Tech Ridge, a visionary development in St. George, Utah, is transforming a former airport into a thriving, elevated tech hub. Spearheaded by Isaac Barlow, Tech Ridge integrates innovative office spaces, outdoor amenities, and a lifestyle-focused environment to attract and retain top talent.
By Elainna Ciaramella
When I first met Isaac Barlow, Managing Director and visionary behind Tech Ridge, in the spring of 2020, he stood atop the windswept mesa and described his dream: “A city within a city on top of a hill.” At the time, the desolate landscape was mostly dust and rock—raw potential etched into the ridgeline. Dixie Technical College was the only completed structure, and Vasion (formerly Printer Logic) had recently broken ground.
That first conversation kicked off a string of interviews over the years. Each time, Isaac invited me to hike the dusty, rock-strewn ridge with him: his unofficial office with a view overlooking St. George, Washington, Hurricane, Bloomington, and beyond. I still laugh thinking about our very first meeting. He looked down at my heels politely concerned. In true journalist fashion, I grinned and powered on.
Isaac would point to patches of barren ground like they were already bustling with life—“Here’s where the restaurants and gym will go. That’s the adventure park. Over there? Offices, homes, a hotel, trails…”
Strolling across the ridge felt like stepping inside a 3D rendering—every road, trail, and building already mapped out in Isaac’s mind, just waiting to materialize. Five years since that first meeting, I’ve had the first-hand opportunity to watch the vision unfold before my very eyes.
From day one, Tech Ridge was a bold bet on the future, backed by the City of St. George, Utah Tech University, Dixie Tech, and a crew of local tech visionaries. The mission? Elevate elevate elevate—the economy, the quality of life, and the local workforce so St. George families no longer have to export their kids in search of high-paying jobs.
In order to accomplish that goal, it meant transforming the old airport into a high-elevation hub where innovation meets lifestyle. A place designed to fuel the economy, retain homegrown talent, and give locals a reason to stay, work, play, and most importantly thrive—without having to trade red rock views for concrete jungles or big city zip codes.
Tech Ridge Overview
Tech Ridge is no ordinary development—it’s 180 acres of elevated ambition, perched atop the former St. George Municipal Airport with panoramic views that stretch across the red rock cliffs, downtown St. George, and the endless Southern Utah sky.
Designed to be as beautiful as it is functional, Tech Ridge reimagines what a modern urban center can be. With sleek architecture, walkable trails, open green spaces, and stunning desert vistas in every direction, it’s a place where innovation meets inspiration.
Ultimately, Tech Ridge is doing exactly what it was intended to do—it’s attracting cutting-edge tech companies and helping them thrive by creating an environment that draws top talent—not just for the work, but for the unmatched experience Tech Ridge provides. How so exactly?
Strikingly different from traditional office buildings or dull industrial business parks, Tech Ridge thinks way outside the box—it’s a smart, connected, mixed-use community where people can create, collaborate, and grow all while being surrounded by the natural beauty that makes Southern Utah one of the most breathtaking places in the country. This is where, “Build it and they will come” truly comes to life for employers on Tech Ridge.
Here are the latest updates on Tech Ridge:
The Stairs: A Million-Dollar Gamble That Paid Off
Isaac Barlow described The Stairs at Tech Ridge as a “gamble”—a roughly $1 million investment in community infrastructure that could have gone either way. But it turned out to be a massive win. The 333-step climb, with stainless steel railings and integrated lighting, officially opened in January 2025 alongside the City of St. George’s Dragon’s Tail Stair Climb Challenge.
“What used to be a dirt road has now become one of our most photographed, most visited places,” said Brad Buhanan, Director of Community Engagement at Tech Ridge. “We said, ‘Let’s put stairs up this as a way to bring the community together.’”
And the community showed up—online and in person. “That Brooke Ence video of her sprinting up the stairs became the most engaged post in the history of the City of St. George’s Facebook page,” said Buhanan. “People are now doing one-on-ones on the stairs, families are walking it at night, and tourists are adding it to their itinerary.”
With such success came fast adaptations: a dedicated parking lot at Tech Ridge Parkway and Knowledge Way, temporary restrooms, and soon, a hydration station—all designed based on community feedback. “If it makes sense, we’ll do it,” Buhanan said. “We really try to listen to what people want.”
Plans are now in motion for permanent restrooms and a pavilion gathering space just east of the top of the stairs, creating a future hub for stair races, 5Ks, and other community events.
Building the Experience, One Trail and Office at a Time
The trail system—Tech Ridge’s next major community feature—is actively in progress. A paved section is already complete, connecting the stairs to the access road, with a temporary route leading to the Temple Quarry Trail. The entire three-mile loop is planned to be finished by the end of next year, with lighting installed along the way using bollards for soft, downward-facing illumination.
