Noni Henderson 17 posts 0 comments

Whether you’ve lived in Heber your whole life or are new to our community, you probably know that The Hub is a beloved local treasure, and has been for nearly a century. Originally built in 1933, The Hub has seen a few owners and a whole lot of history, but it has always belonged to the town of Heber. The fresh paint, wood, and leather scents greet me as I walk into the newly renovated Hub. I can imagine the welcoming aroma of pancakes, freshly brewed coffee, and French fries that all great restaurants have. The main…

“A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe This quote is Katrina Berg’s favorite. The German poet’s words apply perfectly to Katrina’s thick, oil paint art pieces that she creates on wood while in her Midway studio. You may already be acquainted with Katrina and her work, but if you’ve never had the joy of coming across…

You might have already visited and loved the new Milk House at the Homestead Resort but in case you haven’t, allow me to describe it to you. The Homestead Resort has been a unique and beloved property in Utah since it opened in 1891 as a hotel and saloon built by Swiss immigrants Simon and Maria Schneitter. Fast forward to today and fans of the resort will be delighted to learn that the new owners have already begun an upgraded vision to the entire property while still maintaining the nostalgic, original feel of the…

2023 is the year of the rabbit. And that’s no coincidence for Ania Gorkiewicz-Sullivan as her masterpiece cake creations are truly hoppin’ this year! For years, the Heber Valley had little to no options when it came to a custom-order, made-from-scratch cake bakery. That is, until a handful of talented bakers made their way to our valley and brought a bit of extra sweetness with them. Ania (Ahn-ya) Gorkiewicz-Sullivan with Hungry Bunny is one of several bakers that have recently opened up shop here in our valley;…

When you visit Lost Treasures for the first time, it can be surprising that a store this size could hold so many different items all under the same roof.  Browsing in the unique kitchen items, hard-to-find phone accessories, and a generous sized kids section, you soon realize: this is not an ordinary store but a unique shopping experience full of things you didn’t know you needed. Lost Treasures opened almost three years ago by longtime friends who reconnected in the Heber Valley and decided to open a business together.…

If you haven’t been into the new Twisted Sugar shop at 458 North Main Street in Heber, it definitely needs to be your next stop. Once you read this, go try it for yourself, but don’t be surprised if you’re tempted to stop in multiple times a week. Twisted Sugar is a gourmet cookie shop with over 20 different flavors of cookies made from scratch, fresh, every day. They have over 100 fun drink flavors for their specialty sodas. If you don’t find what you want on the menu — no worries — you can create your own. They also sell…

If you love buying local products and supporting our small business economy — you should visit 2 Farmboys. This wonderful family-owned and operated goat farm and soap-making company is located right here in our talent-filled valley. 2 Farmboys Soap is created in a ‘soap shed’ in small batches on the Cummings farm in Heber. The business sold its very first family-made, goat milk soap at a local market in 2016 and has been selling and growing steadily ever since. The Cummings family includes; JR, Colleen, Wyatt, and Kash.…

If You’re Skating On Thin Ice, You Might As Well Dance! Anita Shreve When all the leaves have fallen, the gardens put to rest, and frost starts to sparkle our mornings; some might lament the coming of winter. However, others look forward to this time of year for one special reason — the Midway Ice Rink is ready to open. Visitors who come to Midway often say they come for the magical, quaint, small-town feel. Midway draws visitors and locals alike with its lively town square, plenty of incredible restaurants and shops…

“Laid back luxury for lifestyle and home” is the statement Beljar has listed as their home decor shop’s description but when you walk through the doors of the local Heber shop, you quickly find out its meaning runs much deeper than that. Opening their doors in April 2020, owners Aimee Simpson and Desiree Ashworth had no idea what to expect in a time when the whole world was shutting down and no one knew what was on the horizon. To say they took a risk and opened full of hope, would be an understatement. They stuck…

When Heber City Main Street’s Tabernacle Was Facing Demolition, a Community Banded Together to Protect Their Heritage. As a resident of this beautiful valley, and an admirer of anything local, I have a deep appreciation for all the history we share and all the beautiful, historical buildings and homes that are still standing. One of my favorite buildings is the Heber City Hall, or as it was originally known, The Wasatch Stake Tabernacle. As I gaze at or walk its corridors, I find it easy to wonder about the past. If only…

TURNING DREAMS INTO REALITY WITH THE HELP OF THE COMMUNITY

By Noni Henderson Driving along Casperville Road, you may notice the eye-catching memorabilia on display and wonder what exactly you are seeing. On this back road is a unique treasure trove of antiques, each with a story full of memories, history, and knowledge of our incredible valley, you likely won’t find anywhere else. It was a gusty, freezing spring morning when I stopped at John Besendorfer’s Casperville Road Museum, as he calls it. I had dressed warmly, knowing that once we started the tour, there would be so much…

If you’ve ever driven around the northwestern end of Heber, you may have noticed several sandstone markers displayed at the corners of 100 West 500 North, 100 West 100 North, 300 West 500 North, and 300 West 100 North, that mark the location of Fort Heber. Perhaps in your hustle to Smith’s Marketplace, you’ve wondered at the monument in front of the store. Whether you’re a long time resident or a newcomer, you’ve probably read the brief summaries of Heber’s history. As usual, there is always more to the story once you look…

“It looks as though all nature was kind to me and that even the trees smiled.” – Johannes Huber One of the first orchards in the Heber Valley, the Huber Grove began as a 160-acre family homestead. Built by Swiss immigrant and one of Midway’s founding fathers Johannes Huber, the historic Huber house and creamery still stand today. Johannes and his wife Maria raised 10 children — five girls and five boys (including one who tragically died young) — in the single-story house located in what is now Wasatch…

Fall is here in our beautiful valley, and with the changing leaves come some pretty noticeable changes at Wildfire Smokehaus at the Zermatt Resort in Midway. Once mostly known for its finger-licking good wings, nachos and casual cowboy atmosphere, Wildfire is ready to be known for living up to the “smoke” in Smokehaus. “I’ve tried BBQ all over Utah and we are striving to be the best,” asserts Sam Phelan, Wildfire’s new executive chef. Hickory smoke now permeates almost every entrée on the new menu. “I’m…

If you’re ever driving east on Center Street in Heber and notice the cutest aqua and white retro trailer and cheerful garden, be sure to stop by. Inside the refurbished vintage trailer named “Frankie” you’ll find the sweet and welcoming owner of Fran’s Roots and Wings ready to inspire you with beautiful flowers, homemade items and lively conversation. An unexpected career change brought Fran Naffziger and her husband Royce to the Heber Valley. Even though Fran was heartbroken to leave her Montana home of over 40…

Whether you say “Wigg-lish” or “Wiggle-ish,” there’s no denying that Wigglish is a different kind of toy store. It is, in fact, Heber Valley’s only specialty toy store. Amy Schulthess learned about the wide world of imaginative and creative play while living in Paris, France, with her husband and two young children. After moving to the Heber Valley with her family, she saw the need for a great toy store in the area. So, she put her knowledge and love of special and unique toys to work. Quickly thereafter, Wigglish toy…