NO WAY! You Won’t Believe These Facts About Utah!
It's no surprise, Utah is America's favorite state! Here are some FACTS about The Beehive State that sound 100% made up!
Utah has the YOUNGEST population in the nation!
It's true! When you think Utah, you may think OLD TIMERS, RETIRED PEOPLE, GRANDPARENTS! But approximately 30% of Utah is under 18 years old! Utah's average age of the population is 31.5 years old! The next closest is Texas at 35.2. Maine comes in at the oldest in the country with an average age of 45!
Utah is home to the OLDEST theme park in the USA!
Lagoon, baby! Lagoon opened it's doors in 1886! Shoot-the-Chutes was the first ride, a boat ride going down a ramp, splashing into the water! Literally 137 years old! Grover Cleveland was the Pres!
Gayest City in America?
That's right! Salt Lake City was named America's GAYEST city in 2012 by Advocate.com. Salt Lake already has a HUGE Pride Parade every June, but they also had International Mr. Leather semifinalist, nude yoga classes, an LGBT bookstore, and Sundance Festival.
The first KFC was in Utah!
The Colonel lived in Utah? That's right! The first KFC is located at 3890 S. State Street, in Salt Lake City. The name 'Kentucky Fried Chicken' actually came from the painter that was creating a sign for 'Harman's Cafe', and the name KFC stuck!
The WORST AIR in the WHOLE WORLD?
MOST of Utah has very clean, pretty air but NOT Salt Lake City. On August 6, 2021, Salt Lake City had THE WORST AIR QUALITY in the entire WORLD! That inversion will getcha!
REAL HERO: This Southern Utah Business Is Doing What Others Don't!
I've known a local Southern Utah business that does things that others do not, and that business is the Riverside Drive Chevron. This Chevron is where Riverside Drive and Bluff Street meet, near Newby Buick. You're probably thinking... It's just a gas station, what do they do that others don't?
This specific Chevron has FREE AIR! Have you ever driven around town looking for somewhere to get some air in your tires? I have! I've driven ALL OVER, put my credit card into machines, then to find that the machine doesn't even work. Or, even worse... Go get change for two dollars, but 8 quarters into the machine, and the stupid thing doesn't even work! It drives me crazy!
This Chevron has been my go-to for free air for years, and it ALWAYS works. A lot of places have the gauge snipped off, or it's just flat out broken. It's so frustrating. But I wanted to give a huge shout out to this place. So, next time you're needing air in your tires, think Chevron on Riverside Drive. Get some gasoline there, go inside and get some snacks, and thank them for doing the free air!
Are there any other places in town that give great service? Free Air? ANYTHING COOL? Hit me up in the comments and let me know! Let's shed some light on them for their awesomeness too!
Southern Utah's MOST ROMANTIC Places To Take Your Boo!
Whether you've been together for a week, or 75 years, you gotta keep the spark alive in your relationship! Sometimes you can afford to take your sweetheart to an expensive restaurant or hotel, or maybe sometimes you can only afford to stay at home. Either way, here's a list of the MOST ROMANTIC places to take your boo in Southern Utah!
Cliffside Restaurant:
Cliffside is great, and the food is NOT outrageous. Your lover will feel like you though ahead and took them to Cliffside. The restaurant overlooks the city, nice food, lots of windows, feels FANCY. Girls love fancy!
Springdale:
Springdale RIGHT OUTSIDE of Zion National Park, and it feels very boujee there. Try Oscar's Cafe. The views are outstanding, and the food is unique and good! It might be a little pricey, but it's worth the money. GO HAVE A GOOD TIME!
Brianhead:
Get an Airbnb or hotel in Brianhead. Maybe you don't ski or snowboard (me neither), but being somewhere different is fun. Also, if you're lucky and it's snowing outside while you're warm in your hotel room... HELLOOOOOO!!! We all know what that means!
The Advenire Hotel:
It's the new hotel, downtown in St. George. Wood Ash Rye is beneath them and the rooms are great. If your girl is anything like me... She loves a hotel, and a getaway! Even if it's a little staycation in town.
Ruby's Inn at Bryce Canyon:
Ruby's Inn is always a lot of fun, plus it's GORGEOUS out there. Bryce Canyon is one of the most UNDERRATED National Parks in the entire country! Ruby's Inn feels like a little mountain getaway without paying the HIGH prices of Park City, or Salt Lake City.
Your House:
YOUR HOME can be romantic and fun if you're on a budget. Build a fort when she's gone or in the other room. Put up a tent in your front room or back yard. Get the air mattress out. BE FUN AND SPONTANEOUS like you used to. Have food ordered. Just make it a fun, different, unique experience. She'll remember it and odds are... She's going to give you a big fat kiss for it!
These are Utah's TINIEST Towns, and we're thinking There's NO WAY You've been to all of these, much less HEARD of them!
10. Kingston
- Population: 158
- Location: Piute County, 45.5 miles south of Richfield (As the crow flies).
- Home of: Named after Thomas Rice King who settled the city with his family in 1876.
9. Brian Head
- Population: 154
- Location: Iron County, up high in the mountains. 11.5 miles from Cedar City (As the crow flies).
- Home of: The premiere ski resort in Southern Utah.
8. Dutch John
- Population: 151
- Location: Dagget County, 4 miles northeast of The Flaming Gorge Dam (As the crow flies).
