Tag Archives: Utah Heritage Highway 89

Fairview Chosen for ‘State Ride,’ Local Snowmobiling Enthusiasts Gearing Up

DATE 11/14/2005 4:29 PMFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

This is part of an occasional series by the Sanpete Country Travel and Utah Heritage Highway 89 Alliance on the people and places along U.S. Highway 89.

Fairview Chosen for ‘State Ride,’ Local Snowmobiling Enthusiasts Gearing Up

Sanpete County’s Fairview Canyon has been selected as the location for the Utah Snowmobile Association’s annual “State Ride” to be held early next year.

The selection probably comes as no surprise to snowmobiling enthusiasts across the state. Not only does the Fairview region boast some of the best trails in the entire country, but it’s also home to award-winning “snowmobile families”, clubs and dealerships.

Brian Howarth knows a bit about the secrets of the region’s success. He is president of the Skyline Sno-Riders, the local snowmobiling organization that has twice been named “Snowmobile Club of the Year” by the Utah Snowmobiling Association. He also is one of the members of last year’s “Snowmobile Family of the Year,” another annual honor bestowed by the state association, and a long-time outdoors enthusiast.

To Howarth, who has been snowmobiling for more than 20 years, there is no better snowmobiling in the area than what is found in Fairview Canyon. “I think it’s because there is such diversity in the riding terrain. There are a lot of groomed trails, plus there is plenty of back country to explore,” he says.

Snowmobiling enthusiasts will get a good chance to experience both types of terrain during the annual Utah Snowmobile Association’s State Ride Feb. 24 and 25th. The event will also include a “poker ride”, special dinner, winter carnival and more, and Fairview Canyon will be the gateway to it all.

“It’s kind of a hidden secret,” Howarth says of the offerings provided by Fairview Canyon.

A paved canyon road leads to a trail head that provides access to more than 50 miles of trails to the north at Skyline Drive and some 30 miles to the south to Joe’s Valley. The combination of fresh snow and access to fabulous routes keep people coming back year after year.

“More and more people are finding out about it,” says Howarth, who moved to Fairview from Utah County about two years ago. His family had a cabin in the canyon and spent years snowmobiling in and around the area. After he married, he and his wife decided they wanted the “small town experience” and moved to the area permanently.

After moving there, Howarth and his entire family got involved in the Skyline Sno-Riders. Eventually, he became president and his mother, Darlene Mortensen, became secretary. Membership and interest has more than quadrupled since then, and the group now has some 130 members. “We are now the second largest club in the state,” Howarth says. “We are very family oriented, we have members of all ages and work hard to teach all of our members how to ride safe and respect the land on which they ride.”

Howarth’s family also started several charity events tied to snowmobiling that have raised food and funds for the local food bank. Last year, they raised 1,000 pounds of food. Their efforts are one of the reasons that Howarth, his wife, Miko, his mother, and dad, Clyde Mortensen, were named the state’s top snowmobiling family of the year in 2004.

Howarth and the Sno-Riders worked to establish a trailhead, including putting in a paved parking lot, as well as a warming shelter located about 15 miles away from the trail entrance that is kept well-stocked throughout the season, which typically runs from December through April.

The entire club also gets involved in community and charity events, such as “Operation Care Bear” that involved collecting stuffed animals to give to sheriff’s officers, fire and ambulance workers to pass on to children. During the off-season, the club sponsors other events such as trail clean ups, an “adopt a highway” program. Members also work with the local forest service, parks and recreation and avalanche control to improve and support the land and trails.

This year’s Snowmobile Family of the Year — Ron and Coreen Linton — are also members of the Skyline Sno-Riders.

In addition, Big Pine Sports, located at the mouth of Fairview Canyon, received last year’s “Dealer of the Year” award from the state organization. Owners Glen and Judy Zumwalt are known throughout Utah as the “unofficial source” for snowmobiling conditions in Utah. People call the store just about daily during the season for updates and conditions. Avid snowmobilers themselves, Glen is the past president of the Utah Snowmobile Association, while Judy handles the group’s public relations.

Indeed, Big Pine Sports, the Skyline Sno-Riders, and Howarth and Mortensen families have done a lot of bring notoriety to the canyon. Snowmobiling also has long been a huge benefit for Sanpete County, contributing by means of snowmobiler’s eating in local restaurants, staying in hotels and bed and breakfasts and visiting stores and shops.

Howarth is inviting all outdoor enthusiasts to see just what makes Fairview Canyon such a draw Feb. 24th and 25th during the annual state ride. It’s expected to attract people from all over the state. The event will include back country and groomed trail rides, a dinner, door prizes and more.

For dinner tickets or information, contact Howarth at (435) 427-3620 or Darlene Mortensen at 427-3353. Information is also available on the website www.skylinesno-riders.com .

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For more information Contact:

Monte Bona
Sanpete County Travel and Heritage Council
(435) 462-2502

New Loan Program Opens Doors for New B&B, Other Projects in Rural Utah

DATE 10/28/2005 11:38 AM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

This is part of an occasional series by the Sanpete Country Travel and Utah Heritage Highway 89 Alliance on the people and places along U.S. Highway 89.

