In 1916, when Reuben C. Syrett — Ruby to his friends — settled in the wilds of Southern Utah, he was unaware of the unique landscape nearby. A couple of weeks after the move, another rancher told him about the local canyon called Bryce, named for a man who’d lost his cow among the hoodoos decades before. Traveling to see it one Sunday with his family, Ruby was so taken with the beauty of the place, he began to spread the word about the unusual geology—an amphitheater of delicate rock spires the color of a sunset.
As intrigued travelers began to arrive, curious to see the wonder they’d heard about, Ruby and his family played host to them. Eventually, in 1919, the family built a lodge called Tourist Rest to house the growing number of visitors to the area. And in 1923, when Bryce Canyon was named a national park, Ruby moved the lodge to his ranch and named it Ruby’s Inn.
Today, near the mouth of Bryce Canyon National Park, Ruby’s Inn is a town-sized resort still run by the Syrett family, who, like Ruby, host the multitudes of travelers that venture out each year to experience the awe-inspiring landscape of Utah’s southern desert.
While on vacation, Ruby’s Innbecomes a “home-away-from-home” that brings families closer together no matter what time of year. The family-owned resort has been open for over 100 years, building its reputation as the basecamp for adventure at the gate of Bryce Canyon National Park.
Throughout the year, Ruby’s Inn offers multiple lodging opportunities including the lodge, grand hotel and RV park and campground. These high-quality lodging options are perfect for any family experience including vacation, reunions, retreats and more.
Hot Deals are also available throughout the year to make more room in your budget for activities the whole family can enjoy. It’s the perfect time to plan your next trip to Ruby’s Inn and take advantage of the End-of-Summer Special — pay for one night at regular price and receive up to five nights maximum at 30 percent off!
After you use the End-of-Summer Special, you’ll be able to visit the Activities Desk at Ruby’s Inn with answers to your questions and suggestions for exciting adventures you may not know about. After all, Ruby’s Inn is its own destination, not to mention the national park, monuments and forest that surround it.
Activites at Ruby’s are numerous. Take the family on a hike through the amphitheaters and labyrinths of Bryce Canyon among the hoodoos and spires. Ride on horseback like historic Butch Cassidy in the Wild West as you arrive at the overlook to the canyon. Get your adrenaline pumping while riding on the back of an ATV through the Ponderosa pines in Dixie National Forest. Mountain bike on the Canyon 2 Canyon Bike Trail through Red Canyon and parallel to Scenic Byway 12.
In addition to these activities that families have experienced together over past years, Ruby’s Inn has added two new adventures this year that you don’t want to miss.
Virtual reality motion rides
Recently, Innovation Entertainment’s Virtual Reality (VR) motion rides made their debut at Ruby’s Inn early summer 2019 to give guests a high-flying view of Utah’s breathtaking landscapes without ever leaving the ground.
Guests can experience two rides while wearing VR headsets in a motion simulator, synchronized with the sounds and visuals as if they are truly flying above or through the locations. “Soaring Southern Utah” recreates a helicopter ride across the stark desert and gives a bird’s-eye view of some of Utah’s most iconic landmarks. “Montezuma’s Treasure Ride” is an animated, mine-cart thrill ride inspired by the legend of the lost Aztec treasure.
Once you experience these rides, you can’t help but experience the real thing! Take flight from the historic Bryce Canyon Airport in a helicopter tour of the area where you can not only view Bryce Canyon from the sky but also travel all the way to the Grand Canyon.
Live music from Nashville’s best at Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill
At the end of a long adventurous day, walk across the street from Ruby’s Inn to Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill to treat yourself to a Live Country Music Dinner Show. Dinner is served at 7 p.m. and the entertainment follows.
This summer, Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill has remodeled and debuted a new act to perform for the duration of the 2019 season: The Bryce Canyon Wranglers. The country buffet and live music venue re-opened in April with this new performing act. Featuring the vocal styling of Tim Gates and Celeste Carter, the Bryce Canyon Wranglers is a honky-tonk ensemble made complete with the musical talents of guitarist Kyler Brown, steel guitarist Ward Williams, pianist Chad Truman and violinist Leslie Adams.
The nightly live concert features renditions of country classics alongside original songs written specifically for the show. The Bryce Canyon Wranglers is a country-western powerhouse that draws from both local and Nashville talent. Whether you view the show once or multiple times, the show varies each night to stay fresh and lively for the entire season. To view the Bryce Canyon Wranglers at Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill,purchase tickets before the season end on October 19.
With boundless activities for families, Ruby’s Inn is continuing to grow, making it easy for visitors from all around the world to experience the epic scenery of the area and the endless adventure of the resort. Located at the entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park, it’s the closest, most luxurious lodging open year-round to families that want to create more memories together.
Reserve a room at Ruby’s Inn today using the End-of-Summer Special on our website and save money so you can experience Ruby’s Inn to the fullest. Visit rubysinn.com/bryce-canyon-lodging/ for details.
