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Show Family-Oriented Ruby's Inn a Unique 'City' Of Its Own Near Bryce Canyon Ituby s Inn. known as "The Smallest Big City In the I) S.A ". has been in existence since 1916 al which time Huben r Syrctt brought his family to the wild.s of southern t'tah and built a ranch nr.ir th present site of the inn The unique situation at Huby's Inn is how it was began tiy one man. and has progressed to the point that it has been proclaimed a city with a post office Huben's son. Carl Syrett end w ife. Jean and eight of their r'ne children are over the operation at the present time. Ruben obtained permission from the state in 1919 to build a lodge near Sunset Point In Bryce Canyon. When Bryce Canyon became a national park in 1923, Ruben moved his "tourist rest" to the location at Mr. and Mrs. Carl Syrett stand In front of the famed rock fireplace built In the entertainment area of the lodge in 1926. The Syrett's and eight of their nine children and families reside In the city of Ruby's Inn. Ms ranch and named it Ruby's Inn. The door of the original lodge is located in the exact spot of the door of the new modem lodge. The families involved are, Bob, Arthur and Doug, living at home; Rod and Kalhern, Fred and Tonya, Karlene and Mike Muir and Shauna and Blaine Anderson all living at Ruby's Inn and Mondell and Florence living In Tropic. Another daughter, Mr. and Mrs. craig (Dawnetta) Rutledge and four children live In Fullerton, Calif. There are 15 grandchildren living at Ruby's Inn with seven others visiting occasionally. Only one grandchild is old enough to work at the present time but with Ruby's Inn providing jobs for over 100 people, the grandchildren will have plenty of work available when they are ready. Each of the sons or sons-in-law have been given a specific responsibility in the oepration of the city's establishments, many of their wive also work there. The father, Carl Is general manager and is over the post office, Rod is over the dining room and advertisement; Fred runs the motel units and swimming pool while Blaine helps keep the motel in top-top shape. Mondell and Mike are over the kitchen; Bob is over the front desk and in charge of the reservations and the curio shop; Doug's responsibility is the office; Arthur takes care of the agricultural part of the family such as the farming and livestock. The place, which includes 83 motel units, swimming pool, post office, restaurant, banquet and cwwefttlon facilities, trailer park, laundromat, Texaco service station, curio shop and entertainment center Is almost completely self-sustaining for the families involved. Services available at the city are horse riding, hiking areas, prairie dog town, fish and game licenses, snowmobile trails during the winter months, local tours, and a hike to their beautiful water falls, Just a mile and one-fourth from the lodge. Slides and lectures of the southern Utah and northern Arizona areas are presented by a local guide and lecturer, Herm Pollock every night of the week except Wednesdays. The Ponterosa Square Dancing Club holds their dances at the center every Wednesday evening; musical entertainment is also provided. A new attraction, added this year, is a rodeo with RMRA approved stock owned by Tom Simktns performing three nights a week, Wednesday; Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. Plans for the future are to enlarge their convention center, they are at the present time upgrading their water and sewer system. They are also building two more homes, making a total of six homes within the city limits. They Just completed rebuilding their swimming pool. They are planning to build another 100 units and inlarge their trailer park and campground. Their plans also include stocking their pond with fish, adding a golf course and adding more hiking trails. |