Two Sunsets Hotel held its grand opening on Saturday, May 27, in downtown Panguitch. Between 30 and 40 local residents attended the open house to tour the hotel and enjoy refreshments.
Owners Roger Kaspar and his wife, Ruth Henrie Kaspar, purchased the 24-room hotel in early 2020 and put the historic building through extensive renovations during the pandemic. As renovations endured some supply chain issues, the Kaspars were able to open in a phased approach over a year ago but have now finished the lobby and the drive passage into the back parking area, which is covered.
The driveway passage has also seen a huge facelift with a new mural painted by artist Patti Lewis of Virgin, Utah. The mural is a composite scene of nearby Red Canyon.
Previously the site of the old historic Panguitch Inn was the location of a blacksmith, car dealership (1930s), bowling alley, and a sewing factory.
Roger and Ruth also run the Panguitch Gem Theater across the street, which was another renovation of a historic Panguitch building. Panguitch Mayor Kim Soper congratulated the Kaspars on their newest venture, saying that the renovation plays well into the city’s plans for improving Main Street.
Roger explained the hotel’s new name — as he said, Panguitch enjoys two sunsets each day: first as the sun actually sets in town, followed by the sunset on Mount Dutton to the east after the evening sunshine lights the red canyons ablaze.
– The Byway
Feature image caption: Two Sunsets Hotel owner Roger Kaspar talks to a crowd at the hotel’s grand opening about the history of the newly-renovated building (May 27, 2023).