the resort
We visited Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort as part of an epic cross-country road trip from Nashville to Los Angeles. Being a large family with five kids, we could not find a suitable room within Zion National Park. Staying in a conestoga covered wagon was an adventure that our family will remember for a lifetime. The Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort, located in Orderville, Utah, near Zion National Park and the Zion-Mt Carmel tunnel entrance, is one of our favorite adventure resorts. Zion National Park is accessible within minutes. The location can potentially be a jumping-off point to other nearby sites in beautiful Southwestern Utah. Coral Sand Dunes State Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Grand Canyon National Park North Rim make for incredible day trips from this location. During our stay, we chose to spend most of our time at Zion National Park.
the Conestoga
Our wagon was equipped with a king size bed and two sets of twin bunkbeds sleeping up to 6 people. Although interior space seemed limited, the wagon was large enough to fit a pack and play for our youngest child and all of our luggage. We enjoyed our stay so much that we came back the very next year to try out the glamping tents at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort. I highly recommend staying in a conestoga. Our kids were jazzed and honestly we were too! The experience was thrilling as it was fun to imagine what it must have been like for pioneer families to travel by wagon long ago. That being said, staying in the conestoga includes many modern amenities like electricity, lighting, and heat. It is quite comfortable. The have cozy beds and quality bed linens and towels are provided. Writing about it is making me want to plan a return trip!
the bathhouse
I was a little concerned when we first arrived as the walk to the bathhouse from the wagon area was a little further than I had anticipated. However, it worked out fine for us. The resort has so much to do that we really only came back to the wagon to change clothes or sleep. The bathhouse has separate restrooms for men and women with toilets, sinks, and a dressing area. The restrooms and showers were kept clean during our stay. The private shower rooms are located in an open-air hallway between the restrooms. And, there is an outdoor sink area for dishwashing needs, etc.
the pool
The Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort pool was a highlight for our kids! The pool is located adjacent to the bathhouse. There is an upper pool, lower pool, water slides, and hot tubs. A staff person was on duty at the gate handing out towels. The pool was a great place to relax and meet other guests; swapping stories of our daily adventures in Zion National Park.
the restaurant
We were pleased with the dining options at the Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort. Our conestoga wagon reservation included a daily continental breakfast at the onsite restaurant. The resort did a great job providing a variety of both hot and cold breakfast items. The breakfast provided plenty of food to fuel up for our day exploring Zion National Park. In the evenings, we also enjoyed eating dinner at the Ponderosa restaurant. They have an assortment of menu options that were pleasing to our family and it was convenient to eat dinner at the resort compared to cooking or driving to other restaurants. The onsite restaurant made dinner easy and pleasant.
the activities
Our conestoga reservation included access to the pool area, playground, game room, and much more. Guest can reserve additional activities: climbing, hiking, ATV tours, jeep tours, ziplining, star gazing tours, horseback riding, etc. The Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort has something for everyone and it is just around the corner from the stunning Zion National Park!