Stay in an Old Jail in Ephraim | Utah
- Taryn
- Mar 15
- 7 min read
I’ve been visiting Sanpete County in Utah ever since my sister started dating a guy from Manti back in the 1990’s. They eventually married and raised their children there. That’s what brought me, my hubby, and two teen girls to the area on a lovely weekend in September of 2024--my nephew was tying the knot with his gorgeous bride in a mountain ceremony.
So how did our family wind up in an old jail for such a happy occasion? Living far away in New Orleans makes a trip to this part of Utah a trek and we needed a place to stay since our other family members' homes in the area were full.
A few months before the wedding, I had booked a rental in Manti, but the hosts canceled a short time later because they had decided to sell the home. Well, that was a lucky thing for us! Once I started looking for accommodations in the area again, I stumbled upon the Old Jail in Ephraim. I love unique experiences, so I couldn’t have been more excited after discovering this historic gem.
I actually didn't tell my girls that we were going to stay in an old jail beforehand. I thought it would be an amusing surprise. On the drive from Salt Lake they asked if we were staying in one of the old pioneer homes we had rented before in Manti. Although I've enjoyed the stays in these homes, when my girls were younger they often thought they were a bit spooky. So, I told them it wasn’t a house we had been to before, but was another old place that had undergone a really cute renovation.
So, as we unloaded our luggage into the rental, my girls were unaware that it was formerly an old jail until I showed them "their room" in the basement--the cell with the bunk beds! My oldest was so polite, said nothing and just smiled. My youngest was less polite--she walked through the door of the cell, took one look, went right back out and up the spiral staircase. Okay, they were definitely happy to find the other bunk room on the main level. I would like to think that sleeping in a jail cell would have been more appealing to them as younger kids, but I guess there was always that spooky feeling they would get in old places.
BACKGROUND
As someone who has lived in New Orleans for over 20 years and loves the city's old charm and it's commitment to the preservation of historical buildings and neighborhoods, I really appreciate that the current owners, Ryan and Rachel Roos, saved this old jailhouse from demolition and lovingly restored it.
The building was constructed in the 1870s and housed the City Hall on the upper level and the jail in the basement. It served as a jail until the turn of the 20th century whereby it remained empty for decades until nearby Snow College accommodated a professor there beginning in the 1960s. Approaching 2020, the building was again empty and was at risk of being demolished for new development. That's when the Roos and additional family members stepped in to save it. To discover more about the Roos' story, check out this article from the Deseret News.
The Roos not only did a spectacular job restoring the jailhouse, but also are very welcoming hosts. Besides the information sheets in the home that included restaurant and local attractions, Rachel emailed during our stay to let us know about a special event going on that weekend at the Manti-Ephraim Airport, which really shows how they go the extra mile in making sure guests have an exceptional stay. Besides being a one-of-a-kind experience, the Roos hospitality explains why the jail is a guest favorite on airbnb,
THE SPACE
The Old Jail has been thoughtfully renovated to preserve its historical character and includes 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths. The building consists of a main floor with a living room, modern kitchen, dining nook, and triple-bunk room. The upstairs has a queen bedroom loft and a modern full bath. The basement where the jail was housed, now has one cell converted into a bunk room and the other into a rustic bathroom. The rest of the basement is a spacious game room with a card table in the middle. All floors are connected by a narrow spiral staircase. The property also includes a large and lovely outdoor space in the back.
MAIN LEVEL
Entering the building through the front door presents you with an airy and homey living room with high ceilings, large windows, and light wall color that all make it a delightful space. It has comfortable furniture, gorgeous wood floors, a view of the beautiful spiral staircase, and various Old West decor throughout. There is a charming piano that my daughter played as soon as we arrived. Yes, she played some of the cowboy songs from the songbook displayed.
As fantastic as it was to have the unique experience of spending the night in an old jailhouse, the modern amenities of the rental made it comfortable. The kitchen was beautifully renovated with lovely stonework, nice appliances, a stacked washer and dryer, a small island with stools, and a cozy dining nook. Adjacent to the kitchen and nook was the triple-bunk room at the back of the home, which my daughters were super excited to find as mentioned before.
LOWER LEVEL
Spiral staircases have always been intriguing to me and I associate them with old and enchanting buildings. This staircase is no exception and is stunning as it spirals between the levels and makes you feel like there are exciting things to discover up and down them. The staircase is narrow, so we did take our time using them.
When you step off the spiral staircase into the basement, you are greeted with an open game room with wood beams and exposed stone, which the latter continues throughout the rooms of the downstairs. The stone actually came from the same oolite limestone quarry that provided the stone for the construction of the Manti Temple. The exposed stone exudes authenticity downstairs and reminds you that it really was a jail at another time. It's quite the contrast from the cheerful and more modern living areas of the upstairs levels.
The first room you encounter off of the staircase is the cell that has been transformed into a cozy bunk room. Like the rest of the downstairs area, it has exposed stone and wood floors. The wooden door has a small window with bars and the room is sparse giving it the confining feel of a jail cell, however charming bedding on the bunks and the radiant light fixture are very welcoming.
The second room downstairs, consists of a cell converted into a bathroom with rustic features. The bathroom has an attractive clawfoot tub, a pedestal sink and a luminous vanity light. This room also has a wooden door with a window and bars like the bunk room, but has a panel that can be closed for privacy. My teens used this bathroom during our stay and it was perfect for them.
UPPER LEVEL
Climbing the staircase to the upper level, you are presented with a quaint loft that overlooks the living room. The simply-decorated space has a queen bed, spacious closet, and a wardrobe. The bedroom has an ensuite full bathroom with modern fixtures. The owners were thoughtful to install thick curtains along the loft bedroom, which were nice to close for both privacy and for blocking any early morning sunlight that enters the house. My husband and I slept well and were very comfortable in the loft.
OUTDOOR SPACE
The property comes with a large outdoor space in the back yard, but unfortunately we didn't have much time to enjoy it with our family obligations. The space has a lovely pergola with super comfy and relaxing lounge seating and an expansive grassy lawn.
THE DECOR
Exploring all the historical details in the home and admiring the Old West-themed decor, was one of the most enjoyable parts of our stay. The game room downstairs really demonstrated these features with its Western-style furniture and a wooden mantle displaying old glass bottles and a window box containing artifacts such a as a "peacemaker", a spur, and a Billy the Kid reward poster.
The game table brought to mind images of old time poker games being played by seedy characters. And the vintage horse collar harness with a lantern on the wall draws you to the framed photo of jail inmates posing with their jailers from long ago--a reminder about the original purpose of the cells in the basement.
As previously stated, the piano on the main level was popular with my daughter and we really appreciated the western-themed decor surrounding it. Many interesting framed historical documents adorn the walls on this level as well.
Additionally, the house displays a couple of intriguing art pieces, such as the Western-themed figures created on weathered wood by Western Americana artist Larry Nielson. You actually can't see any paint on the wood and the images seem to magically appear. They arise from the wood grains as Mr. Nielson captures, "The Spirit of the Wood." Visit Larry Nielson Art to learn more about his works.
As you can see, this little snail that my youngest named Hubert, really enjoyed his time in the Old Jail. We found him at a super cute shop called Spring City Mercantile in nearby Spring City, Utah. I definitely recommend a stop in this national historic district and it's less than 15 minutes away from Ephraim. You can explore the shops, art galleries, view the historic buildings and have a nice lunch.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Our family had a spectacular time staying at the Old Jail. We appreciated the unique experience while at the same time having the modern comforts that we rely on. The wonderful hospitality shown by the hosts was a real bonus! And to have teens who can be really hard to please and who aren't always impressed with Mom's adventures, actually say, "That was really cool, Mom!" --well, that is the best stamp of approval!
Ever stayed in a historical place like this before, please share your experiences in the comments.
RESOURCES
Historic Old West City Hall & Jail - on airbnb
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