Homegrown Excellence
Greatness isn’t just found elsewhere—it’s built right here. From trailblazing startups to beloved local staples, these businesses shape Utah’s economy, community and future.
Wittwer Hospitality
When St. George was settled in 1861, it was little more than an arid desert. Early pioneers, sent to cultivate cotton, endured harsh conditions as they laid the groundwork for what would become a thriving community. A symbol of their dedication, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ St. George Temple was completed in 1877 and remains a landmark following its 2023 renovation.
The city remained quiet until the early 20th century, when the opening of Zion National Park in 1919 and Bryce Canyon in 1928 began attracting visitors. With newly paved roads like the Arrowhead Highway (later U.S. Highway 91), travel became easier, and so did the promise of hospitality.
Lester Wittwer recognized that promise. A Santa Clara farmer-turned-entrepreneur, he transported produce across state lines before stepping into the hospitality industry. After briefly owning a motel in Las Vegas, Lester returned home and opened the Wittwer Motor Lodge on St. George Boulevard in 1955. Ahead of his time, he introduced Utah’s first hotel with refrigerated air conditioning and one of the first with a swimming pool.
As motels sprouted along the highway in the 1950s and ’60s, St. George began to emerge as a destination. The opening of Dixie Red Hills Golf Course in 1965 marked a new chapter, helping define the area as a recreational retreat.
Lester and Vanola Wittwer raised six children in the business, passing on a legacy of hard work and genuine care. In 1968, their sons Royden, Tony, Mel and Sheldon opened Best Western Coral Hills, just two blocks from the original lodge. By the 1990s, tourism in St. George was booming, thanks in part to the opening of Tuacahn Amphitheatre and other area destinations. The Wittwers’ third hotel, Best Western Plus Abbey Inn, opened in 1996 and was St. George’s first to offer a full, complimentary hot breakfast.
Today, Wittwer Hospitality carries that tradition forward with its guiding purpose of Heartfelt Hospitality™. The company recently broke ground on the LivSmart Studios by Hilton in West Valley City, its second hotel in Northern Utah, alongside the Candlewood Suites in Layton. The move marks a thoughtful expansion into new communities, guided by long-term vision rather than short-term gain.
With three new hotels planned in St. George, Wittwer Hospitality remains committed to investing in people, places and experiences that endure—continuing a legacy not just in Southern Utah, but throughout the state and beyond.
60 N. 300 East, St. George
435-215-1024
wittwerhospitality.com
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