With more than 100 new hotel rooms, camping sites and cabins; three new restaurants; five new tours and adventures; and an array of upcoming events, Kane County is one of the fastest growing tourism destination in Utah. The county is also home of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Coral Pink Sand Dunes, Kodachrome Basin, Lake Powell, Hole-in-the-Rock and the largest animal sanctuary in the United States, Kane County, Utah represents the best of both the Rocky Mountains and the Desert Southwest. Following are highlights of the county’s newest hotel and restaurant openings; renovations; resort deals and packages; new attractions; future developments; and upcoming events for spring and summer 2018
Hotels and Resorts
Openings/Additions/Programs
- Zion Ponderosa Ranch Now Open Year-Round: Zion Ponderosa Ranch, located on the eastern edge of Zion National Forest, now offers lodging, dining and recreation services year-round. The Ranch also recently added 70 camping sites, 20 glamping sites and 22 cabin suites.
- Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Lodging Opening in 2019: The former Four Seasons Inn Hotel is undergoing renovations and will reopen in 2019 as the newest lodging property for Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is the largest rescue and advocacy group for animals in the U.S., and is home to more than 1,600 animals, including dogs, cats, horses, bunnies, birds, pigs, mules, goats, sheep and more. Volunteer opportunities for visitors are available year-round.
Culinary
- Dutch Oven Cooking Classes: New for 2018, guests and visitors of Zion Ponderosa Ranch can learn to cook Dutch oven style.
- Wild Thyme Café Opens in Kanab: Opened August 2017, Wild Thyme Café offers a unique fusion of southwestern and Cajun dishes, using only the freshest ingredients grown in their own organic garden.
- Peakaboo Kitchen Offers Vegetarian and Vegan Options in Kanab: Located in the Flagstone Boutique Inn & Suites, Peekaboo Canyon Wood Fired Kitchen offers artisanal pizza from a wood fired oven, along with a full menu of international and locally inspired dishes.
- Sammie’s Chuck Wagon Opens in Orderville: Opened Fall 2017, Sammie’s Chuck Wagon offers a full line of homemade pizzas, coffees, all-fruit smoothies and milkshakes.
Attractions
- East Zion Jeep Tours: East Zion Jeep Tours recently added new, highly customized Jeeps to their fleet of vehicles. The custom designed Jeeps offer top notch suspension for the best possible comfort, and have open seating styles for maximum viewing opportunities. Participants will learn from expert guides about the flora, fauna, history, and geology of this region.
- New Pond & Open Field Open at Zion Ponderosa Ranch: This year, Zion Ponderosa Ranch has added a pond, which will be open for paddle boarding and other water activities. Visitors and guests can also take advantage of the resort’s sports field, which will be open for activities including softball, soccer, frisbee and more.
- Blacksmith Adventures: The newly opened Blacksmith Adventures lets guests personally experience the age-old craft of blacksmithing with the help and guidance of experienced blacksmiths.
- New Thunderbird Foundation Exhibit: Maynard Dixon Home & Studio is now showing 116 original albumen photographs by Jack Hillers of the 1872 John Wesley Powell Expeditions. These images depict Native Americans in the region surrounding the base camp of Powell in Kanab and the surrounding areas.
Upcoming Events
- ATV Fun Run (May 4-6): The 15th annual ATV Fun Run allows visitors to explore the many scenic OHV trails in southern Utah and northern Arizona.
- Amazing Earthfest (May 13-19): This annual educational festival celebrates National and State Parks, National Forests, Monuments and Public Lands of the Colorado Plateau.
- Top of Zion Relay (June 8-9): The Top of Zion Relay is a 195-mile 12-runner relay race. This relay highlights some of Utah’s world famous scenery including three national parks, two national monuments, three state parks, National Scenic Byways and Dixie National Forest.
- Western Legends Roundup (August 23-25): Over the course of the festivals three days, the stages, streets and ventures in Kanab are filled with round-the-clock entertainment. Visitors can attend one of the numerous outdoor performances, rage a wagon ride, or join one of the daily tours of classic western filming locations.
Issued by the Utah Office of Tourism Australia / New Zealand Press Office.
Trade: For more information and/or high resolution images please contact: Corey Marshall at Canuckiwi on +64 21 555 463 or email corey@canuckiwi.com
Media: For more information and/or high resolution images please contact: Joanne Motta at Canuckiwi on +61 403 180751 or email joanne@canuckiwi.com
Issued by the Utah Office of Tourism Canadian Press Office.
For more information and/or high resolution images please contact: Heather McGillivray at Canuckiwi on +1 250 888 5687 or email heather@canuckiwi.com.
