Perry, Utah
Orchards, roadside fruit stands and one of Utah’s most famous family restaurants. Perry sits at the heart of Utah’s Official Fruit Way, just south of Brigham City at the foot of the Wellsville Mountains.
Quick Facts
Founded
1853
Population
About 5,600
About 5 min
To Willard Bay
About 10 min
Known For
Fruit stands & Maddox Ranch House
The Heart of the Fruit Way
Perry has been a farming town since its earliest days, when settlers planted orchards along the foot of the mountains. Today, Highway 89 through Perry is the busiest stretch of Utah’s Official Fruit Way, lined with family fruit stands selling cherries, peaches, apples and more from early summer into fall.
Perry is also home to the Maddox Ranch House, a family-run restaurant that has drawn diners from across Utah since 1949. Between the fruit stands, a hearty meal and a show at the local theater, it’s easy to spend an afternoon here on your way to Brigham City, Willard Bay or beyond.
Perry puts you in the middle of the Fruit Way, minutes from Willard Bay and an easy drive from Box Elder County’s biggest attractions.
Utah’s Official Fruit Way
Drive Highway 89 through Perry and Willard on Utah’s Official Fruit Way, where family fruit stands and orchards line the road from early summer through fall.
Willard Bay State Park
Head to Willard Bay State Park for boating, fishing, swimming and camping, or visit in winter for the Fantasy at the Bay holiday lights.
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Drive the 12-mile auto tour at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, where pelicans, avocets and tundra swans gather throughout the year.
Mantua Reservoir
Head up Box Elder Canyon to Mantua Reservoir for fishing, paddling and cool mountain air on a hot summer day.
Stay in Perry
Perry makes an easy home base for exploring the Fruit Way and Willard Bay, with a KOA offering RV sites, tent sites, cabins and glamping tents just off the interstate. Brigham City’s hotels are only five minutes north.
Days Inn by Wyndham Brigham City
Dining in Perry
Perry is best known for the Maddox Ranch House, where generations of Utah families have stopped for fried chicken, steaks and warm rolls. You’ll also find classic drive-in burgers, casual local spots and, in summer, plenty of fresh fruit along Highway 89.
Calls Drive In
The Rusted Spoon
Maddox Ranch House
Things to Do
in Perry
SHOP THE FRUIT STANDS
From cherries in early summer to peaches and apples in the fall, Perry’s roadside stands are the heart of the Fruit Way. See our Fruit Way guide for what’s in season.
DINE AT MADDOX RANCH HOUSE
A Box Elder County tradition since 1949, the Maddox Ranch House is one of the most famous family restaurants in northern Utah. Plan for a wait on weekend evenings.
CATCH A SHOW AT THE HERITAGE THEATRE
Housed in an 1899 chapel on Highway 89, the Heritage Community Theatre stages live productions throughout the year.
CELEBRATE PEACH DAYS
Every September, nearby Brigham City celebrates the harvest with Peach Days, Utah’s oldest harvest festival, held since 1904.
A Bit of History
Perry began in 1853 as a small settlement called Three Mile Creek, named for the creek about three miles south of Box Elder, now Brigham City. Early families, including the Tippetts and Perry families, built homes, planted crops and traded with local Native Americans. A small Welsh settlement between Three Mile Creek and Brigham City later joined the town.
Water was always the challenge here, with more land than water to irrigate it. In 1898 the town was renamed Perry in honor of the Perry family, longtime settlers and church leaders. Over the next century, orchards, family dairies and cattle ranches became the backbone of the community, and the fruit stands that line Highway 89 today carry on that farming tradition.
Before You Go
Getting here
Perry sits on Highway 89 just off I-15, about 55 minutes north of Salt Lake City and five minutes south of Brigham City.
FRUIT SEASON
Most fruit stands open in early summer and stay open into fall. Cherries come first, followed by peaches in late summer and apples in the fall.
DINING AT MADDOX
Maddox Ranch House is popular, especially on weekends. Arrive early or plan for a short wait.
SEASONS
Summer and fall are the best times to visit for fruit. Winter brings Fantasy at the Bay at nearby Willard Bay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan Your Visit to Perry
Fill a box with fresh fruit, sit down for dinner at Maddox and take your time exploring the Fruit Way. Brigham City and Willard Bay are just minutes away.