Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
In 1858, William Wall, George Bean and Aaron Daniels settled ranches in the Heber Valley. Two years later, 18 farmers were firmly established, living in the valley officially known as the Upper Provo Valley. The name was eventually changed to Heber City after Heber C. Kimball and was incorporated in 1889. Most of the original settlers in the valley were emigrants from England and knew Heber Kimball when he was an LDS missionary there. Out of respect, the people named the town after the man that had brought them to America.
In the fall of 1899, the first train made its way up Provo Canyon to Heber. The town relied on the railway to bring in food and supplies and take out sheep. During the 1930s, more sheep were transported out of Heber than any other place in the world. In 1967, with the completion of the U.S. Highway 189, connecting Provo to Heber, the railway closed.
Today Heber is known for its spectacular scenery and hometown feeling, with its quaint shops, landmark diners and country motels. In January, Ryan Anderton and Clarisee Carneiro bought one of Heber City's motels and named it the Bear Mountain Lodge.
Ryan is no stranger to the motel business. His family bought two motels in St. George, and Ryan managed both. Ryan and Clarisee are renovating the Bear Mountain Lodge, and Clarisee tells me they want the motel to feel like home. Bear Mountain Lodge not only offers rooms, but they also offer vacation packages with 4-wheeling, golfing, horseback riding and scuba diving. The motel has been particularly popular with companies who rent out rooms for retreats.
Ryan and Clarisee are in the process of getting a franchise from the Roadway Inn label. Clarisee said Roadway is allowing them to keep the lodge's name, and the new motel will be called Bear Mountain Lodge by Roadway.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
