Reminder of the 70's along Rio Grande 36 – Cliff Palace Motel, Blanding, Utah

: Blanding, UT Sep. 12, 2014
: postcard maybe printed in the 60’s

Cliff Palace Motel is located at the center of Blanding, Utah on 105 S Main St (US Hwy 191).

According to Utah Division of State History (UDSH), this prairie school style building was built in 1955[1].

Marvin Finlinson(1894 – 1972) and Margie Jeanette(1898 – 1994) Lyman built the motel[2]. Marvin was a son of Walter Clisbee Lyman(1863 – 1943) who founded the town. The motel architecture was designed by Margie’s brother Philip Hurst(1900 – 1976), who was said to be a student of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Cecil Arvin Wormell(1920 – 2013) succeeded the business in 1970[3].

The motel is named after the cliff dwelling located in nearby Mesa Verde National Park. Denise Lyman succeeded the business in 1984[4]. It is active today as Blue Sage Inn owned by Cheryl Bowers since 2020.

revised, Jul. 23, 2021

[1] UDSH Historic Building Search results;
[2] May 15, 1955 Marvin’s letter;
[3] Aug. 23, 1973 Salt lake Tribune;
[4] United States Business Database;

: 1974-1975 Continental Telephone Company of Utah


Cliff Palace MotelはBlandingの町の中心部にあるモーテルである。1955年の創業で、現在も盛業中である。名前は近くのメサ・ヴェルデ国立公園に遺る先住民の集合住宅に由来する。

創業者がこの町の設立者の子供、設計者は帝国ホテルの設計者として日本でもよく知られているライトの弟子だというから、町を代表する建物とすべく建てたのだろう。水平に何層も延びる軒や石積みの壁、特異なスタイルの看板など、確かによくデザインされている。