Visit the Scenic and Accessible Family Destination, Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort

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High on the Markagunt Plateau, along the eastern border of Utah’s Zion National Park, rests what may be one of the most scenic family resorts in the western United States: Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort. I had the opportunity to discover this special place when I was invited to be part of an accessibility research group on a four-day outing. 

Accessible Destination
The trip was a project of the University of Utah Department of Parks and Recreation to gather research on the topic of accessibility and inclusion in travel destinations.  There were about 18 people on the trip, including about 12 of us with disabilities, ranging from spinal cord injuries to cerebral palsy. Most were in wheelchairs, but some, like me, had limited walking capabilities. The rest of the group consisted of University of Utah researchers. 

Adaptable Activities
We spent four days experiencing the many activities available to us, from archery to horseback riding, to ATV tours, and more. Additionally, we spent several hours in discussion groups, exploring the concept of inclusion in recreation. I won’t go into detail about the research now but will report on that in another article. For this article, I want to focus on the destination itself: its beauty, amenities, and accessibility.