Real Estate

Change.  It’s a small word, yet for many the expression spikes our adrenaline and causes our hearts to beat quickly with fear or excitement. Whatever our personal response, this fact remains: nothing is meant to stay the same forever. As intelligent beings, we crave improvement and progression; we long for that something just out of reach and are willing to work hard for it  — even if it takes decades to achieve. For the past 162 years, the area we now call the Wasatch Back has been in a constant state of change.…

As you open the front door you are met with the intoxicating smell of old leather and the feeling you’ve stepped back in time. The vintage cowboy regalia is everywhere; it’s hard to take it all in at first. Your eyes jump from old photographs and antique saddles to vintage slot machines and timeworn spurs. You’ve probably driven past Tom’s Cabin at the foot of Memorial Hill in Midway many, many times. The old cabin looks like a prop from a Western movie, but inside is trove of real cowboy and Native American…

Real estate prices in the Heber Valley continue to climb like never before. Just before the great recession of 2007, home prices spiraled up until the housing market bubble burst — leaving many property owners scrambling to pay one or more mortgages on their portfolio of real estate assets. Since around 2010, real estate values have steadily increased until the point where property values are equal to and even greater than they were before the recession. A thriving real estate market in the Heber Valley presents both…

“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…

Off-grid living. Those words often conjure up visions of people like Grizzly Adams, living off the land in a one-room log cabin with their bear bestie Ben, completely cut off from civilization. For some, that sounds like heaven — for others, not so much. The beauty of off-grid living is that it can look like whatever you want it to look like, from a tiny house deep in the woods to a dream home just off the beaten path — the sky’s the limit. Beards and bears are optional. Going “off-grid” simply means not being…

It’s no secret that the Heber Valley is positioned for continued growth. Looking at the big picture, that growth may be in the hands of our planners and city and county officials, as well as zoning and influx. However, I wanted to learn from those on the ground — from the people who are literally building and designing our communities every day. To explore where we are heading with design and building trends in the valley, and to learn the inspirations and advice from those on the forefront of building our…

How much of our future will be about preserving our past? With all the hustle and bustle that comes with a growing community, it’s easy to lose sight of what got us here in the first place. An old building is torn down to make way for something “bigger and better.” Historic homes are replaced with fancy new ones, and our attentions turn as quickly as the seasons change to the newest neighborhood or hot spot. Growth is a double-edged sword, but luckily, we live in a community with a dedication to preserving our past.…

1892 – Present One of the most beautiful historic buildings in Wasatch County is located at 81 East Center Street in Heber. Over the decades, it has been a private residence, a bank and a real estate sales office. The building’s official name is the Abram Hatch House; however, most local residents remember it as the old Zions Bank building. Abram Hatch was a local businessman and farmer who also served in various leadership positions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. From 1864 to 1867 Hatch…

At first glance, interior design might seem superficial and fairly unimportant, but the truth is that we are all deep into the design process on some level. Not only is our living space a functional artistic expression, it’s also our default inspiration board for life. We interact with our homes on a daily basis. They influence our alignment, our mood and our aspirations. As we are learning more and more just how affected we are by the energy of our mental and emotional environment, it’s easy to forget that…

Wasatch High School’s football stadium, with its black and gold seats, elevated press boxes and entrance tunnel, is impressive — but not as impressive as the two men it is named for. Dan Wright and Ron Tree were two of the greatest teachers and coaches who have ever served and mentored the students and athletes of Wasatch County. A building usually showcases peoples’ names either because they’ve accomplished something memorable or they’ve contributed substantial amounts of money to its creation or renovation. In this…

Every morning I walk outside to fresh mountain air and fog resting on still water. I pass a field of cows grazing in a green pasture. I drive by Judith’s bookstore in Midway where I know her cat is sleeping by a fire. Every morning I roll down Midway’s Main Street and wonder what growth is to come. I grew up in the Bay Area and Austin, Texas, then spent transient years in both Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. I’m used to waiting in day-long lines at the DMV and driving for hours in traffic just to get downtown. The Heber…

Wasatch County is currently the fourth-fastest growing county in the nation. How will we protect our current rural feel, uninterrupted vistas and quality of life as we grow? Traffic, air and water quality, preserving historic agricultural lands and resisting suburban sprawl are high on the priority lists of many local residents.

The Heber Valley was built on the blood, sweat and tears of pioneers. The evidence of that hard work can be seen in the historic structures that dot its landscape today. These buildings give us a glimpse of what life was like before we got here and, if preserved, will continue to tie our future to our past.

My grandmother loved to tell stories about the “beautiful Heber Valley.” Many of her tales, however, centered around one landmark, the Bank Block building.

The Tate Barn was restructured to stand as an iconic representation of the Heber Valley’s agricultural history as it was introduced to the world during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

The secret is out on the Heber Valley. The growth is happening and we are going to get one shot at doing this right in our own respective lifetimes.

Hundreds of Wasatch County residents put on their swimsuits and hit the water as the long-awaited Aquatic Center opened in June.

Experience the history and nostalgia of the Avon and Ideal Theatres for yourself. Movies are shown nightly changing every few weeks. In addition, a 100th celebration of the Ideal Theatre is being planned for 2018.