We were lucky to catch up with Jennifer Harper and Brent Stout recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jennifer and Brent, thanks for joining us today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?
After Brent and I purchased our run down motor lodge we realized we were part of a new movement in hospitality. Forgotten old motels and motor lodges are being transformed by creative hoteliers by sprucing them up with modern amenities – while honoring the nostalgic charm and history of the property. These wonderful places become an exciting experience for a clientele that might normally opt for more familiar chain hotels or newly constructed boutique hotels.
Another meaningful part of this movement is clientele seeking to support local, family-operated motels and motor lodges, rather than the big corporations who jumped on the bandwagon. Motels and motor lodges that have been transformed by families or locals, especially those with the artistic and creative skills to fuse the old with the new, have an undeniable “heart and soul” in their renovations, and guests find that uniquely rewarding. So much of the consumer experience today is impersonal and empty. This movement shows that people crave “small batch” and “intimate” experiences, and the entrepreneurial spirit of these renovations honors the “American Dream” that founded our country and the type of life experiences people are inherently drawn to.
DRAGONFLY Motor Lodge is now a destination in its own right! A mid-century motor lodge located in the heart of Utah’s Mighty 5, only 25 mins from Bryce Canyon. We have guests from all over the world that come to visit us in our quaint little town of Panguitch, Utah and the majesty that is all around us. We also laugh when we are frequently referred to as the “Schitt’s Creek” of Bryce Canyon.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hi! I’m Jenn & I’m Brent!
In August 2022 we purchased, to bring back to life, a 1950s Motor Lodge located on iconic Highway 89, in the historic town of Panguitch, UT, where we live a simple life.
We chose Panguitch for many reasons; however, the main reason was we both have family roots here and a sense of pride in the community of Panguitch. Second, was our location, we are conveniently located in the heart of Utah’s Mighty 5, Southern Utah’s picturesque playground. We are only twenty-five minutes from Bryce Canyon and an hour from the east entrance of Zion, an hour and a half from North Rim Grand Canyon. Easy access to world-class trailheads at Red Canyon, Panguitch Lake, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Escalante Grand Staircase, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Brian Head, and many more state and national parks.
We chose DRAGONFLY as the name of our motor lodge for its meaning and symbolism. DRAGONFLY signifies hope, new beginnings, happiness, good luck, and breaking free of old paradigms, Jenn’s favorite symbolism of the DRAGONFLY is the clear and iridescent wings are often described as fairy wings. In essence, they embody both the beauty and magic in life. Everyone needs a little magic!
Our vision for DRAGONFLY is a retro-chic motor lodge with a little nostalgia thrown in from those road trips gone by. It was created for the self-reliant traveler who likes to get away from the crowds and explore the path less traveled.
“DRAGONFLY wings create magic and dreamzzz.”
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
Working capital is very hard to qualify for if you aren’t backed by a big chain name. We purchased and are currently funding our renovations with our own personal money, (as well as heart, and soul) which has allowed us the opportunity to get creative in our renovations i.e., repurposing items, shopping at the Habitat for Humanity and thrift stores. It has been a creative journey and our guest love being part of it.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Having completed our first full season, we have learned that resilience, both financial and personal, certainly is something we cannot take for granted, and we definitely have! We have invested and worked non-stop to bring this dream to reality and we are extremely grateful to share the magic with our guests. We also have also learned that in order to maintain the energy that people love about DRAGONFLY that we also need to balance our own personal energy and resources.
It is an honor and privilege to create the DRAGONFLY experience. We are embracing the ebb of flow of our new business and balancing of our personnel wellness and joy as part of that experience. Of course, there are days where extraordinary strength, endurance, and trust in the unknown is required! For example we are feverishly working towards our reopening on March 11th, but we know that we will also work with equal passion to balance ourselves with gratitude, fulfillment, self-reflection, and the rejuvenating power of the natural beauty of the area. Our guests love this area for good reason, there is a postcard around every corner, wonder and solitude down every dirt road, and a once-in-a-lifetime sunset every night. Yes what we are doing is hard and yes what we are doing is wonderful and rewarding.
With every new season we hope that we will have more guests than the previous year. We have 10 rooms renovated with six more to go. As each room is renovated, we add it to our website for convenient online booking. Every time we get a new booking it gives us a boost of excitement and the feeling of gratitude!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dragonflylodging.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/dragonflyloding
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/dragonflylodging
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@DragonflyMotorLodge