sleeping with Omar Shariff
by vtveen about Kanab - Parry Lodge
After deciding for a stay in Kanab during our trip in Utah/Arizona, we knew for sure it would be in Parry Lodge. Since staying in ‘little Hollywood’ and not choosing Parry Lodge would be a ‘mistake’.
Already in 1931a lovely Colonial Home was turned into a tourist lodge and restaurant by the Parry brothers. Parry Lodge was born and the movie business was about to take off. Over the next five decades the lodge served as headquarters for films and ^TV-shows and lots of movie stars stayed in the lodge.
Especially the old part of Parry Lodge with the front desk, lobby and dining room looks has a lot of charm with its more or less outdated interior, chandeliers, autographed photos and notes of famous movie stars. It is just like stepping back in time.
Most of the rooms are situated behind the main building in a quiet setting far away from the highway. All rooms are named after movie stars; we had room 176 – the Omar Shariff Room. This spacious room has a king size bed, which was OK. Room and bathroom were clean.
There is also a pool area and it was nice just sitting and swimming after a day of ‘hot’ sightseeing.
The Old Barn Theatre on the premises of the lodge once was a stable for the ‘movie horses’, but nowadays a movie theatre. After dinner we watched a (part of) a western movie, which was filmed around Kanab. This service is for free for guests !!
The next morning we had our breakfast(buffet) - basic/good value - in the dining room of Parry Lodge; as a guest we got a nice discount and had to pay just ‘a couple of dollars’. The charm and atmosphere of the old main building, linked with modern facilities for an affordable price.
Utah's Little Hollywood
by Segolily about Parry's Lodge
Do you want to stay in the same room Ronald Reagan did? Or Barbara Stanwyck? Just ask. Not all the rooms are named for the stars but many of them are. After all this was home to many of them while they filmed any of 100 movies or tv shows in the area. The hotel rooms are basic, but clean. They haven't changed too much, while at the same time keeping it up to date and relevant. Nowadays the hotel caters to tourists and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary guests allowing sleep-overs with the dogs and cats. We enjoyed the short stay we had, with breakfast included. They had great homebaked pie and caring staff. During the warmer months they show free movies shot in the area in the old renovated barn sitting in the parking lot. The lobby and dining rooms are full of pictures of the stars who have stayed and shown their gratitude with an autograph. Spend some time and enjoy them all.
dining like the movie stars
by vtveen about Kanab - Parry Lodge Restaurant
Strolling round ‘downtown’ Kanab we couldn’t find a decent restaurant (closed or too expensive), so we decided having our evening meal at the restaurant of Parry Lodge, where we stayed for the night.
The dining room is situated in the old Victorian building and has its own charm and character with old-fashioned flowery wallpaper, some more or less ‘frumpy’ lamps, formal layout and decorated with many (signed) pictures of movie stars who dined here.
The menu is not that extensive with a lot of steaks and chicken, but we ordered a rainbow trout; this entrée included ‘a trip’ to the soup and salad bar. We could wash down our tasteful meal with a cold glass of house wine, which was very reasonably priced (USD 3,50). Our friendly waiter recommended an ‘apple dump’ for dessert and that was a real delight !!
Be aware the restaurant is only open during summer season !! If staying somewhere else in Kanab I would highly recommend visiting Parry Lodge for lunch or dinner to a get a glimpse of the old movie atmosphere in the ‘dining room of the stars’.
Kanab – ‘little Hollywood’
by vtveen
Kanab is a small town along/around Highway 89, which is winding through the center and is lined with motels, restaurants, gas stations and shops; and since along time during our trip we saw a real fashion shop. Other shops do have a high content of Western style goods and gifts.
We found it also a rather ‘strange’ town: cafés were closed in the afternoon, people at the local information center couldn’t answer any of my questions and the BLM information center is located in the middle of nowhere.
We opted for a stay in Kanab looking for an extra night between Zion and Grand Canyon, because we intended to do a lot of sightseeing during those days. It is a perfect place for visiting the surrounding national and state parks and other sights. We tried to visit Best Friends Animal Society (just north of Kanab), but we missed the last guided tour.
Kanab is called ‘little Hollywood’, as it was the center for filming of over hundred Western and other films. If you are a movie lover I recommend staying in historic Parry Lodge (see accommodation tip) as it served five decades as the headquarters for films and TV-shows made in and around Kanab. Strolling along the main street we saw a lot of information boards with a picture and some information of movie stars.
