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Daily Inspiration: Meet Jennifer Harper & Brent Stout

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Harper & Brent Stout.

Hi Jennifer & Brent, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
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.”

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As each room is renovated, we add it to our website for convenient online booking.

The current challenge is, we purchased DRAGONFLY at the end of the season. Historically, the motor lodge is winterized every year and isn’t set up to stay open for the winter. With only 3 months of revenue, expenses for renovations, and no revenue for 4 months. Needless to say, we are feverishly working towards our reopening on March 1st.

As each room is renovated we add it to our Airbnb account. Every time we get a new booking it gives us a boost of excitement and a feeling of gratitude!

This is an exciting journey and we are embracing the ebb and flow of our new business.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Both Brent and I both have full-time jobs as we embark on our DRAGONFLY adventure. I own a hair salon in Kayenta Art Village in Ivins (St. George area). JENN Hair Artist. Brent is a Project Manager for a government contracting company and I would say he is an artist in communication and people relations. I enjoy listening to him skillfully communicate with difficult people and situations with ease.

With so much to see and explore in our area and the limited unique lodging experiences Southern Utah has to offer. We saw the need to create DRAGONFLY. A boutique motor lodge where travelers from all over the world use as a “Base Camp” while exploring Southern Utah’s picturesque outdoor playground, where there is too much to see and do in one day. We are a self-check-in property with a fresh renovation and a sixty-year old story. It is our pleasure to share our vintage, yet undeniably modern suites that can accommodate guests for a day, week, month or longer. All of our rooms are set up for extend stay with a mini fridge, microwave, tea, drip coffee and a set of dishes and extra linens. If our guests need more, we have rooms have kitchenettes. We can accommodate all travelers from single, couples and up to 6 guests in a room. We have guests that enjoy our rooms with two separate rooms so they can enjoy their own space.

We also wanted to create a sense of community so we shared our journey on Facebook & Instagram @dragonflylodging and encourage our guests to post their DRAGONFLY journey on instagram #dragonflyutah so we can enjoy their journey.

“Dragonfly wings create magic and dreamzz”. We are excited for your journey of a lifetime as you travel through our magical lands of Southern Utah.

All you have to do is choose a different place daily and explore!

What matters most to you?
What matters most to us is staying connected to one another and remembering we come first in this adventure.

Pricing:

  • Our rooms range from $125-$165

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Getty Images and Bryce Canyon

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