Business owners in Piute County are facing a downturn in tourism dollars as the Cottonwood Fire continues to burn in Fishlake National Forest. While firefighters have made progress on the blaze, local entrepreneurs say the primary threat to their livelihoods is the public perception that the area is inaccessible.
Dan Groves, owner of Hoovers River Resort in Marysvale, stated that the wildfire has devastated summer tourism even though the community remains open and accessible.
According to Groves, images of smoke and wildfires across central Utah have caused many travelers to cancel their summer vacations. He noted that the Fourth of July period was fully booked but saw widespread cancellations.
Groves reported having only one customer at the resort since the fire started. This economic downturn follows two consecutive summers where major wildfires impacted the region. While the resort survived the first difficult season, Groves said he exhausted his savings last year and expressed uncertainty about how to proceed this year after providing refunds to customers.
Groves is encouraging travelers not to assume the area is off-limits, stating that Route 89 through Piute County remains open and that local restaurants and RV spots are safe and open for business.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched by the community to help keep the historic resort operating and to spread the message that Marysvale remains open.
