'Sin City' Evanston irresistible to some Utahns

"Business has been extremely good," says Travis Martinez, filling a pint glass behind the bar. Martinez, co-owner of Suds Brothers Brewing, grew up in Evanston. After moving to Kingston, Ariz., he missed the place so much he moved back.

"The people around here are great. I didn't realize that until I moved away. I'd never been so homesick."

"The horses have reached the starting gate," the announcer's voice rings over the loudspeakers in the crowded clubhouse of Wyoming Downs.

It's a busy Saturday afternoon at the track and the lines are long to place a bet.

There's also a long line for drinks at The Finish Line Bar.

A man steps up to order a cocktail, looking at the wall of bottles and line of beer taps.

"We're not in Utah anymore," he says to his companions. "How about a 'Sex on the Beach?"'

According to racetrack officials, 80 percent of Wyoming Downs race track patrons are from Utah. The parking lot is usually filled with cars with Utah plates.

"It's just a great way to spend a Saturday," says Liliane Hoefnagel of Sandy, Utah. "Even though my horse didn't win."

To Terri Fitzsimmons of Salt Lake City, Evanston isn't so much about alcohol and other things that are taboo in Utah. It's just a nice town to visit.

"It used to be the place you went for liquor and hoped you made it across the border without being followed," she says. "I think the perception of Evanston has changed in recent years. It's a beautiful place. The drive here is just gorgeous."

Fitzsimmons, who is director of a health and wellness program for St. Mark's Hospital in Salt Lake City, led an outing of mostly senior citizens to Wyoming Downs for the day several weeks ago.

So why do Utahns like coming to Evanston? The question was put to two senior citizens from the hospital group: Colleen Dalton, 65, and Verl Fitzsimmons, 78.

"Fireworks and booze," Dalton says, with a giggle.

"You can't say just the bad things," Fitzsimmons tells her. "You gotta talk about the good things too."

"What's bad about that?" Dalton says. "I think it's a good thing."