You’ll Love Visiting Thunderbird Restaurant, A Utah Restaurant Loaded With Local History

Utah has no shortage of quaint, small-town diners. None of them, however, feature ‘ho-made pies’ like Thunderbird Restaurant. Opened in 1940 and part of the Thunderbird Resort that includes a Best Western hotel, golf course, and RV park, Thunderbird Restaurant oozes mid-20^th century charm and has been a favorite stop for travelers to Zion National Park – only 15 minutes to the west – for decades.

The restaurant’s history starts with Jack and Fern Morrison driving down Highway 89 in their Model T. Stopping near where a new road would connect Zion National Park with the highway, they thought the land at the intersection would be valuable. They purchased 160 acres and built a small cabin and a gas station. Soon enough, Fern was baking pies and serving tourists and passing truck drivers. They opened the Thunderbird Restaurant in 1940 to expand the pie operation.

The restaurant’s sign advertises ‘ho-made pies.’ Wood was scarce during WWII and Jack didn’t have a sign big enough to write the whole word. The name stuck and the family ownership continues to celebrate its quirkiness.

As the restaurant grew more successful, they added more improvements and menu items. Today, Thunderbird Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The menu is vast, with hot and cold sandwiches, burgers, steak, and even seafood.

And of course, there are still ‘ho-made’ pies. There are five varieties and you can buy them by the slice or by the whole pie.

The dining room remains decidedly old-school, with wood-paneling, unfussy tables and chairs, and memorabilia celebrating the classic road trip out west.

The ‘ho-made’ pin-up girl, modeled after Fern, is a prevalent fixture throughout the premises.

Jack passed away in 1961. To more firmly establish her hold on the land, Fern built a golf course and hotel on the land as more visitors stopped by. The hotel is now part of the Best Western chain.

Don’t forget about the gift shop, which features a large selection of souvenirs and apparel celebrating the culture and nature of Southern Utah.

Thunderbird Restaurant is open 7 a.m.-10 p.m. and is closed on Wednesdays.

What other historic diners do you love in Utah? Or do you have another favorite stop by Zion National Park? Share in the comments!