Nestled in the sunny city of Santa Clara, a first-of-its-kind development in Utah has captured the attention of locals, tourists, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Paradise Village at Zion is a unique vacation rental community designed to meet the needs of all types of travelers. Between the exciting amenities and the versatile selection of vacation rentals, Paradise Village is the perfect fit for your next trip to southern Utah.
But just how did this vacation hotspot come to be? In this article, we’ll be exploring an insider view of the Paradise Village development through the eyes of Brad Winget—a key player in the Paradise Village story. So stick around to discover the history behind Paradise Village at Zion, from concept to completion.
By the year 2013, the CEO and Founder of Utah’s Best Vacation Rentals, Brad Winget, was a seasoned veteran in the vacation rental and real estate business. Ever the entrepreneur, Winget was always on the lookout for new opportunities. Working with his former partner Corbin Church, and former colleague Tristan Webb, Winget came in contact with Dave Whitehead, a real estate agent looking to negotiate a land deal with the city of Santa Clara. Whitehead hoped that 17 acres of raw ground in Santa Clara could be developed into a nightly rental community, and offered to work with the city to have it zoned.
Intrigued by the idea, Winget, Webb, Whitehead, and Church began researching the logistics of such a project. Winget and Webb traveled to several similar communities in vacation destinations such as Florida to get a feel for what they were up against. While these trips gave the team good insight, they knew the task ahead of them would be no easy feat. After extensive research—and with Whitehead’s help—Church made the decision to buy the property from the city of Santa Clara. Once the deal with the city was finalized and the ground was successfully re-zoned, Whitehead became Church’s listing agent. Whitehead was also instrumental in working with the team Church assembled, including Winget, Webb, Rincon Builders, Inwest Title, as well as countless architects, contractors, and other professionals.
With these initial steps completed, the development needed a name that would properly represent the vision of the project and help bring in local and international business. Unlike the city of St. George, Santa Clara was a small, lesser-known desert town—a diamond in the rough—which posed some difficulty in generating buyer interest. The development and its name alike would have to stand out against the dry desert of southern Utah.
With the image of Floridian coastlines fresh in his mind, Winget pitched the word “paradise,” reasoning that the community would resemble a desert oasis with its tropical palm trees and well-kept grounds. Wanting to emphasize the communal aspect of the development, he posited “Paradise Village” as a potential name, but it was still missing something. What would bring buyers to Santa Clara in the first place? As luck would have it, Santa Clara sits only a short drive from the world-famous Zion National Park, and thus, the name Paradise Village at Zion was born. While the name was helpful, the incredible development amenities and unique investment opportunities offered by Paradise Village have been the primary reasons behind its success.
The development of Paradise Village at Zion was not only a daunting project due to zoning and construction complications, but it was also a sizable risk for the founders, investors, and buyers. There were several challenges that could prevent the development from being successful:
- Large development size: Due to the sheer size of the project, the team would need to ensure that the amenities could support the entire rental community—a monstrous undertaking in and of itself. Additionally, there would need to be enough funding from investors and buyers to develop the entire project, requiring impressive financial strength and banking strategy over an extended period of time.
- No established market: Up until this point, there was no precedent for this kind of development outside of resort towns in locations like Florida and California. The team would have to demonstrate a need for this type of community in Utah to pique the interest of potential buyers and renters.
- Lack of knowledge and awareness: With no precedent, there was very little knowledge about how to furnish, market, and sell these types of rental properties in Utah. The team would have to help educate and create awareness among real estate agents, property managers, and potential buyers.
- Underdeveloped location: In the early 2010s, Santa Clara was far from being a vacation hotspot, with a population of just over 6,000. Without the infrastructure to support the development, the city was counting on the success of Paradise Village to help put Santa Clara on the map.
- Large number of properties: Once completed, Paradise Village would contain 121 properties of differing sizes and amenities, all needing to be managed and overseen. The team would need to create covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) and also establish an HOA infrastructure to oversee the community.
These among several other difficulties made the development of Paradise Village at Zion a uniquely challenging endeavor.
Despite the challenges they faced, the Paradise Village team moved forward. Church was able to package the idea and sell it to Brad and Sarah Merrill, who, along with the impressive team Church had assembled, were anxious to see the project succeed. Without their involvement and passion, Winget is convinced Paradise Village at Zion would not be as amazing as it is today.
With the support they needed and the promise of sales on the horizon, the team dug in their heels (or rather their shovels) and got to work. Rincon Builders of Santa Clara began working on Paradise Village in late 2014, and the team sold the first model home shortly thereafter. Thanks to the expertise of Brad Winget and his wife Malissa, along with David Whitehead, Tristan Webb, and others involved, the team didn’t need to outsource much. The Wingets’ company, Utah’s Best Vacation Rentals, was brought on to help create floor plans for each rental size and was originally intended to be the exclusive property manager for Paradise Village, helping to plan and establish the success of the development.
With the newfound success of the development, the owners began plans for a second phase of development that would add several new properties and amenities, including a community water park. Completed in 2017, this second phase has helped Paradise Village blossom into the ideal vacation spot it is today. Not only did the construction of Paradise Village at Zion bolster the infrastructure of the surrounding area, but it also served as a blueprint for success in the vacation rental world. Soon, other similar communities began cropping up around southern Utah, all looking to be the next Paradise Village.
Anyone who visits Paradise Village at Zion can easily see why its success skyrocketed. The now 25-acre resort-style community boasts a whopping 121 individually owned homes ranging from 1,800 to 6,000 square feet. Some larger homes include private amenities such as pools, theater rooms, hot tubs, and sport courts, while smaller homes enjoy access to the community water park, pools, and lazy river. With so much variety, there’s a rental for every occasion and every budget.
It’s thanks to these incredible amenities that co-founder Brad Winget names Paradise Village one of the most successful real estate endeavors he’s been associated with so far. While there are currently no additional plans for the Paradise Village development, Winget believes that there is a promising future for similar communities throughout the state and country and continues to help develop these incredible projects with his knowledge and expertise.
There you have it: the story of Paradise Village. What started as an ambitious idea has now set the standard for resort-style vacation rental communities in southern Utah and across the country. So next time you’re in the area, be sure to book your stay at Paradise Village!
