Ofland Escalante

Yonder Escalante

"Why book?  Yonder Escalante is like parachuting into a design-lover’s dream of the American West—whether you stay in one of the renovated Airstreams, a glass-sided tiny house, or roll up with your own RV, the glampground is an aesthetic gem steeped in Americana, and surrounded by some of Utah’s best parks. Set the scene You’re out here, in the southern Utah desert, to commune with the red rocks and slot canyons around you. Yonder Escalante is designed with that in mind. From the open-air clubhouse, where board games and fire pits await, to the al fresco showers, the expansive desert is always within sight. The crowd, which includes everyone from young city dwelling couples in Pendleton jackets to road-tripping families in motorhomes, shares an interest in this. The backstory  The owners of the hotel are father-son duo James and Charles Tate, who were searching for a piece of land to create a middle-of-the-desert resort like this one. They ended up finding an old drive-in theater and RV park, and worked on a full overhaul instead while retaining some of those elements (namely, the drive-in theater experience, and dozens of RV sites). Enlisting the help of Hannah Collins of ROY Hospitality Design Studio, they brought in 10 vintage Airstreams, which were renovated on the spot with mid-century modern furnishings, designed 22 modern black cabins with two sides that are entirely made of glass, and created 67 RV sites (this number has been reduced to 35 RV sites since opening, with full campsite amenities—picnic tables, fire pits—added to each). What’s interesting about Yonder Escalante is that, while the Tates created it via their real estate investment firm Preserve Partners (which owns other RV campgrounds, like a KOA in Spokane, or the Old Mill Camp in Oregon’s Tillamook Bay), there are no other Yonders yet. Unlike Under Canvas, which successfully replicates its glamping concept in a number of destinations like Maine and nearby Bryce Canyon, the Yonder Escalante experience can only be found here (for now—the team says a new location will be announced in 2023). The rooms You can have several different versions of a Yonder stay, based on the accommodation you choose, but count on a shared aesthetic of blond woods, delicate black details, and striped wool throw blankets that fill the rooms and common areas. And, because this is a type of camping, keep in mind that bathrooms are communal and not attached to individual units—you’ll have to tote your dopp kit to the showers. The Airstreams, which are surprisingly long and roomy, are great for couples or small families enamored by the idea of bedding down in a vintage trailer without the fuss of actually traveling with one (starting at $199 per night). They fit three thanks to a comfy daybed, and there’s nothing quite like peeking out those rounded windows in the morning. The cabins (starting at $179 per night) are slightly more compact, but have gaping glass in place of the front and back walls and a little patio. It’s worth noting that while these cabins are said to fit three, the couch is probably only suitable for a small child. As for travelers who are rolling up with their own RV, camper, or tent? Those sites (starting at $109 for RV sites, $59 for van/campsites) may not boast the interior design perks of the cabins and Airstreams, but they have the same picnic table, charcoal grill, and fire pit that you’ll want to sit around every evening, and you’ll get full access to communal areas like the pool, drive-in, and lounge area. Food and drink This is still a form of camping, in a sense, so it’s not surprising that there isn’t a permanent onsite restaurant. You’ll be able to get basics thanks to a lobby shop stocked with beers, wine, and snacks, and a food truck that sells breakfast daily from 7 to 11 a.m. (with items like breakfast burritos), and dinner Friday to Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. (burgers, chicken tenders, etc.). During the nightly outdoor movies, concessions like hot dogs and popcorn are available. Plus, cocktail kits and barbecuing kits can be purchased at the front desk any time. The grilling kits are great—and trust me, you'll want to take advantage of your grill—but you may choose to pack some of your own groceries, primarily for lunch when your options are limited and especially if you're staying for more than a night or two.  The neighborhood/area Yonder feels like it’s smack dab in the middle of nowhere, but you’re actually close to some of Utah’s best parks—in fact, it sits within the boundaries of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, the first and largest managed by the Bureau of Land Management with over a million acres of canyons, rivers, and hiking trails. While Grand Staircase-Escalante is a lesser-visited gem of the parks system, you’re just one hour from Bryce Canyon, an hour and a half from Capitol Reef, and two and a half from Zion. You’ll need a car to get here anyway, making it easy to turn a stay into a park-hopping road trip. The service You’ll always have support at the front desk, but there’s (perhaps obviously) no bellhop or room service. Staff do their rounds on carts, so holler if you need someone, or head to the lobby where the always-kind staff can advise you on local-secret hikes in the area, or nearby vantage points for watching sunset.  For families  The nightly movies, offered drive-in style with a fleet of retro cars to sit in and view from, are a favorite among guests of all ages, but especially for kids (and if they can’t sit still for the whole film, it’s very easy to drift in and out of a showing without interrupting others).  Accessibility  ADA-accessible cabins are available for rent (just note that they only accommodate two people, not three). Throughout the property there are a lot of smooth albeit dirt paths; cars are also allowed to drive from the cabin area over to the lobby and pool, for example, but not right up to cabins (call ahead if you think you'll need additional assistance).  Anything left to mention?  Don’t miss the drive-in movies—and, if you’re in a group, rent a mix of cabins and Airstreams (request those beside each other) so you can get a taste of everything Yonder has to offer." - Megan Spurrell