- Home of: Named after John Honselena, a horse trader who supplied emigrants and railroad workers with horses in the 1860s. He was called Dutch John from his accent, even though he was actually German.
7. Hatch
- Population: 154
- Location: Garfield County, 14 miles to Bryce Canyon National Park (As the crow flies).
- Home of: ATV Trails and Beautiful outdoor fun.
6 . Fairfield
- Population: 140
- Location: On the west side of Utah Lake. 22 miles West of Provo (As the crow flies.)
- Home of: Originally named Frogtown, was a stop for many riders on the Pony Express Trail.
5. Alton
- Population: 136
- Location: Kane County, 31 miles northeast of Zion National Park (As the crow flies).
- Home of: A quiet town with stunning scenery. In the 1800s, the name Alton was drawn out of a hat and given the name.
4. Lynndyl
- Population: 125
- Location: Millard County, 15 miles northeast of Delta.
- Home of: Settled in 1907 as a "Stop on the railroad."
3. Antimony
- Population: 122
- Location: Garfield County, 45 miles south of Richfield (As the crow flies).
- Home of: A mining town originally named "Coyote" changed to Antimony in 1921.
2. Ophir
- Population: 55
- Location: Tooele County, 11 miles south of the city of Tooele (As the crow flies).
- Home of: Gold and silver mining in the 1800's.
1. Scofield
- Population: 23
- Location: Carbon County, 20 miles northwest of Price (As the crow flies).
- Home of: Scofield Reservoir State Park.
Dead & Gone: The St. George Restaurants We REALLY MISS!
If you've been in St. George for a while, you probably have fond memories of a few restaurants that are no longer here. Maybe you cry yourself to sleep at night that you can't taste them again. That's perfectly normal!
Here are the Restaurants that the REAL OG's Of St. George miss really bad!
SHONEY'S:
Shoney's was a little restaurant where Cafe Zupas is now! They had a Breakfast Buffet and it was AMAZING! This was... at least 20 years ago, and I still think about it today!
Burger Place:
The Burger Place in Washington was an absolute staple in Washington! It's been torn down and is now a car dealership? Or maybe it's a dirt lot? Either way I wish it never left us!
Godfather's Pizza:
Godfather's Pizza was a pizza place at the same location of Cafe Sabor. They had a Pizza Buffet with TONS of different types of pizza. It was awesome. Before Godfather's it was Andelin's Gable House! That location has some amazing history!
The Boat Chinese Restaurant:
I have NO CLUE what the real name of the Chinese Restaurant that was here in the mid 90's, but it SLAPPED! I used to go with my dad and sister every Tuesday night! It's now St. George Auto, located right next to the Picklr, formerly Rite Aid.
TwentyFive Main:
TwentyFive Main was a cute little cafe on Main Street in St. George. It's only been gone MAYBE two years, but a lot of people really enjoyed it. They had cupcakes, salads, sandwiches, pastas, and more. It was great, and it's missed!
Weinerschnitzel:
That's right, St. George used to have a Weinerschnitzel! I miss it so much, cheap hotdogs, chili cheese dogs, corndogs. It was good. It's currently La Botana on St. George Boulevard, next to PinkBox Donuts.
One Hot Grill:
One Hot Grill was a really cool burger place on Tabernacle close to Judd's. They had burgers, hotdogs, and sandwiches. It's currently Kairos Mediterranean.
Fazoli's:
Pasta? Yum. Drive-Thru's? Yum! That's what Fazoli's was. An Italian restaurant with a drive through. Fast food Italian food. It's now Five Guys, across from Chick-Fil-A on River Road.
Sconecutter:
I've seen a lot of people mention that they miss Sconecutter! Sconecutter was here for YEARS, and I never ever saw anyone inside. I was shocked they were in business. They weren't selling drugs right? I mean, their tagline was "Let's Get Sconed!"
Scaldoni's:
Confession! I've never been to Scaldoni's before, but SO MANY PEOPLE nominated this place, saying how much they missed it. I remember my aunt was a server there for a while! It was located in the Phoenix Plaza off of Sunset Boulevard.
Orange Julius:
Orange Julius was in the Food Court at the mall. The Food Court that LITERALLY doesn't exist anymore, directly outside of Bohme and Dillards. I miss you, Orange Julius.
Sizzler:
Yes, I know Cedar City still has Sizzler, but St. George used to have one too! Right on St. George Boulevard. The current location is home to Alta Bank and looks NOTHING like a Sizzler!
JB's:
St. George had a JB's, and even Hurricane had a JB's. It was like, a little Dennys, kind of... But they had a buffet! The breakfast buffet was MY FAVORITE! The JB's location is currently home to Black Bear Diner on Main Street & Bluff.
2 Fat Guys Pizza:
2 Fat Guys Pizza had a HORRIBLE location, but AMAZING pizza! It was in the little shopping center to the south of Walmart in Bloomington. Hungry Howies and Peppers Cantina are in the same spot that 2 Fat Guys used to be in. It was wood fired pizza, and delicious. After 2 Fat Guys left, MULTIPLE pizza places came into the same location and just couldn't make it work.
Charlie's:
Charlie's was a cute little restaurant that had ice cream, and soup, and sandwiches and always had a jukebox playing music. I miss Charlie's ALL THE TIME! Especially when I get sick. I miss that Chicken Noodle Soup. Charlie's location is now home to Swig on St. George Boulevard.
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