Plans for a new resort near Zion National Park spark controversy

Located just outside Zion National Park, the historic Trees Ranch is slated to be transformed into an “ultra-luxury resort,” according to a recent local reports.

Trees Ranch dates to 1982, when the late Jim Trees, who helped launch the Grand Canyon Trust, saw a landscape surrounded by the beauty of Zion. The ranch is surrounded by public land — on two sides by the national park, on another by the Canaan Mountain Wilderness, and on the fourth by U.S. Bureau of Land Management acreage.

The ranch has been bought and sold many times through the years, and was acquired by Ryan Lee in 2021. Lee also owns the LaFave Luxury Rentals, located just one mile from the Zion NP entrance.

After successfully receiving a zoning change, which was approved by the Washington County Planning Commission on Oct. 1, Lee is now able to move forward with his plans to develop 1960.67 acres of the ranch.

A report published by St. George News and republished in local newspapers reported that, “Parunuweap Canyon LLC has plans to build a hotel along with short-term rentals capable of serving up to 350 nightly guests. Up to 25 private homes are planned as well as a swimming pool, spa, horse center and tent campsites.”

In a phone call with SFGATE, Lee stated those claims are “inaccurate.” “We are going to respect and honor this land. We’re not going to build a 350-room hotel,” Lee said. “It’s going to be very light on the land, 28 units just set lightly onto the landscape.”

Matthew Fink, a spokesperson for Zion National Park, told SFGATE that the National Park Service has no jurisdiction over how the site is managed since the property is outside the park’s borders. However, the park service has worked with Lee and Washington County officials to discuss “ways to reduce impacts on park resources through sustainable design and habitat management practices,” he said.

Because the Virgin River runs through the property, conservationists are worried about the impact the resort might have downstream. The Virgin River and the Canaan Mountain Wilderness Area borders Trees Ranch, and both are essential habitats for native flora and fauna. These ecosystem support hawks, falcons and other nesting bird species, as well as cougars and black bears.

There are also concerns about introducing more lodging near one of the most crowded parks in the nation.

Lee told SFGATE that there currently isn’t a timeline for beginning construction. Many of the details on the project will need to be finalized before moving forward.