New Loan Program Opens Doors for New B&B, Other Projects in Rural Utah
The opening of the Slot Canyons Inn, a new bed and breakfast in Escalante, was a significant event on many fronts. Not only did it fulfill a life-long dream for owners Jeff and Joette Marie Rex, it’s also another indicator that Utah’s small towns are increasingly becoming tourist destinations. In addition, the new inn is an example of how a new, unique loan program is helping rural areas.

The Slot Canyons Inn was supported by the new “One-Doc” program, a simplified loan guarantee program designed to assist lenders making business and commercial loans in rural areas. It’s is financed through a combination of U.S. Department of Agriculture Funding, Utah Business Lending and the Five County Association of Government’s Revolving Loan Fund.

“This is an unusual pairing of three lenders on the front end of a project,” says Gordon Holt, president of the Utah Business Lending Corporation. The One-Doc program reduces some of the risk to make a rural loan because the USDA can guarantee loans up to 90 percent.

“It allow lenders to make more rural loans because the guarantees do not count against the lender’s lending limit,” Holt says. The loans are for construction of business buildings, business acquisitions, purchase of machinery and equipment, remodeling projects and working capital.

The Utah Heritage Highway 89 Alliance and Utah State Extension Service are working closely with Holt’s organization to identify businesses in Sanpete, Sevier, Piute, Wayne, Garfield and Kane Counties that might benefit from the program.

“In particular, this program will help Sen. Robert Bennett in his efforts to assist businesses along U.S. Highway 89 through the creation of a national Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area,” says Monte Bona, a member of the highway alliance. The designation would mean that the six counties involved would receive funds for projects designed to retain and enhance the area’s natural beauty and promote heritage tourism. Heritage tourism is known as one of the fastest-growing segment in the tourism industry in America.

The Slots Inn is a perfect example. The new bed and breakfast incorporates the area’s history, heritage and natural beauty. The Inn is surrounded by Monument, Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands. It’s 40 miles from Bryce Canyon, the Dixie National Forest is adjacent to the property, and the Aquarius Plateau, the highest plateau in North America, is located 17 miles above. Three major canyons, the Escalante River and North Creek also come together at the site. “We have wanted to develop this 160-acre parcel of land since we purchased it several years ago,” says owner Jeff Rex.

“We believe this spot is unique to Southern Utah and have chosen to build an eight-room Pueblo-style inn to fit with the significance of the site,” he says. A 110-year-old pioneer cabin built by Isaac Riddle and rebuilt in 1999 will also become part of the guest accommodations.

For more information about the loan program, contact Gordon Holt at Utah Business Lending, (801) 654-2213.

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For more information Contact:

Monte Bona
Sanpete County Travel and Heritage Council
(435) 462-2502

‘J.C. Penney’ Store Being Restored Project Has Backing of Main Street Program, Heritage Foundation

DATE 10/21/2005 10:17 AM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

This is part of an occasional series by the Sanpete Country Travel and Utah Heritage Highway 89 Alliance on the people and places along U.S. Highway 89.

‘J.C. Penney’ Store Being Restored
Project Has Backing of Main Street Program, Heritage Foundation

An century-old building in downtown Mt. Pleasant City that once housed one of the regions first J.C. Penney stores is being restored, thanks to the efforts of a Salt Lake City business owner.

Pete Henderson, owner of the Rio Grande Café in Salt Lake City, has purchased the old “Wasatch Block Building” at 64 W. Main Street. Built around 1889, the structure has retained much of its Victorian charm. It was originally built to house Wasatch Mercantile Company. It later was home to the Star Theatre and, in 1926, a J.C. Penney store. Most recently it was a video and general store.

Henderson is working with architect Kim Hyatt to restore the building to its former glory. “I just have a great love of old historical buildings,” he said. “But I’m quickly learning that I’ve taken on a mighty big project.”

He is receiving assistance and input from the Mt. Pleasant Main Street Program, the Utah Main Street Program, Wasatch Academy and the Utah Heritage Foundation. Currently, Henderson plans to turn the upper portion of the building into an apartment, and is in discussions with Mt. Pleasant City and Wasatch Academy on bout how to best utilize the lower portion of the building.

Through the Utah Heritage Foundation, he is taking part in a pilot project to help finance his endeavor. Working with Zion’s Bank, the Utah Heritage Foundation has started a new collaborative rehabilitation loan program that offers low-interest and flexible financing to property owners seeking to rehabilitate historical commercial buildings.

The goal of the program is to provide a resource to Main Street partner communities to further their efforts to revitalize historical downtown areas, says Monte Bona, who heads Mt. Pleasant’s Main Street Program. “The loan program is unique because it specifically targets rehabilitation efforts that are aiming to restore a building’s original character,” he says.

Restoring old buildings to their original form helps enhance the marketability of that building, as well as restoring the identity of the city, which plays a pivotal role in enhancing the experience of visitors to the region, Bona says.

“People come to Mt. Pleasant and travel along U.S. Highway 89, the heritage highway, because they want to see life as it was 100 years ago,” he says. “Projects like Peter Henderson’s are helping us preserve the cultural and architectural treasures of this pioneer heritage area and strengthen opportunities for local heritage-related businesses.”

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For more information Contact:

Monte Bona
Sanpete County Travel and Heritage Council
(435) 462-2502

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