Zion Views-Casa Esperanza + Resort Access

In 1995, brothers David and Steven Neeleman realized that working together they could make their grandfather’s dream come true. Ray Lewis, the Neeleman’s grandfather, first came to the East Rim of Zion National Park after expressing a wish to buy a ranch. After prodding from his son-in-law, Gary Neeleman, the family jumped in the car on a whim and traveled from California to Utah to see 8,000 acres of land advertised in the Los Angeles Times.
It was love at first sight and Lewis was determined to muster up enough money to make the purchase of the expansive and gorgeous land about Zion National Park. Soon after he signed the deed, he found that the land was not conducive to ranching, but was the perfect place to unite friends and family. His dream quickly became true hospitality. He wished to share the land with as many friends and family as possible.
In the early 1990’s, the Neeleman brothers regained their grandfather’s spirit of hospitality and opened a small campground called Brushy Cove on a remote section of their land. As the popularity of the campground grew, they added restroom and shower facilities, a large fire pit with benches and group camping sites. The next step was opening their family lodge as a bed and breakfast as more and more friends came. Quickly they realized that it was time to expand their facilities.

In 1994, while both brothers were working in the airline industry, Steve returned lost luggage to its owner who was staying at the Lone Eagle in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Upon first seeing the resort, Steve knew it was what he wanted to do with his family land. The Neelemans were granted permission to model their project after the Lone Eagle and the dream of the Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort began to take shape.
Construction of the first guest cabins started in Fall of 1994. The pole barn was also built to house the dining facilities and guest registration. Soon after, they added a swimming pool and shower house for their new campground closer to the resort center. Over the next few years, Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort continued to develop. They added a staff lodge, additional guest cabins (bringing the total to 24), and recreational activities including a climbing wall, tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts, and a professionally groomed, nine-mile mountain biking course.
Finally, in 1998, the Neelemans realized it was time to make Zion Ponderosa a truly unique experience for its guests. They decided to make the ranch an all-inclusive experience, thereby allowing all guests to get out and do what they truly want, without having to worry about limitations on money. Guests paid one total sum for all of their food, lodging, and unlimited recreation experiences.
The summer of 1999 saw more changes with the addition of our large three-story Recreation barn. The barn is home to recreational equipment and activities, large screen television, indoor/outdoor 40-foot climbing walls, Ping-Pong tables, Virtual Reality and much more. At the same time the Zion Ponderosa expanded and completed the dining hall area.