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One Night in Salt Lake City

Our stop in Salt Lake City was only supposed to be a quick overnight, but it ended up being one of the most unexpectedly fun parts of the trip.


Asher Adams

We checked into Asher Adams with just enough time to drop our bags and settle in for a bit. The hotel had that clean, modern feel, but still warm enough to make it easy to relax right away. Since we didn’t have much time, we decided to keep the evening simple and start with dinner at the Asher Adams bar.

It turned out to be exactly what we needed—good food, a laid-back atmosphere, and a chance to slow down after a day of traveling. Nothing overplanned, just an easy start to the night.

 





Asher Adams History

A railroad past (early 1900s)

Long before it was a hotel, the site was the Union Pacific Depot, built in 1908–1909 as Salt Lake City’s main train station.
Designed in a grand French Renaissance style, it served as a key hub during the golden age of rail travel, connecting Utah to cities like California and Oregon.

For decades, this station was the gateway to the city—where travelers arrived, departed, and passed through during a time when railroads shaped the American West.

Decline and transition

Passenger rail service eventually declined, and by the late 20th century the depot was no longer functioning as a major station. It was:

  • Taken over by Amtrak for a period

  • Donated to the state of Utah in 1989

  • Later incorporated into The Gateway development, where parts of it were reused for events and entertainment

Even so, the building remained one of the city’s most recognizable historic landmarks.

Reinvention into a hotel (2020s)

The modern chapter began in the early 2020s, when developers set out to preserve the depot while giving it a new purpose. The project:

  • Started around 2021 as an adaptive reuse development

  • Carefully restored original details like stained glass, murals, and tile work

  • Added a new 8-story hotel tower behind the historic structure

The hotel officially opened in late 2024 as part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection.

The name “Asher Adams”

The name comes from John R. Asher and George H. Adams, early cartographers known for mapping railroad routes across the U.S.
It’s a direct nod to the building’s railroad heritage and the role mapping played in expanding travel across the country.

Today

Now, the Asher Adams blends that history with a modern hotel experience:

  • The original depot houses the lobby, bar, and some suites

  • The new tower contains most guest rooms

  • The design and dining concepts all reference train travel and the building’s past

In a way, it’s still doing what it always did—bringing people into the city—just in a completely different form.

If you stayed there, you were basically sleeping inside a piece of Salt Lake City history that’s been repurposed rather than replaced.

 





Downtown Salt Lake City

After dinner, we headed out to walk around downtown. Salt Lake City at night felt calm but not empty—just enough energy without feeling busy. We wandered a few blocks, taking in the city lights with the mountains in the background, not really heading anywhere in particular.

 







Golden State Warriors vs. Utah Jazz

Somewhere along the way, we realized the Jazz vs. Warriors game was happening that night and already well underway. On a whim, we looked up tickets, saw a few still available, and had one of those quick, spontaneous “should we just go?” moments.

Not long after, we were on our way to the arena, walking in during the third quarter. There’s something fun about a last-minute decision like that—no buildup, no real expectations, just jumping straight into it. The crowd was fully into it, the pace was fast, and it felt like we dropped right into the best part of the game.

By the time we made it back to the hotel, it felt like we had packed a lot into a short window—an easy dinner, a relaxed walk through downtown, and an unplanned NBA game that ended up being the highlight of the night.

It wasn’t a long stay, but it didn’t feel rushed either. Just a reminder that sometimes the best parts of a trip come from the plans you didn’t make.

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