This Grand Canyon Movie Star Escapes Another Sad Ending
A statue of a famous movie star, who had a book made about him that became a popular movie, was thought lost in the North Rim fire that burned the lodge in the Grand Canyon. It is just another sad chapter in the story of Brighty the Burro but also a story of survival.
Survival Against the Odds: The Origin of Brighty
In 1890 two miners were working a part of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. They brought a burro with them to carry their tools and supplies. When the two men died in the frozen winter months the burro survived and was found near Bright Angel Creek.
This is how he got his name Brighty. He had turned feral and would not join regular mule teams, but he liked being around humans. A boy named Bob at one of the camps got him to haul water and give rides to kids for a stack of pancakes.
Tragic Endings: The Fate of Brighty
Brighty was such a celebrity around the North Rim that when they built the first suspension bridge across the canyon, Brighty the Burro had the honor of being the first to cross. They also might have wanted to see if the bridge would hold up.
The sad fate of the miners who died in the winter was a foretaste of what would end Brighty's life. If you are telling this to little kids, you may want to skip this part as the author of the book and movie did.
From Legend to Literature: Brighty’s Influence
Brighty continued to run loose in the canyon and when a thief from Arizona took that same bridge to escape to Utah, he found Brighty and pressed him into service. The two ended up in a cabin when the snow hit.
The thief was low on food and when another man joined him who was also starving, well, needless to say, Brighty didn't survive the winter. Still, his legend lived on and in 1966 Margarite Henry wrote a children's book named Brighty the Burro.
Hope Among the Ashes: Brighty’s Statue Survives
It was so popular, a movie was made a year later. Soon a statue was created of the famous burro and donated to the Grand Canyon visitor's center. Once again, Brighty suffered a setback when it was decided feral mules didn't belong in the park.
His statue was removed for a time while they removed the wild mules. Eventually, the statue of Brighty ended up in the North Rim Lodge. Unfortunately in 2025 when the lodge burned, it was feared the statue of Brighty was gone for good.
Read More: Take a Safari in Utah to See Wild Horses Roaming Free
However, this burro just doesn't give up. The statue was found, some what intact among the wreckage. The Grand Canyon website says:
Brighty is currently being carefully stored at the Grand Canyon Museum Collection facility. Grand Canyon National Park and our nonprofit partner, Grand Canyon Conservancy, are actively discussing next steps regarding conservation treatment and potential restoration options.
The legend of Brighty the Burro lives on.
