Flagstaff, AZ (October 1, 2026) — Pastry chefs at Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort are busy mixing, baking, and building as they work to create a life-size traditional Navajo Hogan constructed of gingerbread. The hogan will greet visitors to Twin Arrows for the holiday season and vie for a Guiness Book of World Records title as the world’s largest ever Gingerbread Hogan. Creating this sweet masterpiece will take 10,000 pounds of flour, 3,000 pounds of sugar, 1,500 pounds of butter, 2,5000 pounds of molasses, and much more.
A hogan is much more than a traditional house—it is an important part of Diné (Navajo) culture, architecture, and ceremonial life. One of the most recognizable features of a hogan is the east-facing entrance. This allows its residents to greet the rising sun. The orientation is also a smart architectural design choice for getting morning sunlight. The hogan is understood within a larger Diné conception of harmony, the natural world, and the four directions.
Traditional hogans have generally been built from wooden poles or logs covered with earth, mud, or other natural materials, but this year chefs at Twin Arrows have decided to add their own twist constructing the hogan out of sweet treats.
“Sharing Diné culture is at the heart of our mission at the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise,” says CEO John James. “The gingerbread hogan offers the Twin Arrows team a creative way to celebrate a beloved holiday tradition while inviting others to learn more about the rich history and traditions of the Navajo people.”
To create the hogan chefs will use:
| Flour: | 10,000 lbs |
| Sugar: | 3,000 lbs |
| Butter: | 1,500 lbs |
| Molasses: | 2,500 lbs |
| Rice Krispies: | 500 lbs |
| Ground Ginger: | 45 lbs |
| Ground Cinnamon: | 35 lbs |
| Ground Cloves: | 20 lbs |
| Royal Icing: | 2,000 lbs |
| Gum Balls: | 1,000 pcs |
Once completed the hogan will stand approximately 10 feet tall and 18′ 9″ in Diameter and be displayed in the grand lobby of Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort. The Hogan will also be submitted to Guiness Book of World Records as the largest Gingerbread Hogan in the world. The hogan will officially go on display with a ceremony Thursday November 5, 2026 at 10 a.m.
To learn more about Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort or to book a room visit www.twinarrows.com or visit www.NavajoGaming.com