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The author sitting on the porch of the Gold Gulch Mining Cabin at the Moore's Old Pine Inn in Marysvale.

Courtesy Lynn R. Blamires

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In front of the original Pines Hotel, now the Moore's Old Pine Inn in Marysvale.

Courtesy Lynn R. Blamires

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Marysvale started its existence as a mining town when two prospectors found gold in Bullion Canyon in 1869. In addition to being a gold rush town, Marysvale was a railroad town, serving as the last stop on the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. Even when the gold rush petered out, the city of Marysville found ways to attract outside investment, keeping some residents in the area. Visitors found their needs met, and the city was able to remain stable, avoiding the fate of becoming a mining ghost town.

The Pines Hotel was built in 1882. It was a practical structure that catered to the needs of both temporary guests and regular customers. The Pines provided a haven for railroad staff, businesspeople, and individuals in transition, who sought to establish permanent residences there.

For almost 102 years, the Pines Hotel served the community of Marysville. Two famous people are associated with the hotel: Butch Cassidy and Zane Grey, the renowned writer. A sister of Cassidy had a best friend who operated the hotel’s telephone switchboard. She knew him well and claimed that she saw him in the dining room of the hotel after he was supposed to have died in Bolivia. Zane Grey wrote “Riders of the Purple Sage” while staying at the Inn. He was more comfortable in a town with fewer members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His dislike for the church showed in his writings.

In 1994, Randy and Katie Moore purchased the hotel and embarked on a two-year project to restore and renovate the inn, meticulously preserving its rich past. The inn features original furniture and antiques from the late 1800s, and transoms above the doors are still in place.

They changed the name to Moore’s Old Pine Inn Bed and Breakfast. Each room in the Inn has its own theme and name. You can book ahead and choose one of these rooms based on your mood. They include the Hitchin’ Post Suite, an Indian Suite, Miner’s Suite, Betsy Ross Room, Fishin’ Hole Room, Hunter’s Lodge, and Zane Grey Room.

In the spring of 2003, eight cabins were added to meet the increasing demand for rooms at the Old Pine Inn. They were built to resemble an old Western town, fitting the western flair of the Inn. The cabins feature a boardwalk, and each room is decorated with a unique theme and name. The themes of these cabins are Gold Gulch, Cottonwood, Sheriff’s Office and Jail, Piute Press Newspaper Office, Marysvale Cash Store, Fallen Dove Brothel, TNT Blasting Co., and Crow’s Nest. Pictures of all the rooms offered are available, and reservations can be made on the Moore’s Old Pine Inn website https://mooresoldpineinn.com.

A small building in front of the Inn served as a ticket office for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. It has been made available to the students of Piute High School under the name “Soda Summit.” They sell homemade cookies and ice cream, and soft drinks to raise funds for school activities.

The Inn changed hands two years ago when Rodney and Julie Mayo became the new owners. They offer an extensive list of amenities to appeal to the ATV community and to families for family reunions. These include a laundry facility for extended stays and a generous, grassy area with a large fire pit located behind the Inn. They also offer a grass volleyball court, horseshoes, a setup for cornhole tournaments, and lawn chairs to enjoy time with friends. They serve a delicious hot breakfast for $12 each morning during the summer and on weekends after school starts.

They cater to the ATV community by providing a free wash bay to clean the dust off machines from the Paiute ATV Trail. When you go, take plenty of water, keep the rubber side down, and plan to enhance your ride by staying at Moore’s Old Pine Inn.

Lynn R. Blamires can be reached at quadmanone@gmail.com.