Turner Hospitality

Written by Dr. Lisa Gabbert, Folklore Program Director and Associate Professor, English Department, Utah State University

Harold Turner during tour of the Triangle X Ranch, August 1, 2017.

One theme that emerged from the project was that of “hospitality,” since Triangle X is in the hospitality business. Oftentimes when we think of hospitality we think of the “hospitality industry,” meaning exclusive resorts, fancy hotels, and luxury cruise ships. But what is hospitality? What does is it actually mean?

“Hospitality” means to welcome strangers as friends. St. Benedict, a 6th century monk, elaborated on the importance of hospitality. He wrote, “Hospitality is the way we come out of ourselves. It is the first step toward dismantling the barriers of the world. Hospitality is the way we turn a prejudiced world around, one heart at a time.” St. Benedict thought that hospitality would help establish a more peaceful, tolerant and just world.

The difference between the hospitality offered at Triangle X and other, more corporate forms of hospitality is that Triangle X is the Turner’s homeplace. The Turners welcome strangers as friends into their home. This is an intimate act. They are of service to their guests and in doing so transform strangers into friends and family, as evidenced by the intricate interconnections between the Turners, their employees, and their guests. Many guests return year after year as friends; guests become workers and employees, and several have become part of the Turner clan. The Turner’s formulation of hospitality hearkens back to this older notion of hospitality, which is that it dismantles barriers between people.