Maddox Ranch House in Brigham City Utah

Brigham City residents Irv and Wima Maddox took a chance back in 1949 and decided to open a restaurant in the middle of nowhere.  Not quite sure if the concept would work they decided to build the restaurant itself on skids, so that if it didn’t work out they could simply tow it away to another location.  That “middle of nowhere” spot was in a town called Perry, Utah.  In case you were wondering where Perry is, it is just a stone’s throw from the thriving metropolis of Brigham City, Utah. 

The risk they took, in the form of that first little log cabin restaurant, has certainly paid off.  Today, in the same spot, Irv and Wilma’s little venture, Maddox restaurant, has expanded into four different dining experiences over all; the ranch house, the lodge, the drive in, and the take out cabin. 

Maddox Ranch House is the main dining facility for those who wish to sit down for a meal.  Newly remodeled, the inside of the Ranch House is large and accommodates a big crowd, which is a good thing because it is always packed with people.   Known as “Utah’s Family Gathering Place”, people come from all over to experience the home cooking that Maddox has to offer. 

The menu offers a wide variety of food with some out of the ordinary choices.  One of the specials of the house is the Bison, but Maddox is known for their wonderful cuts of beef too.   The meat they serve is locally grown, in fact so local that the ranch is attached to the restaurant itself.  I don’t know if you can get any fresher than that! 

Maddox also has a large variety of fish selections.  The menu offers Pacific Halibut, Orange Roughy, Gulf Fried Shrimp, Fresh Salmon and Idaho Trout, but their most unusual item is the Shrimp Steak.   The Shrimp Steak actually looks like a steak, but tastes just like shrimp.  I order it every time we go to Maddox!

 The other specialty menu item Maddox is known for is their fried chicken.  It is perfectly golden brown and moist and tender at the same time.  Served with mashed potatoes and country gravy, the Maddox Fried Chicken Dinner is hard to beat.  All of their meals come with an endless supply of hot homemade yeast rolls with raspberry butter. 

Don’t expect Maddox to feel like a romantic getaway, it is a ranch house for Heaven’s sake. It is rustic, full of the hustle and bustle of hungry customers, which they try very hard to please with their fresh cuts of meat and down home country flare. 

The Goble Lodge is part of Maddox Ranch House that was added just recently when they remodeled the restaurant.  The Lodge is a separate dining area that is a large room with banquet style seating.  Some of the same food that is served in the Ranch House is served in the Lodge as well, but the menu is more limited in its choices. The Lodge has a fresh appetite bar which includes, soup, salad and seafood cocktail with your meal.  The Lodge is a perfect accommodation for large parties or private banquet type functions, especially known for wedding receptions. 

The Maddox Family Drive-In is another option that is available with the same Maddox quality food.  Their hamburgers are made from the same homegrown meat and are famous for being “thick and juicy”.  Another cool thing that Maddox offers is their homemade “old fashioned signature sodas”.  They specialize in Homemade Sasparilla, Birch Root Beer, and Cream Soda along with their handmade shakes, and malts, made from homemade ice cream.   Homemade pies are also a big part of their menu too. 

Just honk when you are ready to order!

Finally, the Maddox Take Out Cabin, which is located on site provides an opportunity to take home a fresh home cooked meal to enjoy anywhere you want.  This option is perfect for picnics, or just if you want to eat in the comfort of your own home.  The take out menu offers family meal options that have everything you would need for a great “family dinner”, without all the mess.   The home-brewed sodas are even offered in two liter bottles. 

So if you are hungry and you are driving anywhere in the vicinity of Brigham City, Utah, then Maddox is the place for you.

Perhaps you might even schedule a trip to Brigham City during the month of September to celebrate the harvest of the “best peaches in Utah” at the Brigham City Peach Days.  The Peach Days celebration was originally started in 1904 and is reported to be the second oldest harvest festival in the country.  Over 75,000 visitors flock to Brigham City to participate in an extended  weekend of fun filled activities including the crowning of the Jr. Peach Queen and Miss Brigham City herself.

Maddox and Peach Days…. It just might be worth the trip!