During a private, organization-wide meeting for the This Is The Place Foundation, Ellis R. Ivory concluded nineteen years of service as Executive Director and Chairman; and Case Lawrence was formally introduced to succeed him as head of the Park.
Ellis Ivory’s Legacy of Service
In a heartfelt message to those in attendance, including board members, employees, supporters of the foundation, Ivory shared in part, “The past nineteen years have been some of the most joyful in my life. I love This is the Place Heritage Park and what it represents. It is imperative that we remember the story of the pioneers and the principles they embodied – which were essential to the opening of the West.”
An Elevated Vision for the Future
Following Chairman Ivory’s remarks it was announced that Case Lawrence, a Utah business leader with a strong track record of community engagement would step into the vacant role to provide continued leadership and an elevated vision for the foundation effective immediately.
Regarding that announcement, Ivory concluded, “We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Case and his wife, Kerri, step into this role. Katie and I have done our best to help the Park grow and improve. We’re proud of those achievements, but we are confident that Case and Kerri will continue to lead the Park to new heights.”
Governor Spencer Cox stated, “It’s individuals like Ellis Ivory who have built Utah into “the place” so many pioneer ancestors envisioned. On behalf of Utah, I thank Ellis for his 19 years of service to This Is The Place Heritage Park.
I have come to know and respect his successor, Case Lawrence. He is a visionary problem-solver and I am confident that he will bring new ideas to the park, making it a meaningful experience for Utahns and tourists alike.”
Scott Strong, the Director of Utah State Parks shared, “We at the Utah Division of State Parks extend our deepest gratitude to Ellis Ivory for his unwavering hard work, dedication, and the invaluable friendships he fostered during his tenure. His years of service have played a pivotal role in growing This Is the Place Heritage Park into a cherished cultural gem within the State of Utah. We are thrilled to continue our collaborative efforts with Case Lawrence and are confident that together, we can continue to create lasting and impactful memories for all who visit the Park.”
Lawrence concluded the meeting saying, “My family and I couldn’t be more excited by this opportunity to serve. The unique mission of This Is The Place has a deeply personal place in my heart. Over the next several years there will be significant opportunities to showcase Utah’s amazing story for the world. The This Is The Place Foundation has an important role to play in that work and I look forward to working in this effort with so many wonderful people.” Lawrence continued, “Ellis Ivory is a true Giant in our State. His efforts made Utah a better place to live, work, and raise a family. We owe him a debt of gratitude for his leadership and sacrifice over these many years and I want to thank him for his vision to This Is The Place.”
About This Is The Place Heritage Park
This Is The Place Heritage Park is comprised of 450-acres and preserves the story of those who settled the western territory. For nearly a century, great efforts have been made to honor the memory of the intrepid settlers and those who came before them. There are over 60 original or replica structures in the Village today and together with costumed interpreters, the epic story of the West is told.
A visit to The Park opens the door for guests to disconnect from the modern world. They can tour the Park on one of four trains, see farm animals, pull handcarts, ride ponies, pan for gold along with dozens of other activities. The Native American Village celebrates Utah’s first people and shares Native culture through storytelling, dance and traditional activities. Pioneer trades keep centuries-old skills alive throughout the historic Village with interactive demonstrations. The Pioneer Children’s Memorial pays tribute to the hundreds of young pioneers who never made it to the Salt Lake Valley and were buried along the way. Seventeen large stones are engraved with over six hundred names of each known child. Recent additions include the Pioneers of 1847 Monument honoring early Black pioneers.
The future of This Is The Place is anchored securely in the preservation of the past. The Park is open year-round and is one of Utah’s treasured historical places paying tribute to the Pioneer Spirit that is Utah and its people.
About Case Lawrence
Case Lawrence is the Founder and former CEO of CircusTrix (now Sky Zone). With over 300 facilities, 5,000 employees and 50 million annual guests, Sky Zone is the largest owner, operator and franchisor of trampoline parks in the world.Case has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times and other publications as a pioneer in Active Entertainment, and a thought leader for the increasingly relevant “Experiential” segment of the consumer economy. In 2017, Case was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year; and in 2019, Case was named CEO of the Year by Utah Business.
In addition to his work at Sky Zone, Case teaches Entrepreneurship at the BYU Marriott School of Business. In 2024, Case was a Republican candidate for Congress in Utah’s 3rd Congressional District. Most recently, he served as Co-Chair for the Utah Inauguration Commission and associated events that concluded just this week.
Case received a JD from Duke Law School and a BA in American Studies from BYU. Prior to college, Case served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint in Hungary and currently serves as a Counselor in his local Stake Presidency. Case and his wife, Kerri reside in Mapleton, Utah where they raised their six children; they have three grandchildren.
About Ellis Ivory
Ellis R. Ivory is the founder and retired CEO of Ivory Homes, Utah’s top homebuilder for 22 consecutive years, with nearly 50 locations along the Wasatch Front and St. George. Ivory began his real estate business in 1964, after graduating from the University of Utah. In 1967, Roger Boyer (his Sigma Chi fraternity brother and later brother-in-law) joined Ivory and the two formed the Ivory and Boyer Co., the original developers of Bloomington, a now-well-established community just south of St. George. In the 1970s, Ivory founded Ivory and Company and concentrated primarily on real estate brokerage and home site development. Economic conditions in the 1980s demanded that he turn his attention to home building and Ivory and Company would soon become Ivory Homes. In 2000, he sold the business to his son, Clark D. Ivory, and has been retired since 2001.
Ivory has served as the chairman of the Deseret News Publishing Company Board of Directors, vice chairman for the Newspaper Agency Corporation, chairman of the This Is the Place Foundation and a member of the Hale Centre Theatre National Advisory Board. He has also served as stake president for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and, along with his wife, served as an LDS Church mission president in England from 1979 to 1982. At the U, he has served on the Health Sciences Council, the Diabetes Advocacy Board and the Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Ivory was named a Junior Achievement of Utah Laureate in 2006, and on May 21, 2009 he received the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce’s “Giant in Our City” award. He and his wife, Kathryn, are the parents of seven children.
