The Valley House Inn has a rich history. Originally built in 1872, The Valley House was used as a private resident for Huntsville’s first mayor Lars Magnus Nelson and his family. At that time he was known as a “Tinner” because his occupation was a tin smith. A good tinsmith, he had a profitable business and was able to build the large brick home.
In 1916 Matelda Sprague took possession of the home and converted it to a dinner house and hotel due to the confidence of her friends in her excellent cooking abilities. It later became known as The Valley House which also provided sleeping rooms in the two-story home. For nearly twenty years she entertained and made countless friends with her fine food and the telling of true life stories of her early Pioneer days when she crossed the plains by ox teams to become one of the first settlers in Utah.
Many important people from Ogden would travel up the canyon to enjoy their meals at the Valley House. There were trolley cars that brought people to the Inn from Ogden.
