a blue moon, they might close on Wednesdays to give the staff a break. 

So check out Mollie Butler’s the next time you are in Greer, where customer service is their top priority and their motto is “come in as a stranger, and leave as family.” And, as one of the customers told me, “You won’t find anything bad on the menu.”