Relax and Slow Down,

A Guide to Retiring in St. George, Utah

or Stay Active and Explore.

In recent years, St. George, Utah has been ranked among

the top five fastest-growing metro areas in the nation (No.

1 in 2018) by the U.S. Census Bureau. What accounts for

that growth in such a quaint, red-rock-lined, valley city?

The answer: this is no St. George baby boom. New

residents are moving in rapidly and most are active older

adults — over 55 — seeking warm weather, peace and

quiet and access to outdoor adventures and a cultural

scene. Many retirees from around Utah, Nevada, Southern

California and Arizona have made St. George their home

over the last decade. With endless open-air action,

championship golf, chic shopping and fine dining and

close proximity to America’s most iconic natural wonders

(plus Las Vegas), it’s no wonder why some have coined

St. George “The Palm Springs of Utah.”

Life in St. George

ST. GEORGE, BY THE NUMBERSPopulation: 87,178

(177,556 metro area/Washington County)

Visitors: 2 million annually

Households: 27,552

Square miles (city): 76.9

Southwestern Utah picked up the nickname Dixie in the

mid-1800s, which is a moniker more reserved for the

American South. Brigham Young, Mormonism’s most well-

known leader, sent followers to Southwest Utah to settle

in 1861. Many of them were from the southeastern U.S. (in

fact, many East Coasters make St. George their retirement

home today), and despite the di�erences in topography

and geography, the regions actually share a similar warm

climate — one that reminded them of their homeland.

The temperatures also allowed for the production of

cotton and tobacco — both common crops produced

in the South. The cotton industry never quite got o�

the ground in St. George, though. Still, “Dixie” stuck,

and today in the city and region you’ll find Dixie State

University, Dixie National Forest, Dixie Regional Medical

Center, the Dixie Center Convention Center and other

Dixie-inspired locations.

“Dixie”

Attractions

How St. George RanksThe Cost of Living Index is based around the U.S. average of 100: below 100 is lower than the U.S. average and above is higher. Here’s how St. George compares to some other cities out West.

Los Angeles, CA 173.3Boulder, CO 167.4Salt Lake City, UT 118.9Flagsta�, AZ. 117Las Vegas, NV 111.6Phoenix, AZ 103.7St. George, UT 103.6Fresno, CA 102.6Albuquerque, NM 91.1Yuma, AZ 88.2Source: Sperling’s Best Places

Quiet and SafeWhile there’s lots to do in St. George, it’s also quiet and

laid back. You’re safe here — in fact, St. George was

ranked among the Top 10 safest metro areas in the United

States in recent years.

Cost of LivingWhat’ll a dollar buy you in St. George? About what it will

in most of the United States.

St. George Temple

Completed in 1877, this iconic

temple is the oldest continuously

operating Mormon temple in the

world. Its construction was overseen

by Brigham Young, with materials

sourced from the region: local

quarries supplied its volcanic rock

foundation and sandstone walls

(plastered white), while nearby Pine

Valley and Mount Trumbull wood

was used for trusses and finishes.

If you choose to retire in St. George, don’t expect

to stay seated for too long. The seventh-largest

city in Utah is a popular “basecamp” for tourists

and residents alike seeking access to national

and state parks — and an escape from the hustle

and bustle of the coasts and larger metro areas.

The city rests at the tip of the Mojave Desert, rim

of the Great Basin, edge of the Colorado Plateau

and within the greater Zion National Park area

(known as “Greater Zion”).

Need to get out of town? Take a quick trip to

Las Vegas, which is an easy 90 minute drive

away. Or make a stop in Mesquite, NV which is

only 40 minutes away.

In addition:

Snow Canyon State Park: 10 minutes

While it doesn’t actually get snow, (it was

named, in part, by LDS leaders Lorenzo and

Erastus Snow), it does o�er lava flows, and red

and white Navajo sandstone formations. Enjoy

year-round biking, hiking and camping — only 10

minutes from downtown.

Red Cli�s Desert Reserve: 30 minutes

With 60,000 acres (some of that a protected

conservation area), you’ll never run out of

places to explore — or take in the view of red

rock formations. Many residents use Red Cli�s

as their regular park, featuring waterfalls, slot

canyons, old mines and even dinosaur tracks.

Location

Attractions

Find St. George in the southwestern corner of Utah, just o� Interstate 15.

Pine Valley Recreation Area: 45 minutes

Situated 45 minutes to the north in the Pine

Valley Mountains, Pine Valley o�ers a forest

filled with ponderosa pine and oaks. Great for

families, the recreation area has six overnight

campgrounds, an amphitheater, picnic tables,

hiking and horse trails.

