Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort

Great little ranch resort! We stayed with our three young children in a cabin suite with bathroom and kitchenette. The pool and most other things were walkable, the grounds were well kept. I think you need to set your expectations if you’re coming here - you’re in remote Utah, staying in a cabin… this isn’t a 5-star resort. It’s super family friendly, there’s a lot of “included” activities - pickle ball, basketball, playground, tennis, trails to hike, pool/hot tub for swimming, evening s’mores. Staff were all very friendly with our kids and helpful if we had questions. We brought in most of our food, and only ate at the food truck - it was delicious, and pricing was pretty much what you’d expect for a vacation spot - about $70 for 4 entrees. The cabin was cute, had a great little bathroom, picnic table out front for family meals, and the beds were very comfortable. We were expecting a pull out couch in the living room area and were pleasantly surprised by a king bed. Overall, we loved it and would come back if given the chance!

We stayed one night in a glamping tent at Zion Ponderosa and overall had a good experience, but the on-site restaurant was a real letdown. The property itself is lovely and well-located, just a short drive from Zion National Park. The front desk staff were very friendly and helpful, and one even mentioned they had been on a missionary trip to Louth, near where we’re from in the UK. That was a lovely, unexpected connection and made us feel really welcome. Our glamping tent was comfortable, although the door didn’t quite latch shut. The fan was great in the heat, and the shared toilets and showers were clean and well-kept. We really enjoyed the outdoor pool at sunset, cool and refreshing, and the hot tubs were heated with strong jets. Around 3 a.m. I walked to the restrooms and was treated to an incredible view of the Milky Way and a sky full of stars, which was a beautiful and memorable part of the stay. The biggest issue we had was with the place labeled as the restaurant, Ponderosa Eats. It isn’t really a restaurant, more like a basic cafeteria. After a long drive, we were really looking forward to sitting down, reading a menu, and having a proper meal. Instead, you wait in a long line, try to read the hard-to-see menu posted above the counter, order and pay (with a tip prompt appearing before you even get your food), and then collect your food on a tray and clear up after yourself at the end. It felt more like a school canteen with tourist pricing than a proper dining experience. The food didn’t justify the cost or the tip. The pizza was greasy, soggy, and hard to even pick up. The drinks from the soda fountain were so watered down that the Pepsi wasn’t even brown. Staff seemed quite young and were doing their best, but the whole thing felt rushed and disorganised. Even a few simple changes would help, like placing menus on tables or having a waiter system. Calling it a restaurant just sets the wrong expectations. We just wanted to sit and relax after a long drive, and it felt like a chore instead. One other thing to be aware of is the time zone. The site is in Utah, but close to the Arizona border, and operates on Mountain Daylight Time. This caused unexpected confusion. The leaflet at check-in says “we are in Mountain Daylight Time, Arizona is an hour earlier,” but this isn’t very clear. Since we came from the north, also on Mountain Time, we assumed there would be no time difference. But it turns out only some parts observe daylight saving, and this small pocket of Utah near Orderville follows different timing. We didn’t cross into Arizona, but somehow we crossed into a different time zone without realising. Luckily, we woke up early for our next tour, because my phone suddenly showed we had 40 minutes to get to a location 30 minutes away. It was stressful and confusing, and better communication would really help, especially for international visitors. Overall, the site itself is lovely, the views are spectacular, and the staff are warm