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North America > United States of America > Southwest (United States of America) > Utah > Canyon Country > Kanab

Kanab

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Main Street in Kanab.

Kanab is a small town in the Canyon Country region of the state of Utah, in the United States of America. It is famous for its past use as a backdrop for many famous western movies as well as a good base for exploring the surrounding area. It is also well known as the home of Best Friends Animal Society. Destinations within driving distance include Zion National Park and the north rim of the Grand Canyon as well as Las Vegas.

Understand

Get in

There is not a bus route or trail route going through Kanab, but there is a small airport. You can fly into Las Vegas (4-5 hour drive) or Salt Lake City (5+ hour drive) on the major airlines. Some commuter airlines serve St. George, Utah (2+ hour drive).

  • Kanab Airport, 2378 S. Hwy 89 A.

Get around

Walking to the shops and movie theatre on Main Street is a popular pastime for tourists. The "Gazebo" located on the church lawn, directly across the road from the theatre hosts live entertainment most summer nights. Walking down the road past most of the hotels is the Kane County Office of Tourism and next door is the Crescent Moon Theatre. The Adobe Fitness Center is across the highway from the theatre. Most things tourists want are right on the main road within walking distance.

See

Kanab Historic District

  • 1 - The one story, brick Sixtus Johnson House was built in a 1891 brick house. Johnsons, grandfather discovered Zion Canyon in 1858.
  • 2 - The Victorian style Heritage House was the home of the 1855 school teacher, Bowman. The Heritage House is on the National Register and has been restored as it was when first built and relics from the past adorn the walls. Summer Tours: 9-12 and 1-5PM daily.
  • 3 - The unique Rider-Pugh House was built in 1892.
  • 4 - Another Pugh Home, this one built in 1906 using the stone of his father's home for the foundation. Edward Pugh was the man who built the first rock house outside of Fort Kanab.
  • 5 - The Lewis Jepson Home had one of the only two bathtubs in town. That home had to be the envy of all. Jepson built the first movie picture theatre in Kanab. That building was the Wok Inn and is now a western restaurant.
  • 6 - The Bowman & Co. Building (97 W. Center St./ HWY 89) was a Kanab's original mercantile is one of the oldest standing buildings in town. Built in 1892, by H.E.Bowman & Co., the building has housed a bank (the safe was installed in 1902), a Post Office, a general store (the upstairs was added in the 20's), an ice cream shop, an Italian restaurant and a pawn shop. Since April 2000, the building has been home to The Rocking V Cafe, an eclectic American bistro, serving lunch and dinner to locals and tourists from all over the world. The Rafters Gallery is upstairs displaying local art & the original rough sawn, full dimension lumber that makes up the support for the roof. Notice the safe at the back of main floor dining room and the walls of original adobe brick.
  • 7 - The 1929 built Kanab Hotel is now Terry's Camera Trading Company. Many old time movie stars spent their nights in the lodging.

Do

  • Kane County Office of Tourism. The visitor center is located right on the main street. Besides travel info they have a lot of information on movies filmed in the Kanab area. 
  • Grand Staircase-Escalante Visitor Center. 
  • Western Legends Round-up. Be a cowboy for a weekend. 
  • Best Friends Animal Society. The Nation's largest sanctuary (~3,800 acres and 1,500-2,000 animals at any given time) for companion animals including dogs, cats, bunnies, birds, horses, donkeys, mules, goats, pigs, and a few others. This is a remarkable place that will impress any pet lover. You can visit and take tours through the facilities seven days a week, reservations may be needed. They have accommodations for overnight stays, reservations need to be made well in advance, and opportunities for you to work as a volunteer in the animal areas, volunteer commitments can be as short as 1/2 day or less. 
  • Greyhound Gathering. 
  • Kanab Heritage House. 
  • Little Hollywood Movie Museum, 297 W. Center St (look for the big white horse at the end of Center Street), ☏ +1 435 644-5337. March–November daily 9AM-9PM; call ahead for winter hours. Exhibits a collection of actual movie sets as the centerpiece of its exploration of how the sleepy little town of Kanab became the back lot for movies like The Outlaw Josey Wales, Planet Of The Apes and Stagecoach, and a haunt for Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra, John Wayne, Charleton Heston, Clint Eastwood and more recently, Kiefer Sutherland and Willem Dafoe. The museum is set behind Frontier Movie Town, a large gift shop with tourist souvenirs. Free. 

