Thunderbird Resort

A roadside stop between Bryce and Zion that earns a second dinner visit.

(8)

Orderville, UT

About

Orderville sits right on US-89, roughly halfway between Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion, and Thunderbird Resort fills that gap well. It's a full-service stop: gas, a convenience store, lodging, and a sit-down restaurant that's worth more than a quick fuel break.

The dining room is where people keep coming back. The Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich with sweet potato fries gets mentioned by name, and so does the Teriyaki Chicken. Save room for dessert. The Strawberry Rhubarb pie has its fans, and the dessert menu in general seems to be a genuine strong point here.

Service is personal in the way small-town spots tend to be. Staff like Jason, Nick, Ambrianna, and Lloyd come up by name in guest experiences, which tells you something about how the place is run. It's the kind of stop where someone actually talks to you about the menu instead of just taking your order.

The rooms are spacious and well-stocked, which makes Thunderbird a solid overnight option for anyone doing the Bryce-to-Zion corridor. You're about an hour from each park, so it works as a midpoint base if you want to split the drive.

Even if you're not staying, it's worth pulling off the highway for a meal. Hikers passing through on US-89 have made it a two-night dinner habit. That's a decent endorsement for a roadside restaurant in a town most people drive straight through.

Amenities

Dine-In

Reviews (8)

See all on Google

4.6

8 reviews

Google Reviews

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Bruce Fry

a month ago

Pie and coffee excellent! I got the tart cherry pie and my wife got the coconut cream pie. The crust was perfect!

Melanie Burton

2 months ago

Gordon, Nick, and all the personnel at the Thunderbird Hotel are so helpful, welcoming, and professional. The rooms are nice, clean, and updated. We look forward to seeing them each time our family travels down to southern Utah. This has become a go to spot for us several times a year. 10 stars out of 5!

Michael Hignite

3 months ago

Most of them are lovely humans. However, when I tried correcting a cook who was wiping his hands on his backside, running his fingers through his hair then touching food. I got told Im just starting drama. If I described it to any professional, exactly what he did would be automatic termination anywhere else. If you see a tall guy named John working that kitchen, I wouldnt eat. Sorry you guys, but it is not dramatic to care about food safety and to respect the food we handle for our fellow humans. Be Better

John Skotnik

a year ago

Great restaurant with fantastic desserts! Jason took fantastic care of us and recommended the Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich. I got it and was very happy with it and the sweet potato fries. My wife loved the Teriyaki Chicken. The kids were very happy with their meals as well. We had the Strawberry Rhubarb pie and the Hot Apple Pie with Buttered Rum Sauce, both were fantastic! The kids split a Carmel Mountain Sundae - Jason even got it split into separate bowls for them (which was a big win for the kids).

Gisselle Granados

a year ago

First time visiting Utah and had a complete amazing experience. On the last day visiting Utah, I unfortunately left my phone on the resort of Thunderbird. But I was able to get two honest people over the phone that was Mr. Jason and Nick, and they were able to find my phone. I Spoke with both of them and they were super helpful, caring and kind. Very, very understanding of my situation. They both deserve to be recognized with one of the as best qualities of an employers Thunderbird resort has, the most luckiest employees. I Would love to come back again to visit.