Zion Harley-Davidson: Not just a bike, a lifestyle

Zion Harley-Davidson, Washington City, Utah, undated | Photo by Melynda Thorpe Burt, St. George News

WASHINGTON CITY – For Laura Lavigne, general manager of Zion Harley-Davidson in Washington City, and her 250,000 closest friends, life is about the journey and the motorcycle you’re making it on.

Zion Harley-Davidson, Washington City, Utah, undated | Photo by Melynda Thorpe Burt, St. George News
Zion Harley-Davidson, Washington City, Utah, undated | Photo by Melynda Thorpe Burt, St. George New

“There’s nothing like riding on a Harley,” she said. “And until you have one, you don’t know what you’re missing.”

Lavigne has been working for Harley-Davidson since 2001 and said her favorite part of the job is being part of the international culture and community of America’s favorite motorcycle. Before moving to Utah, where she now manages the company store at the junction of Interstate 15 and Highway 91, she worked at Las Vegas Harley-Davidson.

“This really is an incredible company,” she said. “No matter where you are, when you go into one of our stores, you know you will be welcomed and treated like family, and you know there is a guaranteed level of quality.”

Depending on the season, Lavigne said Zion Harley-Davidson averages between 500 and 1,000 customers a week.

“Sure, we have a lot of shoppers,” she said, “but we also have people who just like to come in and be part of the Harley-Davidson environment.”

Each Saturday, Lavigne treats her family of customers to a free barbecue lunch. The store also hosts community events, including fundraisers for fallen Southern Utah bikers and their families and veterans’ organizations.

“We like to welcome everyone to our store,” Lavigne said. “For anyone interested in motorcycles, this really is a great place to be.”

As Southern Utah’s only factory-authorized Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealer, the store offers new and pre-owned motorcycle sales and service, parts, accessories, including chrome and custom and performance parts, MotorClothes apparel, T-shirts, footwear, leather jackets and chaps, helmets, gloves, gifts, collectibles and more.

Zion Harley-Davidson, Washington City, Utah, undated | Photo by Melynda Thorpe Burt, St. George News
Zion Harley-Davidson, Washington City, Utah, undated | Photo by Melynda Thorpe Burt, St. George News

“Of course we sell motorcycles, but we also have many customers who come in to our stores just to shop for clothing and boots,” Lavigne said. “People know the quality of Harley-Davidson products, and there is a style that can only be found here in our stores.”

Lavigne said her favorite part of managing a Harley store is watching a new owner ride off the lot and into the worldwide camaraderie of motorcycle enthusiasts. Zion Harley-Davidson sells an average of 100 bikes each year.

“We have a really great location right here on the route to Zion,” Lavigne said. “When people get a taste of what it’s like to ride through a scenic park with an 360-degree open view, they come right in and say, ‘I’ve got to have one.’”

From hobbyists to brand loyalists, Zion Harley-Davidson is dedicated to serving the community.

“There are a lot of really wonderful people in our community who ride,” she said. “From executives and attorneys to mechanics and entrepreneurs, Harley hobbyists cross every cultural spectrum. It is beautiful is to see how the bike reaches such a mixed market and diverse ethnic appeal.”

Harley-Davidson Motor Company of Milwaukee, Wis. has been manufacturing motorcycles since 1903 to “fulfill dreams through the experience of motorcycling by providing motorcyclist and the general public an expanding line of motorcycles and branded products and service in selected market segments,” according to the company mission statement.

“This motorcycle really is a part of American history,” Lavigne said. “There’s just nothing like a Harley.”

Resources

Zion Harley-Davidson website / 2345 North Coral Canyon Boulevard, Washington /  Telephone 435-572-4322

A D V E R T O R I A L

Related posts

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.

Zion Harley-Davidson, Washington City, Utah, undated | Photo by Melynda Thorpe Burt, St. George News
Zion Harley-Davidson, Washington City, Utah, undated | Photo by Melynda Thorpe Burt, St. George News

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!

1 Comment

  • Bender July 23, 2013 at 6:29 pm

    With nothing more than a credit card and a misguided desire to be a bad-@$$, you too can be the Harley owner that scared your parents back in the day. The rest of you with more discerning taste in technology or style should buy Japanese or German.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.