Partner Highlights Blog:
Carbon County

Last month members of the Community Partner Relations team and other state partners got to do what they love most, spend time with partners in the place they call home. September’s two-day partner tour in Carbon County was hosted by Tina Grange and greatly complimented by her community partners. Our time was focused on connections with both the county’s history and future endeavors in their visitor economy.  

Monday started on the charming and historical mainstreet of Helper, which has become home to multiple art studios and galleries. We began with Mayor Peterman at the Beg, Borrow and Steele Art Co., a unique combination of gift shop and gallery where the original art of Ben Steele is made available in many forms. We continued down the beautifully lit mainstreet to the recently restored and reimagined Newhouse Hotel, where history meets modern in its elegant design.  For dinner we enjoyed delicious pizza at Helper Beer. We ended the night with a close up look of stars, nebulas and even Saturn through a multitude of different telescopes, learning from and laughing with the local volunteer group Helper’s Dark Sky Observers.

Tuesday was spent exploring the heart and soul of Carbon county’s sacred Nine Mile Canyon with the passionate and knowledgeable guide (and city councilman), Layne Miller. As we stopped at each well-preserved prehistoric pictograph and petroglyph site, we listened to stories of ancient tribes as well as early soldiers in the area. The sacred nature of the area was evident as Layne repeated the words of his dear friend from the Ute tribe, “Just make sure they have the same thing in their heart that you have in yours.” Thank you so much to Carbon County for connecting us to the place you live and love! For more stories about Nine Mile Canyon and other Carbon County gems, you can visit TravelStorys.