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HURRICANE, Washington County — One thing Roy Smith wants to make clear: Don't call him "Ranger Smith."
It seems like an obvious nickname for Smith, who manages Yogi Bear's Zion Utah Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Hurricane, Washington County. The "smarter-than-the-average" bear who calls Jellystone Park home is known to rake the nerves of Forest Ranger Smith in the Hanna-Barbera animated shorts, series and movies.
But Roy Smith has a more laidback demeanor that seems more at home in Hurricane, where he also lives, than at a ranger station.
Smith oversees daily operations at Yogi Bear's Zion Utah Jellystone Park Camp-Resort, or Zion Utah Jellystone Park for short, which opened its gates for the first time on May 26. The resort includes a water park, amusement zone, recreational vehicle park and "glampers" (glamorous campers) resort.
The park initially looks like a place for tourists with its recreational vehicle pads and travel accommodations.
But Smith says area residents will be surprised how much has been created with locals in mind.
"We want to take care of our locals, man," Smith said. "That's important to us."
