Zion National Park Visitor Center / Discovery Center - Construction in full swing.
Under the heading of The East Zion Initiative a multi-year planning effort is coming to fruition and progress is now very visible. "The roundabout is in place, along with the newly rerouted north fork road. A new paved walking and biking path has been completed that connects the Zion National Park gateway with the Discovery Center 20 acre campus," says Kevin Mclaws who, with his wife Stacy have donated the land for this project and have spent years developing this public/private partnership effort.
What Is The East Zion Discovery Center?
A cooperative effort by public and private entities the East Zion Discovery Center, when completed, will be a visitor information and education center, with interpretive displays, a cafe, gift shop, and a center for access to miles of new trails for mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, and back-country touring. Guided outdoor services will be available and the long-term plan includes an effort to be a transit hub where visitors can park their vehicles and ride shuttles into the park, similar to what currently exists on the lower west side entrance and main Zion canyon scenic drive.
Impetus For The Discovery Center
With Zion National Park's growing national and international visitor interest, transportation access in and out of Utah's number one visited national park, along with improving visitor experiences, has been an ongoing topic of conversation. The busier west side of Zion National Park with approximately 3.5 million entrances per year has made many improvements to roads, entrance stations, shuttle systems, and more. In recent years an effort has been underway to enable the upper east entrance of Zion National Park, with approximately 1-million visitor entrances per year, to become a well planned transportation, education, and experiential participant in the overall visitor process. Participants in the effort to develop, fund, and manage this East Zion operation include; private business, Native Americans, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, Kane County - Utah, the Zion Forever Project, and the state of Utah.
Where Is The Discovery Center Located?
The Zion Mt. Carmel Highway, also known as state route 9, in Utah runs west to east through Zion National Park, and the new discovery center is located two miles east of the east gate of the park.
Discovery Center / Visitor Center Completion Date
Kevin Mclaws indicates that the vertical walls are going up now and that 2025 will be a year for enclosing the buildings and adding needed framework and external infrastructure. "Finishes to the interior buildout will be completed over the 2025-2026 winter months with a planned grand opening in the spring of 2026," says Mclaws.
Attractions On The East Side of Zion National Park?
Zion Mountain Ranch
Kevin and Stacy Mclaws own and operate
Zion Mountain Ranch, a guest lodging, dining and activity based operation on the eastern Highway 9 corridor. Their operations include a gift shop, campground, cabins, and a restaurant. For years Zion Mountain Ranch has also been home to a significant herd of bison (buffalo). They have plans to construct a new lodge near the east entrance of Zion National Park, and potentially to give a new name to the corridor area along the East Zion plateau. The name may be made public in 2026 as the discovery center is dedicated. "Our goal is to retain the picturesque and natural beauty of this east side of Zion National Park, by ensuring that any development protects the cultural and natural resources of this area," adds Kevin.