Everything at This New Utah Hotel Is Tailored for Dogs—Humans Are Welcome Too (Video)

Forget everything you thought you knew about dog-friendly hotels (at least most of them). Starting this November, there’s a fresh standard in town. The Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile has set the bar exceptionally high for competing venues. But for our furry friends, especially dogs and even cats, there’s finally a haven where they’re not just accepted, but celebrated.

“Is that a Leonberger?” the receptionist inquired while checking us in. She even stepped around the counter to shower my 10-month-old Leonberger puppy, Wilco, with affection. I was taken aback. Ninety-nine percent of people don’t recognize the breed (essentially a mix of Newfoundland and St. Bernard). But as I would soon discover, this is Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile — a true outlier. Unlike the other “dog-friendly” hotels I’ve visited that impose stringent rules—such as not leaving your pet alone in the room, imposing weight and breed restrictions, and banning off-leash fun—this place is different.

This brand-new 40-room hotel in Kanab, Utah—located on the eastern fringe of Zion National Park—does away with typical restrictions. Instead, it offers free crate rentals for those times you need to leave your pet alone in the room. The accommodations include built-in dog houses and slide-out beds spacious enough for Wilco, who tips the scales at 105 pounds. If you're traveling with a pit bull or another breed often misunderstood, rest assured that Best Friends Animal Society, the hotel’s owner, has a history of rescuing dogs, including 22 of the former fighting dogs from quarterback Michael Vick’s case.

The hotel also provides free shuttles to the Best Friends Animal Society sanctuary, just five miles away. Guests can volunteer, savor a $5 vegan buffet lunch, and even take an animal back to the Roadhouse for a sleepover. If the sanctuary looks familiar, it’s because it was featured in National Geographic’s series DogTown from 2008 to 2010. This no-kill shelter is also home to Cat World, housing over 1,500 rescued animals, including horses, rabbits, birds, and more.

In fact, the large portrait above my bed in room 111 depicted Paco, a parrot who was taken from the jungle. After enduring several unfortunate homes, he found refuge at the sanctuary, where he regained his health. According to the plaque in our room, he can sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Wilco and I didn’t get to meet Paco. However, in the mercantile where a complimentary vegan continental breakfast is served each morning, we encountered Lady, a shy husky mix adopted by a Las Vegas family we enjoyed chatting with. We also bumped into Boulder, a bulldog of some sort, and his dapper Chihuahua companion on our way to the on-site dog park. The hotel features two dog parks—one for small breeds and another large enough for 101 Dalmatians. Every detail, from the “slurp” doggie water fountains to the two-door room entries designed to thwart escape artists, to the gravel (to prevent hot paws on pavement), is thoughtfully tailored for dogs.

“Pet-centric” perfectly describes the approach at Best Friends. When I asked Julie, a staff member with a Great Pyrenees I’m eager to meet, if I could bring a bunny from the sanctuary back for a sleepover, she happily replied, “Sure.” Since the hotel is newly opened, they just need to put down something like a yoga mat to protect the floor from any bunny nibbling. However, sleepovers are only allowed if you’re not traveling with your own pet. Sorry, Wilco!

Even without a pet, I would choose to stay here. With its cozy wood tones, throw blankets, and soft lighting (offering three different settings), our room radiated hygge. Takeout menus, channel lists, and other typical printed materials are conveniently accessible on a sleek in-room tablet. There are no plastic-wrapped cups or tiny shampoo bottles in the bathroom, which features stylish sliding barn-style doors. Even the ice bucket in our kitchenette—complete with cutlery and cookware that I’d use in my own home—was elegant enough to grace an Easter table.

Wilco was provided with dog dishes, hooks by the door for his leash, and two comfy dog beds. Additionally, the property features rooms tailored for cats, complete with window perches, cat-proof blinds, elevated light fixtures, and the essential litter box. There’s even a pet-free room available for guests with allergies. The two-story accommodations can host up to eight people, or 12 if you bring along the four permitted pets per room. Plus, almost anything you might forget to pack—for yourself or Fido—can be found at the mercantile. I think this was Wilco’s first store visit (other than PetSmart).

The one spot Wilco didn’t enjoy was the indoor pet-washing station. It’s complimentary for guests and stocked with nearly everything a professional groomer would need. Next door is the guest laundry, which is also free. I felt a bit guilty doing a large load without spending a fortune on Tide, Shout, and Bounce dryer sheets. But that’s free as well.

However, the rooms aren’t free. Rates start at $109 per night and vary seasonally. The property aims to use its profits to help end animal euthanasia in U.S. shelters by 2025 and is ideally located within the Grand Circle. Within 100 miles in any direction, you’ll find a national park (like the Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce Canyon) or a national monument (such as Grand Staircase-Escalante).

But you don’t need to visit a national park to justify a stay at Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile. This place is worth a 10-hour flight (or, in our case, a 10-hour drive from Montana). The only downside? If you bring your dog, he might be spoiled for life. How do I explain to Wilco that not every dog-friendly hotel offers treats at check-in?