See a different side of Utah from Compass Rose Lodge, Ogden

This unique boutique hotel is located in Huntsville, Utah, in the scenic Ogden Valley. The region is perhaps best known for Snowbasin Ski Resort and has been rapidly developing as a cottage destination for the wealthy looking for quieter areas to ski. The Valley overall, however, has a deep history and is populated by long-time residents and younger families looking for a cool place to live with direct access to the great outdoors.

Compass Rose Lodge in many ways is a reflection of that. This custom-built 15-room hotel is owned by the Hyde family – Jeff, Bonnie, and their sons Dakota and River. This land used to be a major trading post and the summer hunting grounds for the Shoshone tribes. This particular building was originally a schoolhouse. The Hyde family wanted to keep a lot of the heritage intact and acknowledge the agricultural roots of the community which led them to build a haystack tower. For a while, they could not decide on the best functional use for the tower but eventually, Dakota pitched the astronomy tower which is now a major attraction in the region.

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This hotel stay was hosted as a part of the Ogden Valley WITS FAM trip; they did not review or approve this story. 

The Vibe & Shared Spaces 

The architecture and design of the lodge are very intentional. Wood and metal decor detailing are everywhere, industrial and ski-themed decor touches are seen throughout the space and inside the rooms. The common area has a fireplace and a few comfortable sitting areas including a slightly enclosed spot in the tower. There are blankets, rugs, and adventure books stacked on the shelves setting up that homey cottage feel. The exterior has a few benches, an open circle fire pit, and two tipis which you can rent (more on that below).

Inside the Suite 

Each room is a bit unique when it comes to decor and layout. The large bathroom has a custom-made industrial metal vanity and a comfortable shower. A white sliding barn door is a really fun touch. The 15 rooms include suites with king beds, double-queen bunks (4 beds total), and an accessible Queen room. I had the pleasure of staying in Compass King 7 which shares a corner wall with the observatory tower. This additional wood panelling adds lovely character to the space. I had enough space for all my things, a place to sit and work, and a large TV to be lazy in front of. This was a cosy, comfortable stay and I could’ve easily spent a few days here, exploring the region. 

Dining & Coffee

The corner of the hotel is a local coffee shop, First Lift Coffee. It’s a fairly small space with a street side door, popular for takeout. The sitting area is are two tables designed around a ski lift bench, on track with the rest of the hotel theme. Your stay at the Compass Rose Lodge includes a complimentary breakfast (warm croissant, sausage, egg and cheese) from First Lift Coffee. At the cafe, you can also purchase other items, including alcoholic beverages to enjoy in the lounge. 

On the property you will notice two large Tipis, acknowledging the strong Native American heritage of the region. Historically, “Huntsville Square was one of the traditional gathering places for tribes to trade with trappers and early settlers of the area” so these tipis are honouring the tradition of gathering. Guests can rent them in increments of two hours daily after 4 PM. 

The tipis have slightly different decor and are both equipped with sitting space, an area to dine, and heating for those cold evenings. Our group dined in the Chasing Horses tipi and it was a really comfortable, unique experience.  The hotel team handles the water, set up, and clean up of the tipi; you can bring in your own food.

On-site observatory 

The custom-built onsite Huntsville Astronomic and Lunar Observatory (HALO) is open to the public and guests for Starwalk Tours hosted by the Hyde family. On a clear night, you can see the rings of Saturn, Jupiter’s Galilean Moons, galaxies, nebulae, and globular clusters. The 16” telescope is from the same family as Hubble and James Web with a prime scope which weighs roughly 80lb. The dome opens and rotates for optimal viewing experience. Jeff and Dakota assembled the telescope from nuts and bolts by hand and have been improving on this set-up since the opening, adding a smaller, more portable telescope to their collection. 

What to do nearby

Staying in this area offers a range of outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, biking, paddle boarding, pickleball and golfing. The hotel is located close to a few restaurants and Huntsville Park (driving), but the closest walking spot is The Shooting Star Saloon. It’s the oldest working bar on this side of the Mississippi with a fun, casual vibe. The decor is loose and casual, with paper money taped to the wall, there is also a jukebox and a pool table. They only serve beer and the locals told us you should ask for Star Burger if food challenges are your thing. 

Compass Rose Lodge
Starting at $279 USD for King 
198 S 7400 E, Huntsville, UT 84317, United States
Book directly on compassroselodge.com or your favourite booking website: Expedia* | TripAdvisor* | Hotels.com*

In the gear bag: Fujifilm X-H2S with an XF50mmF2 R WR lens* and Fuji XF 23MM F2 R WR lens* plus DJI Mavic Mini* drone. To see the trip on Instagram look up #xoUtah24.

Top: Wool coat from Sezane
Bottom: Tourism board gifts and a bag from Lambert