CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Slot Canyons Inn, a thoroughly unique bed-and-breakfast and wedding venue located among the cliffs and canyons of Escalante, offers the ultimate Southern Utah getaway. Breathe in the high mountain desert air while marveling at the rich history of this ancient land.
Joette-Marie Rex and her husband, Jeff, opened Slot Canyons Inn in 2006. Their family has owned the property for nearly 40 years and initially built a summer house, then relocated there full-time in 2000 and started expanding.
“It’s peaceful,” Rex said. “The skies are so clear you can see almost 100 miles in daylight, and the stars are so bright that the Milky Way truly fits its name.”
The Rex family also restored a dilapidated pioneer home, the Isaac Riddle Cabin. Originally built in 1899, the cabin was taken apart log by log and moved from the meadow to the hillside overlooking the Escalante River. Today, it welcomes visitors from all over the world with a blend of modern necessities and antique charm.
Slot Canyons Inn is located between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks on Scenic Byway 12, about 5 miles west of the town of Escalante. North Creek and the Escalante River converge on the secluded 160-acre property, which is located at the mouth of a tranquil canyon. Wildlife abounds, so don’t be surprised if you see deer, wild turkeys and other native animals from your private balcony.
The property lies on the western edge of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, a picturesque region of canyons, arches, plateaus and cliffs. This area offers a myriad of outdoor activities, including hiking, off-roading, canyoneering, rappelling, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, wildlife viewing and photography, while Native American petroglyph and pictograph sites provide a fascinating glimpse into the past.
In fact, archaeologists from Brigham Young University spent several years excavating directly behind Slot Canyons Inn after the discovery of Paiute, Fremont, Anasazi, Early Archaic and Paleoarchaic artifacts. Radiocarbon analysis determined the site to be the oldest on the entire Colorado Plateau, dating back approximately 11,000 years.
“It’s only a five-minute walk from the inn,” Rex said. “It’s right here in our backyard.”
Slot Canyons Inn welcomes guests with comfortable furnishings and high-quality beds after a long day of exploring Southern Utah’s epic natural beauty.
The accommodations draw inspiration from the local Native American and Southwestern heritage, and each room offers something a little different. The family-friendly Spooky Gulch suite, which includes a kitchenette and private patio with a barbecue, sleeps up to six guests, while the cozy Anasazi room features a king bed, jetted tub with a separate shower and kiva fireplace perfect for two.
Visitors can choose to book a room in the main building or the new eco-friendly building, which is sided with reclaimed wood from a beautifully weathered old barn. The 1,600-square-foot Isaac Riddle Cabin is a comfortable option for larger groups.
The reimagined North Creek Grill, offering farm-to-table meals and event catering, is set to reopen in the spring of 2023 with a new menu and an enclosed dining area for guests to enjoy all year long. Built in 2010 by the Rex family, the restaurant highlights fresh local ingredients, including free-range eggs, homemade prickly pear cactus jelly and grass-fed beef raised on the property.
Breakfast is included with every reservation, and it’s the stuff of legend. Guests are treated to a different entrée each morning, accompanied by homemade granola and yogurt as well as freshly baked sweet breads and muffins.
“You’ll see why it’s our favorite meal of the day,” Rex said. “We joke that if you’re still hungry after breakfast, it isn’t our fault!”
Slot Canyons Inn also offers a breathtaking setting for destination weddings and other special events. A variety of locations on the property can accommodate wedding parties of as many as 250 guests or as few as 12.
The layout allows smaller events to reserve only Slot Canyons Inn or the Escalante Cliff House, a stunning vacation rental home nearby, and still enjoy privacy. The entire property, which provides lodging for up to 80 guests, can be rented out for larger gatherings.
Escalante’s panoramic vistas and starry skies are the perfect backdrop for creating memories to last a lifetime, and Slot Canyons Inn is ready to welcome you for an unforgettable getaway.
“It’s like a mini national park,” Rex said. “Once you see it, you’ll fall in love with it just like our family did 40 years ago.”
Book your stay at SlotCanyonsInn.com.
Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.
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Resources
- Slot Canyons Inn | Address: 3984 W. Ephraim’s Camp Road, Escalante | Telephone: 435-826-4901 | Website.
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