Canyon Smokehouse was so good I ate there twice when I was in Bluff (UT). I talk to the owner (and town manager), Erin Nelson, about how and why she started the restaurant and what it’s like to be a small business owner who is also the town manager

Canyon Smokehouse was so good I ate there twice when I was in Bluff (UT). I talk to the owner (and town manager), Erin Nelson, about how and why she started the restaurant and what it’s like to be a small business owner who is also the town manager

From The Rural Towns Project Podcast by Dax Jacobson

August 11, 2025 · 34 min · Episode 41

About this episode

Dax Jacobson interviews Erin Nelson about her experiences as the owner of Canyon Smokehouse and the town manager of Bluff, discussing the challenges of small business ownership in a rural area.

In this episode, I talk to Erin Nelson, owner of Canyon Smokehouse in Bluff (UT) and Bluff Town Manager. Erin shares how she came to live in Bluff and own Canyon Smokehouse (it involves dark skies, small town life, marrying a chef and chasing their joint dreams). We talk about how hard it is to get financing in a rural, remote, small town, and how creative you have to be. Erin talks about how often they have to DIY solutions and the importance of community. With her town manager hat on, Erin ...

People in this episode

Host: Dax Jacobson

Guest: Erin Nelson

Topics covered

  • small business
  • community
  • rural life
  • restaurant ownership
  • financing challenges
  • town management

Keywords

  • Canyon Smokehouse
  • Erin Nelson
  • Bluff UT
  • small business
  • town manager
  • rural financing
  • community support

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Canyon Smokehouse

Places: Bluff, Bluff (UT)

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