Zion National Park: 55 minutes

The main draw for tourists is Zion National Park,

the nation’s fourth most-visited national park,

about an hour’s drive from the city. It’s Utah’s

first National Park, steeped in red rocks, history

and culture.

Bryce Canyon National Park: 2 hours

With red rocks and pink cli�s, at Bryce Canyon

you’ll find the largest concentration of hoodoos

— irregular towers of rock.

Grand Canyon National Park: 3 hours

Imagine the ability to get to the Grand Canyon’s

North Rim in just under three hours for a

weekend getaway. The 8,000-foot elevation

North Rim is, as the National Park Service

describes it, “the other side” of the Grand

Canyon and visited by only 10% of the park’s

visitors.

Attractions

Why St. George?

We took a look at some online reviews of St. George.

“St. George is a great place to retire.”

“I moved here from California and like how everyone is friendly, and I feel very safe living here.”

“Good for old guys that like to play golf.”

“As a senior looking for a safe and quiet place to live this is perfect.”

Source: Sperling’s Best Places

Getting AroundSunTran is St. George’s public transit system,

with buses that run Monday to Saturday 6 am to

8 pm, throughout the region.

St. George Regional Airport (SGU) serves Delta,

American and United Airlines, and is great for

regional travel (an hour flight to Salt Lake City).

St. George Shuttle, a popular and dependable

sprinter van service, o�ers routes from St.

George to Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.

Customers praise its dependable service,

comfortable ride (with free WiFi and bottled

water), and perfection for big groups. (You’re

planning your weekend in Las Vegas already,

aren’t you?)

Because there’s limited parking at Zion National

Park, the free Zion Shuttle System is available

from Springdale (45 minutes east) to take

visitors to Zion Canyon.

What the reviews say

Sunny Days: 300+Average High in Summer: 92Average High in Winter: 62Snow: Rare

If you like sunny and mild weather most

of the year, St. George will deliver. You

won’t see much snow here — if anything,

maybe a dusting. Much of the over-65

population in St. George are snowbirds

who come here during the winter —

including Brigham Young, who had his

winter home here, today open to the

public. Residents and tourists can enjoy

the sunny days of Florida (without the

humidity) and the warm weather of

Scottsdale (without the scorching heat).

Now for a check on the weather

Why St. George?

For healthcare needs, Dixie Regional Medical

Center is less than 15 minutes from Ovation

Sienna Hills. A top-five hospital in Utah, Dixie

Regional has high-performance ratings for aortic

valve and heart bypass surgery, and hip and

knee replacement surgeries. Dixie Regional is a

Level II Trauma Center.

Founded in 1913, Dixie Regional today is part

of Intermountain Healthcare, a Utah-based,

not-for-profit system of 22 hospitals, 185

clinics and 1,500 physicians. Thanks in part to

Intermountain’s reputation (not to mention

the weather and cost of living), St. George has

pulled in world-renowned clinics and specialists.

In addition, Dixie Regional operates a LiVe Well

Center, designed to help people “Get Well, Stay

Well and LiVe Well for the rest of your life.”

It o�ers wellness testing, fitness classes and

personal consultation from qualified medical

professionals who can help clients achieve their

health and fitness goals.

St. George is a top Utah golf destination, home

to the Red Rock Golf Trail — 10 stunning courses

all within a 45-minute drive of one another. One

of the most popular is Coral Canyon, located in

the “Color Country” of St. George. The 7,029-

yard, 72-par course is set against the backdrop

of red and pink-tinged rocks, with Bryce Canyon

and Zion National Park within view.

Healthcare

Golf

There’s no better backdrop to a relaxing

spa day than the Utah countryside. For

self-care at the spa, check out Sagestone

Spa at Red Mountain Resort in nearby

Ivins (a St. George ‘burb). Amira Resort in

the Green Valley Gap also has luxury spa

packages (and upscale accommodations

for visiting guests).

Spas

There is perhaps no greater draw to St. George

than its outdoor scene — and scenery. Whether

you’re a risk-taker or you’re more comfortable

with your feet on the ground, whatever your

adventure level may be, there’s something to do.

A sampling:

Hiking, mountain biking and camping: there

is no shortage of hiking and biking routes

and campsites in the region, most all of them

featuring photo-worthy red mesas and buttes.

Canyoneering and rock climbing: Greater Zion

is a land of canyons, giving you an abundance

of world-class canyoneering routes to hike,

scramble, slide and “chimney,” with both short

rappels and 300-footers.

