St George Thrives Insider Staff
Aug 5, 2026
Trivia Question❓At what elevation above sea level, in feet, does downtown St. George, Utah sit, making it one of the lowest-elevation cities in the state? Answer at the bottom of the newsletter |
When longtime cobbler Craig Adams unexpectedly died earlier this year, the future of his St. George shoe repair shop was uncertain. Hundreds of customer repairs sat unfinished, and a craft that had served the community for decades suddenly faced an uncertain future.
Today, the shop has a new name and a familiar face behind the workbench.
Formerly Adams Boot Repair, the business has reopened as Coyote Ridge Cobblers under the ownership of Adams' former apprentice, Megan Larsen, who spent five years learning the trade from him before taking over the business with her parents, Chris and Raquel Larsen.
Following Adams' death, legal proceedings temporarily forced the shop to close, leaving hundreds of customer repairs unfinished, Larsen said.
When the business officially reopened about a month ago under its new name, she said there were more than 300 repair projects waiting to be completed. The team continues working through the backlog while accepting new repair orders. Read More... |
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Quote Of The Day |
Success is not the place one arrives, but rather the spirit with which one undertakes and continues the journey. — Alex Noble |
Joke Of The Day |
A real estate agent in St. George, Utah was asked to describe the local market in one word.
She said, "Hot" — then clarified she was just answering the question about the weather, the housing prices, the summer, and her coffee. |
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In St. George, Utah, a playful family prank has blossomed into a thriving banana bread business that’s lighting up the local community.
What started with a banana-decorated car quickly became a venture fueled by hope and resilience.
When a local couple faced job loss and a new baby, they leaned on laughter and community support, transforming their makeshift kitchen into a bakery that churns out thousands of loaves each month.
Neighbors and friends rallied around them, giving the now-iconic banana-yellow van and its sweet treats a special place at city pop-ups and farmers markets.
For many locals, the brand means more than bread—it signals good vibes, perseverance, and their community’s warmth.
The banana bread family’s success is a testament that with heart and help, even unexpected beginnings can turn deliciously successful. Read More... |
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Mountain biking enthusiasts will soon have an exciting new place to ride as a brand-new trail park prepares to open in the Desert Color community this fall. Developed through a partnership between the Greater Zion Convention and Tourism Office, Desert Color, and the Utah Trust Lands Administration, the park is located north of State Route 7 and west of River Road. Construction is progressing well, and the new recreation area is expected to welcome riders later this year.
Designed with both local riders and visiting competitors in mind, the trail park will feature approximately six miles of mountain bike-optimized trails for beginning and intermediate skill levels. The course was created in collaboration with the Utah High School Cycling League and meets National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) racecourse standards, making it an ideal venue for youth mountain biking competitions and community cycling events.
The park will also include convenient parking and a dedicated event area capable of hosting races, festivals, and other outdoor gatherings. When organized events are not taking place, the trails will remain open to the public, providing residents and visitors with a year-round destination for recreation, fitness, and outdoor adventure. Read More... |
Tip of The Day |
Beat the Heat: Time Your Hike Around the "Thermal Window"
St. George sits in Utah's Mojave Desert corner, which means summer ground temperatures can scorch well past 110°F by midday. Instead of simply starting early, experienced locals target what hikers call the thermal window — the 90-minute stretch just after the canyon walls fall into shade but before the air loses its warmth entirely, typically around 6:30–8:00 a.m. on east-facing trails like those in Snow Canyon State Park.
During this window, you get soft light, cooler rock surfaces that won't radiate heat back at you, and more active wildlife. Check which direction your trail faces the night before, then set your start time accordingly rather than just leaving at a fixed hour.
As a bonus, carry a small spray bottle of water. Misting your forearms and the back of your neck triggers evaporative cooling almost instantly — more effective in St. George's dry air than drinking water alone for short-term temperature regulation. |
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Daylight Donuts in St. George, Utah is the perfect way to start your morning. Everything is baked fresh every single day, so you know you're getting a donut at its absolute best — not something that's been sitting around since yesterday. Conveniently located right off Bluff Street, it's an easy stop on your morning commute. Whether you're grabbing a donut and a fresh cup of coffee for yourself or picking up an office pack to be the hero of the workday, they've got you covered. You can even pre-order and build your own custom box — choose your favorites or let them surprise you with a randomized dozen. Just don't wait too long; they close when they sell out! |
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Secret Little Hack |
Beat the Heat at St. George's Hidden Lava Tubes
Most visitors bake on the red rock trails while locals slip into the natural lava tubes scattered through Snow Canyon State Park and the BLM land near the Lava Ridge Trail. These underground pockets maintain a temperature roughly 30 degrees cooler than the surface air, making them a perfect midday refuge when summer hits 110°F.
Park rangers rarely mention them on the standard trail maps, but if you ask specifically about collapsed lava flow features at the Snow Canyon visitor center, staff will quietly point you toward the short unmarked spur where several tubes are accessible.
The real insider move: arrive at these spots between noon and 2 p.m., exactly when everyone else retreats to air-conditioned casinos in Mesquite. You'll have the surreal black-rock landscape almost entirely to yourself, and the contrast of stepping out of a cool tube into blazing crimson desert light is genuinely one of the most dramatic sensory moments southern Utah can offer — no permit, no crowd, no fee beyond the standard park entry. |
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💡 Answer to Trivia Question: 2,860 feet |