Discovery Road – Winner of Best In State 2022 – Best Documentary

Since its debut in 2012, Discovery Road has produced over 60 episodes, taking viewers on immersive journeys down U.S. Highway 89 through six historic counties in central and southern Utah.

 

Each 30-minute episode blends history, mystery, heritage, and natural beauty into family-friendly storytelling that educates as much as it entertains.

 

Broadcast locally on KUED-TV and across the country through the National Educational Television Association, or NETA, the series has become a public media touchstone for anyone seeking a deeper connection to the region’s past. It is also used in classrooms across the state as part of Utah’s history curriculum.

Mormon Pioneers traveling to the west Covered Wagons Courtesy of Shaun Messick

The Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area is the only National Heritage Area designated and named for a specific people, the Mormon Pioneers – as they forged to the west. Their remarkable story of dedication, fortitude, and extraordinary efforts offers one of the best features of the Mormon colonization experience in the United States. The Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area has been identified by Congress as a factor in the expansion of the United States and contributing to the United States.

Districts

travel planner for the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area

Cowboys, Outlaws, and the Movies 

The unique landscape features a geological wonderland that has been the backdrop for feature films including; “Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid,” and “Jeremiah Johnson.” While traveling through the picturesque scenery, you might recognize a scene or two. Included in the heritage area is the birthplace of Utah outlaws, Butch Cassidy and Matt Warner. Matt was a lifelong friend and a gang member alongside of Butch.  Many movies were filmed in the scenic Under the Rim District of the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area.

Mormon Colonization 

In the later part of the 1800s the Mormon pioneers began their great relocation to the west. They trekked 1,400 miles from Illinois to the Great Salt Lake. This mass-Exodus brought about colonization in Utah, Nevada, the southwest corner of Wyoming, the southeast corner of Idaho, southeast Oregon, and a large portion of southern and eastern California.

log cabin with Mormon Pioneer Family Echo City Utah
Family Portrait of Mormon Pioneers in Echo City, Utah

Cleone Peterson Eccles Equestrian Center/Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area win 2025 Best of State – Sports and Recreation – Equestrian

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Best_of_State_2025

Utah’s Best of State Winner: Cleone Peterson Eccles Equestrian Center

The Cleone Peterson Eccles Equestrian Center, including the renowned ConToy Arena and Skyline Eventing Park, has been awarded the Best of State medal in the Equestrian Sports category for 2025. This honor celebrates excellence in Utah’s sports and recreation scene.

Located in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, the center is widely recognized as the state’s premier cross country and eventing facility. It features four all-weather rings (including a spacious indoor arena), over 200 horse stalls, ten concrete-pad wash stalls, RV hookups, and a challenging cross-country course with natural jumps, water obstacles, sunken roads, and varied terrain for all skill levels.

Through significant support including more than $600,000 in grants and in-kind contributions from the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation, Utah State Parks, and the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area, the center has added a covered warm-up barn, restrooms, showers, and improved amenities for trail riders and eventers.

More than a competition venue, the facility fosters community tourism, attracts riders from across Utah, and builds equestrian culture in the region. With its Best of State medal, the Cleone Peterson Eccles Equestrian Center is officially one of Utah’s standout destinations for sport, heritage, and horse-loving excellence.

This program receives Federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability or age in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office for Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, 849 C Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.

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