Founded in 1883, the city is named after Thomas Edwin Ricks. Ricks was one of the pioneers who settled the Upper Snake River Valley area (the word “Rex” is the German form of Ricks). Ricks and the city’s other founders wanted to lay a strong foundation for education and commerce in the area, so in 1888, they established Ricks Academy, which later became Ricks College and is now Brigham Young University-Idaho. BYU-Idaho is a four-year liberal arts college and one of the fastest-growing universities in the country. If you’re planning a trip to BYU-Idaho, one of our Rexburg hotels would be a convenient place to stay for your campus visit.
If you want to learn more about the area’s history, you can visit the Teton Flood Museum. It displays local artifacts from the past 130 years, providing a glimpse into the lives of Rexburg’s early settlers, as well as those who rebuilt the city after it was devastated by the Teton Valley Flood in 1976.While in town, you may want to also check out ne of Rexburg’s most popular tourist destinations: Yellowstone Bear World. It’s the only drive-through wildlife preserve in the Greater Yellowstone area. At the preserve, you can see black bears, grizzly bears, moose, elk, deer, bison, gray wolves and other native North American animals in their natural habitats. There is also a petting zoo, amusement rides and educational exhibits.
Book your stay at one of the Choice Hotels in Rexburg, ID today!