In 1916, Reuben C. (Ruby) Syrett brought his family to the wilds of Southern Utah, establishing a ranch near the present site of Ruby's Inn. A few weeks after his arrival, another nearby rancher told Ruby of the canyon called Bryce. Ruby and his family made a Sunday visit to the canyon rim. They were so impressed by what they saw that they not only took full advantage to tell people of the canyon's beauties, but they also became hosts to its visitors. By 1919 they had obtained permission from the state to build a lodge, the "Tourist Rest", near the brink of the canyon.

In 1923, when Bryce Canyon became a National Monument, Ruby moved his "Tourist Rest", to the location of his ranch and named it Ruby's Inn. The Post Office established services at the inn and still serves the area throughout the year.

Ruby's reputation grew as the National Monument grew to a National Park, and soon Ruby's Inn became a large business operation. What started with tent houses and a place to serve meals, paved the way for the modern facilities which today serve the tourists at Bryce Canyon, providing all the traveler needs to make a stay in the Bryce Canyon area a trip to remember.