The Western aesthetic is trending across creative fields, from fashion to music to interior design. At the forefront of this trend is Ofland Escalante, a 20-acre outdoor hotel in Southern Utah that beautifully blends Western and vintage Americana influences with mid century modern design sensibilities.

We spoke with Hannah Collins, the designer behind Ofland Escalante and Founder of ROY Hospitality Design Studio to get her perspective on creating the Western-Meets-Midcentury style and how Ofland Escalante taps into this cultural moment.

Set against the backdrop of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument near Bryce Canyon National Park, Ofland Escalante reimagines the adventure travel experience for those who value comfort, high-design, and authentic hospitality. The property features custom-designed cabins, vintage Airstreams, and amenities like an oversized lounge pool, open-air lodge, and even a drive-in movie theater.

In this interview, Collins shares her insights on balancing minimalist mid-century modern principles with textural Western elements, the role of nostalgia in design, and how the concept of a great Western road trip informed every aspect of Ofland Escalante’s creation. She also discusses the challenges in creating a high-end, nature-immersed experience that caters to adventure-seekers who still appreciate luxury.

Join us as we explore the thoughtful design choices, sustainable practices, and cultural influences that make Ofland Escalante a standout destination in the world of experiential hospitality, and discover how this unique property brings the Western 2.0 trend to life in a way that resonates with today’s travelers.

DNN: The Western design trend has seen a major resurgence in recent years, from fashion to music to home decor. What do you think is driving this renewed fascination with Western Americana and vintage aesthetics? How does Ofland Escalante tap into and interpret this cultural moment? 

Collins: As a designer I’d like to think we were even a bit ahead of the curve since it opened 4 years ago. I remember thinking at the time that culturally shows like Yellowstone have had a big influence on people’s interest in the west. I was deeply inspired by the expanse and optimism I felt living in Utah while we designed and built the property.

There was something so austere but safe about being way out there. The property itself is very isolated and surrounded by absolute majestic beauty so when you go, you just get the sense that if something is going to be built out there it needs to feel connected to its surroundings. It needs to feel connected to and a part of the landscape. I think the initial design of this property really did a great job at feeling like it belonged. 

DNN: Minimalist, sleek, functional design principles associated with midcentury modernism seem at odds with the more ornate, textural elements of Western style. How did you balance these seemingly disparate aesthetics to create a cohesive design language throughout the property? What elements did you pull from each style? 

Collins:  Great question, the airstreams are absolutely mid century but they really scream western road trip. We used the concept of a roadtrip across the great western expanse as our core design language.

What would a space feel like if a family had packed up and journeyed west, what were they collecting, dreaming of? What were they inspired by? That is where we started with the design story and to make the concept feel cohesive. 

DNN: What role do you see nostalgia and the desire to reconnect with the past playing in the popularity of this mid century modern meets Western aesthetic, both at Ofland Escalante and in interior design more broadly? 

Collins:  I think the definition of nostalgia is believing the past was better, better than now or better than perhaps it really was. I find that people want to believe it was always better, and so we are very attracted to things of the past.

They make us feel, one way or another and feeling is what motivates connection. Nostalgic spaces and designs are easy places for people to connect because they transport you. There is a desire to achieve this in all of our projects. At the end of the day we design hospitality spaces to build connections. 

DNN: Sustainability and eco-consciousness are increasingly important considerations in hospitality design. How did you incorporate environmentally-friendly materials, technologies, and design strategies into Ofland Escalante? 

Collins: Vintage is one of the most sustainable things you can do as a designer. Every time something gets reused or a new life instead of going into the trash you are doing something inherently good for the environment. We partnered with a local vintage shop in Salt Lake City to source local vintage finds for all of the furniture in the airstreams and all styling elements in the common areas. 

DNN: The cabin and Airstream accommodations at Ofland Escalante offer guests a unique, elevated take on the traditional outdoor lodging experience. How did you approach creating a high-end, nature-immersed guest experience?

Collins:  I am not sure we set out to create something that was high end but we knew we wanted to have all the creature comforts of a luxury hospitality experience for people who also love the outdoors. I am not a camper, but I love adventure travel and being in nature.

So it was easy for me to create something that I would love to go to. There is also such a fascinating movement happening of outdoor luxury travel that we had a lot of places to take inspiration from around the world. If the goal of travel and vacation is to disconnect, nature is a really easy and great way to do that. 

DNN: Beyond the physical design, how did you aim to translate the mid century modern meets Western ethos into the overall brand identity, hospitality, and guest programming at Ofland Escalante? What touchpoints were most critical in bringing this design vision to life? 

Collins: We used this idea of the great western road trip as our core design pillar throughout development of the brand, interiors, hospitality, and programming. We wanted to create a sort of throwback of how things may be used to be, for the today traveler.

The drive-in movie theater, the communal bathrooms, the diy coffee in the rooms, were all elements that you might have found along a road trip of the west some time ago. Once we found that core concept it was easy to imagine and dream up all the amazing ideas that make the property so special.