New Wall Coming November 2024!

City of Heber, Wasatch County

In celebration of the

Grizzly Bear

One of Utah's most beloved animals, Bart the Bear (1977-2000) was a Heber-based movie and television actor trained by Doug and Lynne Seus. Utah Wildlife Walls has partnered with Heber City, Heber Valley Entertainment, Body and Soul Studios, the Utah Film Commission and the Vital Ground Foundation to celebrate Bart's legacy with a monumental new mural in downtown Heber. Located across the street from the historic Avon Theater, the mural is made possible through support from a Heber City TAPS grant and Vital Ground.

In 1990, in the wake of Bart's early movie successes, Doug and Lynne Seus co-founded Vital Ground, a nonprofit land trust that conserves habitat for grizzly bears and other wildlife in the northern Rocky Mountains. Founded in Utah, Vital Ground is now headquartered in Missoula, Mont. The organization has helped protect and enhance more than 1 million acres of habitat for grizzlies and all things wild, creating a large and lasting conservation legacy for Bart and his successors, Bart the Bear II, Tank the Bear and Honey Bump the Bear.

We're excited to offer a chance for the public to help celebrate Bart's legacy with a weekend of Bart movie screenings and events, including Bart storytelling with Doug and Lynne and a book release party for Lynne’s new memoir, The Grizzlies and Us, plus conversation with grizzly bear advocate Doug Peacock and Vital Ground staff. Join us on November 15 and 16th! Details below.

Purchase Tickets

Bart Film Fest: A Monumental Tribute
to the Legacy of Bart the Bear

Avon Theater, Heber City, Utah
94 South Main Street

Friday, November 15, 2024

5:00 pm Mural Reception & Book Release Party with Doug and Lynne Seus, Chris Peterson, and special guest Doug Peacock

6:30 pm Welcome, Bart Stories & Friday Feature: An Unfinished Life (2005)

Brett Prettyman, Doug and Lynne Seus, Doug Peacock

8:30 pm Q & A Doug and Lynne Seus

Saturday, November 16, 2024

9:00 am Grizzly Bear Conservation with select Grizzly Short Films

11:00 am Matinee: The Great Outdoors (1988)

12:00-2:00pm Book Signing "The Grizzlies and Us" at the Avon Theater by Lynne Seus

1:00pm Matinee: Dr. Doolittle 2 (1991) (at the Ideal Theater 113 N. Main St.)

3-4:30 pm Matinee: The Giant of Thunder Mountain (1990) (at the Avon)

6:30-8:30 pm Intro, Bart Stories & Saturday Feature: The Bear (1988) with Doug and Lynne Seus & Doug Peacock

8:30 pm Q & A with Doug and Lynne

About the Grizzly Bear

Grizzly bears are large and range in color from very light tan (almost white) to dark brown.
They have a dished face, short, rounded ears, and a large shoulder hump. The hump is where a mass of muscles attach to the bear’s backbone and give the bear additional strength for digging!
They have very long claws on their front feet that also give them extra ability to dig after food and to dig their dens.

Grizzly bears once roamed throughout the entire western United States. As their habitat was destroyed and they were excessively over-hunted, their population declined. Grizzlies continued to inhabit Utah up until 1923 when the last wild grizzly bear, Old Ephraim, was shot in Logan Canyon.

Grizzlies in Utah?

Learn More!

In Bart's honor, Doug and Lynne Seus started the Vital Ground Foundation to protect and restore North America’s grizzly bear populations. Check out their website to get involved!

Thanks to our Partners!

Utah Wildlife Walls is a grassroots arts and engagement project that is only made possible through key partnerships. Big thanks to our partners on this project!