Photos
Parry's Lodge
Parry Lodge, main building
Parry Lodge, pool area
Parry Lodge, main building
Forum Posts
Parry lodge
by chipanpas
Hello
We're from France (Europe) and we'd like to hear about Parry Lodge in Kanab (we're going to be in Kanab next year for vacations): we need a quiet room to sleep in this hotel.
A friend told us of rooms with names of cine stars, but some are not peaceful (he said): or we want to sleep well !!!!
Is it a good idea ?
Is there anybody who slept there and could help us with the names of the rooms ?
Thank you very much.
Re: Parry lodge
by bocmaxima
In case you don't get any other responses, because the place is a little obscure (not many people go to Kanab), I can offer that I'm familiar with the place and that it appears fairly nice. It looks older than most of the other places in town, but is also on beautiful grounds with a large central courtyard under a canopy of cottonwoods (I think they're cottonwoods, at least) and takes up at least a full city block in what is a very small town. Looks like one of the better places in Kanab.
Per the noise, it is oriented like an old motor lodge, so that the doors are right to the outside and parking lot, which may contribute to it.
hth
Re: Parry lodge
by qaminari
Some mention of specific rooms on here http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g57030-d99755-Reviews-Parry_Lodge-Kanab_Utah.html
Re: Parry lodge
by Rixie
The easiest way to find out is to email the Lodge directly: sales@parrylodge.com
Re: Parry lodge
by chipanpas
Thank you very much to all, bocmaxima, qaminari, and Rixie, for your help.
We finally booked at the Parry Lodge.
Planning trip to Best Friends in Kanab
by montymh
I would like to volunteer at Best Friends for five days and sightsee. I'm looking for recommendations for places to stay, eat and visit in the area. I'm thinking of flying into Las Vegas first and renting a car and driving. How many additional days would I need to see Zion and the Grand Canyon on the trip? Any suggestions are welcome. Thank you.
Re: Planning trip to Best Friends in Kanab
by bocmaxima
Zion would take at least one, very full day, but it's really better to do two.
There's not a ton at the North Rim (not to belittle it though, because it is awesome), but it takes a really long time to reach, even from Kanab. A full day would be fine.
When are you coming? The North Rim doesn't open until mid-May, at the earliest, and closes around late October.
There's also Pink Coral Sand Dunes (http://www.utah.com/stateparks/coral_pink.htm), Valley of Fire State Park, near Vegas, Vermillion Cliffs, Marble Canyon, Bryce is fairly close, Cedar Breaks, and lots else. There's a ton to do in that area.
Re: Planning trip to Best Friends in Kanab
by goodfish
You are so close to Bryce - it would be a shame to miss that one. And lovely Kodachrome State park is only about 1/2 hr from there.
I'd do at least an overnight on the North Rim as it's such a long drive in.
We did this trip and spent two nights in each place. Bryce could be done with just one night. I guess I'd say a minimum of 4 days but better to have 5 - you'll kill parts of two of them driving from Vegas and back. Zion is beautiful - I'd do at least 2 nights there.
So, drive Zion - 2 nights.
Drive to Bryce/Kodachrome - 1 night
Drive to North Rim - 1 or 2 nights
Back to Vegas
Re: Planning trip to Best Friends in Kanab
by vtveen
For staying in Kanab I would recommend Parry Lodge; see for more info/pics:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/vt/tfr/1/529/3/1f1e2d/
Just want to add one more trip to the Wire Pass Trail, an impressive slot canyon. See: http://members.virtualtourist.com/vt/tfr/1/529/4/1f1f7e/
happy travels
Jaap
Re: Planning trip to Best Friends in Kanab
by WinInZion
We always stay at the Clarion Inn in Kanab, there is also a new Holiday Inn Express. You would want an extra 4-5 days to see the area. Zion is about 30 miles from there but that's just to the entrance, an easy drive. They're right about Bryce, it's only a little over an hour from Kanab.
The North Rim is really an easy drive from Kanab, not all that far. If you're going in season it will be hard to get a reservation but a day trip is no big deal, you'll just be limited to seeing the viewpoints.
Once you're in Kanab the Paria area is also easily accessible, there is too much to cover here.
Win
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