ATV/UTV: enjoy guided tours or go on your own

to explore the beauty, wildlife and vistas of the

region on all-terrain (single rider) or utility task

vehicles (side-by-side riding) in one of the most

scenic locations in America.

Scuba diving and watersports: yes, you read

that correctly. Go diving in the middle of the

desert at Sand Hollow State Park, a 20,000-

acre oasis just minutes from downtown with

sprawling dunes and a reservoir that delivers

boating, jet skiing, cli� jumping, kayaking and

paddle boarding — and, yes, scuba diving. Dive

down and see a sunken bus, a twin-engine

airplane and other surprises to explore.

Why St. George?

National Geographic calls St. George a

“mellow oasis” adventure town, naming

it among the top 50 places to live and

play in America. It’s a destination for

sandstone scenery and a central hub

for access to many trails and canyon

adventures, including Snow Canyon State

Park, Pioneer Park, Green Valley Gap and

Moe’s Valley — popular for bouldering and

climbing.

While this Washington County city

provides access to some of the nation’s

most impressive natural wonders, it also

o�ers plenty of opportunity for rest and

relaxation, with luxury spas, golf, dining

and shopping.

Recreation & Culture

Every October, the Huntsman World

Senior Games attract more than 11,000

athletes age 50+ from around the world.

These lifetime athletes compete in a

wider range of events, including softball,

volleyball, basketball, shooting, swimming,

pickleball, speed walking and more.

Get Out!

You can’t spell arts in St. George without the

Tuacahn Center for the Arts. This popular

outdoor amphitheater is nestled inside Snow

Canyon State Park’s Padre Canyon and known

for “Broadway in the Canyon,” producing NYC-

caliber productions under the stars and red rocks.

This valuable community asset contributes nearly

$100 million to the region and has played host to

more than 200 concerts since opening in 1995.

The Kayenta Community is a 2,000-acre master

planned neighborhood surrounded by protected

lands. At the heart of the community is the

public Kayenta Art Village, an enclave of art

galleries, classes and spaces to relax and explore.

Greater Zion is home to more than a dozen

private art galleries.

The 75-member Southwest Symphony

Orchestra performs at the Cox Performing Arts

Center at Dixie State University.

Little ones will enjoy the St. George Children’s

Museum, o�ering interactive exhibits that

encourage active play, imagination and

discovery.

Whether your interest is the arts, history, wildlife

or dinosaurs, there is no shortage of museum

exhibits to get your hands on (or, in the case of

fine arts and fossils, keep o�!).

Why St. George?

Keep them entertained with the St.

George Dinosaur Discovery Site at

Johnson Farm, home to a 200 million-

year-old ecosystem once home to

dinosaurs, fish, plants and more.

Grandkids coming to town?

Arts & Entertainment

Located just minutes from downtown, Ovation

Sienna Hills is a premier senior living community

set to open in Fall 2020, o�ering independent

living, assisted living and memory care options.

Along with these options, Ovation will also open

The Villas at Sienna Hills, independent living

individual homes that will provide independence

and the security of our full-service o�erings.

Set inside Sienna Hills in the St. George suburb

of Washington, Utah, Ovation Sienna Hills is

committed to serving residents and o�ering opportunities designed to inspire your individual

interests and desires. Built around the outdoors and open desert sky, Sienna Hills is a master-

planned community with family homes, trails, vibrant shopping, dining and entertainment.

Like a Vacation Every Day

Call St. George Home at Ovation Sienna Hills

• Rooftop 360 social club

• Restaurant choices for your dining pleasure

• Goods + supply convenience store

• Cultural and entertainment experiences

• Special outings

• Scheduled transportation

• Movie theater

• Senior-friendly fitness equipment

• Warm water pool and spa tub

• Exclusive wellness and fitness classes

• Walking trails

• Innovative technology

As you can see from this guide,

there’s plenty to do around St.

George, and Ovation Sienna Hills

o�ers the best in active, independent

senior living to get the most out of

a lifestyle in retirement. For more

information on a potential life in St.

George and Ovation Sienna Hills,

please call (435) 429-0000 or visit

OvationSiennaHills.com.

Ovation Showroom Address: 2376 East Red Cli�s Drive, Suite 309ASt. George, UT 84790

Future Community Address: 1525 East Ovation PlaceWashington, UT 84780

(435) 429-0000 OvationSiennaHills.com

As a senior lifestyle community, Ovation

Sienna Hills will allow you to live life on your own with benefits and

amenities including: