Developer says he’s sensitive to Hurricane residents’ concerns about proposed Old West town

January 8, 2019 Utah Channel 3

ST. GEORGE — A Washington City developer who wants to build an Old West-style town as part of a mixed-use project in Hurricane that would also include hundreds of new homes said he is mindful of concerns over traffic, noise and light pollution.

Jim Thomas, a Washington City resident for 11 years, is seeking a zoning change for the 340-acre parcel to accommodate his proposed “Lost Trails at the Cove.” The property is located north of 600 North, at approximately 2000 West.

The development would include an Old West town filled with shops and restaurants, a wedding chapel, Spanish gardens, equestrian center, an indoor dinner show with 1,200 seats, hotel, RV park and daily entertainment.

Thomas told St. George News it’s been a dream of his for 10 years, and he’s done a similar project in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

“We want to bring that experience down here,” he said.

When speaking to the City Council last month, Thomas described the development as being a “family-friendly Disney-style project.”

A concept drawing of the old western town for the proposed Lost Trails at the Cove project in Hurricane, Utah | Image courtesy of project manager Larry Juarez, St. George News

He said he was inspired by the quality and ambiance that comes from experiences at Disneyland, but the project doesn’t have a connection to the Walt Disney Company.

“We don’t want to do a winky dinky little town that has empty stores and false fronts,” he said. “This is going to be an active town with about 25 shops, three restaurants, including the dinner show.”

The town square will feature entertainment ranging from shootouts to horse action and music, and will have wagons to ferry people from the parking lot to the town.

Thomas said it will not be a theme park.

Project manager Larry Juarez estimates the town itself will cost $28 million. That price doesn’t include the residential development.

Hurricane residents have expressed concerns about the development, particularly residents from Sky Mountain Communities, which surrounds Sky Mountain Golf Course and is next to the proposed development. Those concerns include increased traffic, noise, light pollution and crime.

Thomas said he and his development team understand and are sensitive to what the community wants.

Because the development would also have between 500 and 600 homes surrounding the Old West town, noise and light shouldn’t be a problem, Thomas said. The shootouts would use low-noise weapons and ammunition, like cap guns.

He also said the town would be on the opposite side of a volcanic cone in the development, so most residents of Sky Mountain shouldn’t hear or see construction occurring.

Finally, he said the project would increase – not decrease – nearby property values.

Thomas plans to unveil more details at the Hurricane Planning Commission meeting Thursday at 6 p.m. The commission is accepting public comments at the meeting.

“Hurricane is an Old West town, and they still have a cowboy flare there, so I think it fits right in,” Thomas said.

Email: mheckenliable@stgnews.com

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