Greater Zion, located in the southwest corner of Utah, is welcoming 2023 with exciting openings including new and updated glamping options, new golf and pickleball facilities, an expanding roster of dirty-soda retailers and more. Here are the highlights...
Zion Wildflower Resort is expanding its lodging options by opening 40 luxury glamping tents in 2023. Located in Virgin, near the Kolob Terrace section of Zion National Park, the resort currently offers a mix of covered wagons, canvas tents and bungalows. The new glamping tents offer more space than the current canvas tents and also include private bathroom suites. Zion Wildflower is also set to debut a number of new amenities in 2023, including cooling pools and a clubhouse with onsite dining options and dedicated rental space, ideal for social and group meetings.
AutoCamp is bringing its Airstream glamping oasis to Greater Zion in 2023. The new location will offer a mix of Airstreams, luxury tents, accessible suites and X Suites. The site is located outside of Zion National Park with the Virgin River meandering through the property and views of Gooseberry Mesa, popular for mountain biking. AutoCamp Zion is expected to open in May.
The new Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort Zion Utah, located minutes from Sand Hollow State Park, is slated to open Phase One this summer. The park will have 74 campsites, 10 cabins and a large waterpark with eight water bodies, a 45-foot water tower, two giant hot tubs and a 500-foot lazy river with beach access. The facility will also offer a number of family-friendly entertainment options, including minigolf, gemstone mining, a snack bar and more.
Atara, an Autograph Collection Resort & Residences in St. George, announced a 2023 groundbreaking and an expected 2025 opening. Set in the new 3,350-acre Desert Color community, the new Atara will have a mix of 138 rooms and suites, as well as 136 residence villas. The property is set to include a large pool complex, spa, four dining outlets and access to customized outdoor adventures through an on-location outfitter. Atara will also offer large indoor and outdoor conference spaces.
New Experiences
Originally opened in 2000, Coral Canyon Golf Course invested nearly $3 million to make improvements. The 7,200-yard, par-72 course now includes new bunkers, new cart paths and new irrigation, along with thicker turf and renovations to the restaurant Bistro 72.
A number of water-saving and expanded use improvements at The Little Valley Sports Complex in St. George are set to open this year. The improvements include the replacement of seven acres of turf at the facility, which will save 17 million gallons of water annually and allow for extended use of the fields. The project will also add additional pickleball courts, including a new championship court with lighting and bleachers for spectators.
Greater Zion is the birthplace of Swig, home of the original Dirty Soda. Swig, and other similar dirty soda shops, invite guests to customize and amp up their carbonated beverages by adding mix-ins such as fruit, flavored syrups or even gummy bears. A Utah favorite, Swig now has 43 locations including five in Greater Zion. Beyond Swig, there are dozens of destinations to sip sweet treats while in Greater Zion, each offering their own special twist on the trend. Most locations offer sugar cookies, pretzels or other snacks alongside the sodas. Upcoming, or recent, dirty soda shop openings include FiiZ Drinks, Thirst, Quench It, Pop Drinks and another Swig outlet.
Southern Utah’s largest craft brewery, Silver Reef Brewing Co., now has a store and tasting room in St. George. Based on their craft brewing success, Silver Reef has developed a line of locally distilled spirits as well as a sister vineyard, Chanela Vineyards, also based in Greater Zion. The new Silver Reef Brewing Co. Tasting Room and Store offers tastings and sales of the brand’s beer, wine and spirits six days a week.
For more information, visit www.greaterzion.com.
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