How a Hotel became its Own Town

How does a family business become an incorporated town? A town is usually defined as a place that provides services like utilities and law enforcement. It is supported by taxes on something like sales, property value, or income. Or all three. So becoming a town involves some serious thinking. Reuben Syrett had a ranch in Bryce Canyon, Utah, and opened a hotel. What was Ruby's Inn for a century is now Bryce Canyon City. Well, it's still a hotel, but it's also a city unto itself. That took a fight, over taxes of course.

If you ever visit beautiful Bryce Canyon National Park, you can't miss Ruby's Inn because it's at the park's northwest entrance, which was very intentional. Even if you never visit Bryce Canyon, the park or the city, you'll get a kick out of the story of how Bryce Canyon City came to be. This video is only five and a half minutes long; the rest is an ad.