The Inn of Escalante is located near the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah. A total of eight guest rooms are available from March through November for those looking to explore the various national parks in the region. Within an hour of the property are the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Capitol Reef National Park. Hiking options in the parks include Calf Creek Falls, Devils Rock, and Zebra Slot Canyon. Tom Mansell, the owner of the business, purchased the property in 1998 and built the business in the area after former President Clinton designated the area a national monument. The inn has eight rooms available for guest reservation, spread across two separate buildings. Each room is around 350 square feet and features a bathroom, microwave, television, refrigerator, and log-style furniture. Either king or queen-sized beds are in each room, and there are complimentary body washes, lotions, and shampoos in the bathrooms.
The Inn of Escalante is located on just under an acre of land in Escalante, Utah, near the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The inn is made up of three buildings, two that have guest rooms, and one where patrons can pick up breakfast items in the morning. Each of the rooms has a private bathroom, log furniture, a microwave, television, and a mini-fridge. Two of the rooms have two queen beds, with one of them being ADA accessible. Additionally, there is a larger suite that is 450 square feet and has two queen beds as well. The other five rooms have king beds and are 350 square feet each. Included in each room is also lotion, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner that guests can use. All of the rooms also have access to a porch area with chairs.
The exterior of the inn features three buildings, each painted a different color such as blue or green. Two of the buildings house the rooms for guests, and the third is where patrons can pick up breakfast items in the morning. There is also parking located on the grounds of the establishment for visitors. Picnic tables can also be found around the land between the buildings, for guest usage. Due to the property being located in the desert, Tom has tried to use the landscape technique of "zero scaping," which focuses primarily on having mostly native plants such as succulents and low water plants.
Coffee is available beginning around 7:00 AM each morning in the main house. Patrons can come to the building to pick up coffee and socialize with other visitors. Tom provides various breakfast items each morning, such as bagels or muffins, and he makes enough for each of the visitors to the inn to be able to eat.
While staying at The Inn of Escalante, there are policies in place that guests are expected to abide by. These policies include the restriction of smoking in rooms or on the grounds of the property, and pets are not permitted to stay in any of the rooms. Additionally, children under the age of 16 are prohibited to stay at the establishment. There is a quiet time in place from 10:00 PM each night until 6:00 AM the following morning.
During their stay at the inn, Tom, the owner, hopes that patrons of the establishment can feel welcomed. "I try to meet every guest that comes in," he says. He hopes that those staying at the property are able to relax and feel comfortable after spending their day in any of the national parks and monuments in the area. According to what guests want, Tom interacts with visitors in the mornings. He can help give those looking to visit the national parks some tips and ideas for various trails and eateries. On The Inn of Escalante's website, there are recommendations for different day trips. He recommends visiting Calf Creek Falls, the Burr Trail, Devils Rock Garden, the Peek-a-boo Slot Canyon, and Zebra Slot Canyon for those who are staying in the area for two nights and one day. Some restaurants that Tom recommends include Escalante Outfitters, Georgie's, and Ranch Dog Kitchen.
The location, as well as the policies in place, are some aspects of the business that Tom says are the most unique. The Inn of Escalante is one of the only inns in the state of Utah that does not allow children, according to Tom. Additionally, the location of the establishment, nearby a number of national parks and monuments, is reportedly a draw for tourists from both within the country as well as internationally. Guests who have stayed previously at the business comment on the hospitality of the staff, the cleanliness of the rooms, and the time that Tom takes with them to try and help them have a good trip. One former visitor said, "The inn was quirky in the most delightful way. This isn’t Four Seasons, but super comfy and friendly. Well appointed with very warm decor and comfortable, spacious rooms. Tom, the innkeeper, was engaging and helpful."
Tom Mansell, the owner of The Inn of Escalante, first opened the property in April of 1998. He was living in central Utah and visited the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument when former President Clinton first designated the land a national monument. Tom thought that it would be a suitable place to establish a hospitality business, due to the multiple national monuments and parks in the area. After searching for two years for the right place to start the business, he purchased the land and had a friend draw up plans for what would become The Inn of Escalante. "We are always changing stuff, adding and subtracting," Tom said. He designed the inn with log furniture because Tom believes that it "does not go out of style," and each room has various pieces of log furniture.
The area surrounding the inn used to be called "Potato Valley," according to Tom. A catholic priest named Escalante lived in the area and is the namesake of the Escalante River as well as the town and the national monument.
280 West Main Street
Escalante, Utah 84726
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Tom Mansell
