Today we’d like to introduce you to Dena Merrill. She and her team shared their story with us below:
Acquiring the Viking Yurt in May 2023, the Merrills brought with them a wealth of experience, a love for adventure, and a commitment to continuing the Viking Yurt tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The journey of Brian and Dena Merrill is a tale of romance, adventure, perseverance and fearlessness.
Their story began on the waters of the Colorado and Green rivers while working for Western River Expeditions as whitewater rafting guides while they finished their studies at Brigham Young University. They continued guiding until they graduated, and Brian’s pursuit of legal studies took them to the University of Maryland School of Law. He practiced law in New Mexico and Utah but a desire for a lifestyle change eventually led them back to Western River Expeditions.
The Merrills took over management roles within the company. Over the course of more than 30 years, their roles evolved from managers to becoming proud owners of Western River Expeditions. Throughout this time span, they’ve crafted memorable adventures, offering exceptional cuisine and placing the highest emphasis on customer service, safety, and professionalism.
Their journey reflects dedication, passion, and a commitment to excellence. Brian and Dena Merrill’s legacy extends to their three children – Taylor, Dylan, and Caden – who have spent their summers working as river guides within the family business while also pursuing their individual aspirations.
The seasonal nature of the rafting industry often left guides available during the ski season, and a few Western River guides found employment with the Viking Yurt. Their work ethic, dedication, and superior customer service skills made a great impression on Joy and Geir Vik, the original yurt owners.
Joy recognized the compatibility between the guiding and hospitality worlds. She reached out to Brian Merrill with a request to promote winter employment for Western River guides at the Viking Yurt. Over time, this collaboration led to the Viking Yurt welcoming numerous members from the whitewater guiding community, including Dylan Merrill.
Dylan, a fan of unique dining and a natural entertainer, felt a kinship with the Viking Yurt. The gourmet six-course meals, the idyllic location, live entertainment, and camaraderie among colleagues were immediately appealing. Of course, the Merrill family became repeat guests at the yurt and were impressed with the entire operation, especially Dylan’s role in it.
When the Viks contemplated retirement, they approached Brian. They wanted their company to be taken over by people who would value and continue their vision of what the Viking Yurt should be: a unique adventure dining experience with outstanding quality and service. The Merrills were intrigued but knew that they would need Dylan to be involved.
Thankfully, he was excited about being involved and joined in as a partner and General Manager. Their daughter Taylor, a designer at Method Studios, came on board as the director of social media, and Caden, a student at Utah State University, is working as a chef and server. The Viking Yurt is definitely a family-run business.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Our road was fairly smooth right up until two days before opening. Within two days, 2 of the four snowmobiles stopped working, and the 600 lb commercial stove had to be replaced.
This would be difficult enough at a normal restaurant, but being located at the top of a mountain with no direct road access and only one day until a full house, it felt a little daunting. The whole crew worked late into the night and into the next morning. Even a snowcat driver from Park City Mountain (to whom we are forever grateful) pitched in. By 9:00 am on opening day, everything was purchased, transported, repaired, and installed.
We consider ourselves incredibly blessed to work with talented people who are willing to give 100% and then some. Our crew is the heart and soul of the Viking Yurt.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I worked as a whitewater rafting guide for my family’s Rafting Company (Western River Expeditions) to pay for college.
All of my summers for 6 years were spent running the canyons around Moab – Westwater, Desolation, and Cataract Canyons, as well as a handful of trips through the Grand Canyon. The days were filled with rowing 6-7 hours, leading hikes, fixing meals, lifting a lot of heavy things, tying solid knots and entertaining around the campfire. It was an amazing way to spend the summers as well as a good way to stay in shape for school.
Rafting and dancing complimented each other. I graduated with a Dance Performance degree from BYU, specializing in Contemporary dance with an emphasis on choreography. While performing with the Dancers’ Company, I had the opportunity to tour across the nation and around the world, teaching and performing. These tours were filled with hard work and great joy and were a transformative period in my life.
I have also worked as an event planner. Everything from large convention events to intimate backyard parties. I love creating experiences that transport people somewhere magical. They should feel special because someone went to the effort to make it that way. I have a tendency to go overboard, but that trait has served me well (and I kind of like that about myself).
Over the last 30+ years, I have worked teaching dance, choreographing, performing, costuming, rowing, training, guiding, managing, selling, designing, buying, organizing, representing, marketing, serving, creating, building, gardening, and best of all mothering three amazing humans and adventuring with best friend and most inspirational person I know, my husband, Brian.
In May of 2023, our family purchased the Viking Yurt. Our first season has been full of adventure, humor, growth, excitement, and love. The learning curve has been steep. We have learned better how to communicate and compromise. It’s been full of incredibly hard work, but it’s also been overflowing with new friends, laughter, and gratitude. It has been truly heart-warming to experience the incredible support we’ve received from the community.
You ask what I am most proud of and what sets me apart from others. Nothing. I can’t say there is one specific thing I can single out. What I can say is that I am determined to live and love fearlessly, say yes, and show up.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t know if I believe in luck.
I believe in taking all of the information you have and making the best possible decisions based on that information. Then, navigate the results (positive or negative) as best you can with your new knowledge and experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: VikingYurt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vikingyurt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VikingYurt/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-viking-yurt-park-city