Buy

Main Street shops in Kanab.

Kanab is a good place to stock up on supplies for camping. There are two small grocery stores, several c-stores and a sporting goods store just off the main road.

  • Nature's Showcase, 288 West Center. A fun rock shop. It pays to hunt amongst the knickknacks to find the special rocks and items that come from local sources. They have a good selection of local raw materials for cutting, polishing, or tumbling. 
  • Denny's Wigwam. Located on the main street, and one of the largest gift stores in town. 
  • The Mayor's House. Unique and worth the visit. (when it's actually open!) 

Eat

  • Escobars, 373 East 300. Mexican Restaurant. Best food in town at a great price. This family owned restaurant is not much to look at but its a locals favorite. 
  • The Rocking V Cafe, 97 W. Center St. (HWY 89) offers top-class cuisine in small-town Kanab - right on Kanab's historic Main Street. From Buffalo and seafood to eclectic vegetarian dishes, they have something for everyone. The Rafters Gallery upstairs displays all sorts of interesting local art for sale, or just to view. This is another favorite with the locals because of the unique food offered. Open 7 days a week during the "season" (mid-April - mid November) 
  • Houston's. 32 East Center, is a comfortable, family friendly restaurant with good American food. The servers sling pistols along with house-aged beef and their famous chicken fried steak, so be nice. 
  • Nedra's Too. 310 South 100 East, is a Southwestern restaurant that specializes in Arizona Style cooking. Their Navajo Taco is a great regional dish that is kind of like a tostada served on Navajo flat bread. 
Grandma Tina's Restaurant on Main Street in Kanab
  • Grandma Tina's Italian Restaurant, 198 South 100 East. American style restaurant serving breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner 
  • Junction Drive-In, 185 East 300 South (next door to Mc Donalds). Family owned Drive-In serving fast foods. 
  • Parry Lodge Restaurant, 89 East Center St. A historic hotel and restaurant. American style family restaurant serving breakfast, lunch & dinner. Noted as the eating place of the stars. 
  • Lotsa-Motsa Pizza (Across the road from Mc Donalds). 
  • Linda Lea's, 4 East Center. An Espresso Cafe serving baked goods, made in house from scratch! The only homemade crossiant for miles! They usually have a special drink each month that is of an interesting concoction that is very delicious! they are open at 7 and close around 2. 

Drink

Of course, you're not going to Kanab for the nightlife, but if you're ready to belly-up, head across the border on 89 to the Buckskin Tavern in Fredonia (Arizona), "the longest bar in Arizona," and the only bar for miles. The Rocking V also has cocktails.

There is a state liquor store in town, located next the police station and across the road from the Kane County Tourism Center.

Sleep

Historic Parry Lodge on Main Street

Kanab has a variety of accommodations from ranches and western-motif B&Bs to Holiday Inn and Super 8 Motels. Most of the hotels are located on the main road, Highway 89.

Go next

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Visitor Center in Kanab

Kanab lies in the southern reaches of Canyon Country in Utah. Here are some of the nearby highlights:

Other attractions in the area include:

  • Pipe Spring National Monument. To the southwest in Arizona, on US-89A and SR-389. A Mormon settlement at a spring in the middle of the desert.
  • The North Rim of the Grand Canyon, which sees far fewer visitors than the South Rim. South of Kanab on US-89A and SR-67.
Routes through Kanab
Richfield ← Mount Carmel Junction ←  N  S  → Grand Staircase-Escalante Nat'l Mon. → Page
END ←  N  S  → Fredonia → Bitter Springs



This city travel guide to Kanab is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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