Isaac summed it up like this: “Everything we’re doing up here is focused on retaining top talent. Even the stairs, even the trail system—they’re all part of the experience we’re building.”
The infrastructure to support this vision is also well underway. A parkway road connecting to Tech Ridge Parkway is under construction and is expected to be completed early next year, ahead of new office developments.
Office Park and Container Innovation
Right next to the top of the stairs will be the new small office park—15 commercial lots ranging from 2,500 to 15,000 square feet. These offices are the only small-format options on Tech Ridge, and they come with surface parking—making them more affordable and flexible.
“We have about six deals underway,” Barlow said. “Macrae Heppler’s office will likely be the first one built—his company, Eagle Gate Title, is coming. And a publicly traded company is in the mix too.”
Both lease and ownership options are available. “If you’re a smaller business owner who wants to own your building, this is your only shot,” Isaac said. “The next phase will be larger corporate spaces.”
Just down the hill is the two-story Container Park, constructed from 58 shipping containers and built to permanent standards. Originally sparked by a wild idea from Zonos—whose business revolves around international shipping—the design pays homage to global trade. “Clint at Zonos pitched it, and I said, ‘Let’s try it,’” noted Barlow. “I’m a sucker for a good wild idea.”
Today, AlignOps (formerly BusyBusy) and Zonos occupy the space, with an estimated 200–300 employees between them. There’s still a bit of space available for turnkey leases.
Apartments, Adventure, and the Long Game
The residential component is next. The first set of 200 apartments is in design, with construction likely starting at the end of this year or early next. They’ll be located just northwest of the current Tech Ridge office, across from the Vasion building.
But Barlow isn’t stopping there. The far southern tip of the mesa is reserved for a future resort hotel and several restaurants. “We’ll bring in a larger developer for that part, as long as they align with the vision,” he said. “We’re not trying to change the experience—we’re building something world-class.”
Also in the planning stages is an adventure park, with amenities like a zipline and bike trails. And this summer, a temporary smoothie and snack shack is expected to pop up at the top of the stairs to serve the growing foot traffic.
It’s All About the ‘Experience’
What makes Tech Ridge different isn’t just the location or the design—it’s Isaac’s mindset. “We look at the whole vision and say, ‘It’s got to be an experience,’” he said. “And if someone brings a piece that fits, we’re open. But we’re not doing cookie-cutter development here.”
His approach is deeply iterative. “You have to create the right vibe—coffee shops, trails, offices, apartments—it all feeds into that experience. That’s what makes a place exciting and livable.”
Brad summed it up best: “Isaac listens. That’s what makes this place special. Every amenity, every decision—it’s all part of making Tech Ridge a place people want to be.”
Companies at Tech Ridge
Tech Ridge is home to a growing list of companies across tech, aerospace, and health sectors.
Current Tenants Include:
Companies with Plans to Come to Tech Ridge
The Broader Economic Impact of Tech Ridge
Construction Impact (5-Year Estimate):
Recurring Annual Impact at Full Buildout:
Cumulative Tax Revenues (2021–2045):
Outdoor Amenities & Quality of Life
Inspiring Business Owners to Come See Tech Ridge
Isaac ultimately wants to inspire business owners and CEOs to come see Tech Ridge for themselves.
“What I would hope it would achieve is to inspire business owners, CEOs of companies, to come and see what it’s like to give their people this experience and how that benefits them,” Barlow explained. “Because I don’t think a lot of them comprehend how much it benefits them. And when they do comprehend it, they absolutely buy in.”
That buy-in, he said, is powerful. Take Macrae Heppler, for example. “You wouldn’t expect this to be a place to put a title company,” Isaac said. “But the minute he comprehended what we were doing, he was like, ‘Oh, I have to have my business here.’ And that’s how a lot of them are—once they understand it, they want in.”
At its core, Tech Ridge is designed to improve the lives of employees. “Just think about how much of your waking life is spent at work,” he said. “Wouldn’t you want that time to be spent in a place that’s energizing? Inspiring?”
Isaac believes that once business leaders see the environment—where one-on-ones happen on trails and team huddles happen on stair climbs—they start seeing Tech Ridge not just as a location, but as a tool. A recruiting advantage. A culture builder. A signal to employees that their quality of life matters.
“This is a tool for me to use when I’m saying, ‘You should work for me instead of another company,’” said Barlow. “Come visit our office—and once they do, they’re in.”
Want to Join the Tech Ridge Community?
If you're a business owner, startup founder, or company executive considering a move to Southern Utah, reach out to Brad Buhanan, Director of Community Engagement at Tech Ridge. Whether you’re looking to buy, lease, or build, now’s the time to be part of this visionary development.