The Anniversary Inn on 5th South is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. There are a total of 36 rooms available for guest reservation, separated into three categories: Ruby, Emerald, and Diamond. All of the rooms offered at the hotel each have a different theme around which the room is based, such as the Romeo and Juliet Suite or the Jungle Safari Suite. Breakfast is ordered by patrons each morning and brought to their rooms between 7:30 AM and 11:30 AM. This breakfast is described by Julie, the property’s owner, as “a little bit better than just your basic continental breakfast.” There are a number of attractions for people to participate in close to the inn. In downtown Salt Lake City, patrons can visit Temple Square, City Creek Mall, and Vivint Arena.
Situated on about an acre of land in Salt Lake City, Utah, is the Anniversary Inn on 5th South. The three-story grey brick building has a total of 36 rooms available for guest reservation. Most of these rooms are designed to fit a specific theme. The Romeo and Juliet Suite, which Julie, the owner of the establishment, says is one of the more popular rooms at the inn, has two floors connected with a large staircase, and it also features a king-sized bed and a jetted bathtub. The Jungle Safari Suite is one example of a themed suite with décor that is meant to give off the environment of a jungle. This suite also has two floors as well as a number of faux animals including an elephant whose trunk is used for the suite’s showerhead.
Breakfast is delivered to guests in their rooms each morning between 7:30 AM and 11:00 AM. Julie describes the breakfast as “a little bit better than just your basic continental breakfast.” Each person staying in a suite can choose a meal option, such as a croissant with either ham and cheese or raspberry cream cheese or a frittata, and a drink. Accommodations can be made for those with dietary restrictions. People who must leave the hotel early in the morning can also request breakfast before the standard serving time, but in such circumstances, it is likely that options will be limited.
Outside the inn, there are two gazebos, one in the front of the building and one near the parking lot. The parking lot has two levels in order to accommodate the cars of the guests staying on the property. Inside the building, there are no main gathering areas for patrons. While there is no official gift shop, Anniversary Inn merchandise and memorabilia are displayed in the lobby and can be purchased by guests if they so desire. When describing the business, Julie says that visitors should not think of it as “a hotel or a bed and breakfast, but more of a boutique.”
Due to its location near downtown Salt Lake City, there are a number of different attractions that guests staying at the Anniversary Inn on 5th South can experience. One of the most well-known of these attractions is Temple Square, where visitors can visit historic buildings built by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints such as the Salt Lake Temple or the Salt Lake City Tabernacle. Other notable attractions include Vivint Arena where the Utah Jazz basketball team play and where concerts are held, shopping at the City Creek Center shopping mall, and many different dining options. Some of the restaurants that Julie recommends include Ichiban Sushi & Asian Grill which serves Asian cuisine, and Tuccis Cucina Italiana which is an Italian restaurant.
Regarding the culture that is developed at the Anniversary Inn on 5th South, the property’s owner Julie says she wants guests to feel closer together when they leave than when they arrive. Additionally, she hopes that their stay can be an escape from everyday life. Many of the people who stay at the inn are couples. Julie and her staff strive to provide guests with a memorable experience by being “here but not heard.” In other words, she and the staff are available if needed but do not go out of their way to interact with patrons. “We just like that people come here and have a relaxing getaway from everyday life,” Julie remarks, “and be able to forget their troubles and be present in a different environment and place.”
In an effort to create this relaxing atmosphere, there are some important policies that patrons are asked to follow. One of the most important is that no children or pets are allowed to stay at the inn. Additional policies include no smoking inside the building, no lighting candles inside of the guest suites, and that while guests are permitted to have visitors, all visitors must leave by 10:00 PM each night. The hotel is open year-round, with the only exception being on Christmas Eve. According to Julie, the busiest season for the property is the summertime, with another busy time occurring in December.
Many people who have stayed at the Anniversary Inn at 5th South have left a variety of positive reviews. Some of these reviews mention the novelty of staying in the inn’s themed rooms. One guest stated, “We enjoyed the treehouse bed and waterfall shower of the Swiss Family Robinson-themed room, and the breakfast that was left at our door in the morning.” The hotel sees many repeat guests, according to Julie, who wish to experience the different themes offered in other rooms. Returning patrons are also offered a “bounce back special,” where they can stay in any room at the inn for a reduced price.
The building that now houses the Anniversary Inn on 5th South was originally built as a brewery in the 1880s. It functioned in this capacity for several years before being bought by a company and turned into a themed restaurant. The restaurant was called the Old Salt City Jail and was themed around eating in a prison. Julie, the current owner of the inn, says that because of the restaurant's theme many people think that the building used to be a jail. The restaurant served guests until the building was bought again in 1996 by Tom Heers and Bill, his brother, who established the Anniversary Inn.
Tom ran the business for a number of years before it was bought by another owner, who then sold it to Julie. She entered the lodging industry because she wanted to experience “something different to do.” Since taking over the property, Julie and others have renovated many of the rooms and changed many of the themes of the guest rooms. She says that they try to add or renovate a guest room each year to try to offer guests a different experience each time they come. While they don’t offer them at this time, the inn at one point offered tours to people of the different rooms from 1:00 to 3:00 each day. Julie hopes to offer tours of the rooms to guests soon.
460 South 1000 East
Salt Lake City, Utah 84102
United States
Bed and Breakfast
