It all started at my brother’s house.
My niece had woodburned a little tree onto a wood disk, and I thought 'this could actually be a really fun group date.' So I picked up a couple of burners and tried it out with some friends. The vibes were good. People were chatting, creating, laughing and the end result was something you could actually keep.
From there, things snowballed.
My friend Alex Millet and I started hosting bigger events at his sister’s wedding venue, Amavi in Spanish Fork. We set up burners, wood rounds, and snacks in the big space.
The turnouts were usually pretty modest, but the people who came had a great time and kept coming back. When Alex moved away, I realized it was time to find a more permanent home for Scorched.
Because it started as a date-night idea, I wanted to be near BYU and UVU. I was looking for a spot where college students could drop in on a whim, whether they planned ahead or not.
I wanted it to feel casual, creative, and easy to enjoy, without the pressure or price tag that sometimes comes with other experiences.
The team now is small. It’s mostly me, some amazing part-time employees, and my girlfriend Gabby who runs our social media and marketing.
We’ve also had a ton of help from friends, especially when it came time to renovate our new location. (Seriously, the Scorched Studio wouldn't exist without a lot of late nights and people showing up with drills and snacks.)
There are a few places out there offering creative experiences, but I wanted Scorched to feel different. Less hovering. More chill. We’re not trying to upsell you or guide your hand while you work. You come in, grab a burner, and make something cool while hanging out with friends or a date.
We put real thought into the space: lighting, layout, music, even the chairs, because the atmosphere matters just as much as the activity. You’ll find drinks in the fridge, plenty of traceable designs to boost your confidence, and a setup that lets you move at your own pace.
It’s creative, but not intimidating. Intentional, but not fancy. And definitely more affordable than a lot of other date-night or girls-night-out options around town.
Scorched keeps growing, and I’d love to keep it going, hopefully with more locations around Utah in the future. As far as I can tell, we’re one of the first woodburning studios to exist, which makes it even more exciting to watch people discover it for the first time.
The best part? Seeing what people create. Especially the ones who come in saying, “I’m not artistic.” That moment when they step back and say, “Wait… this actually looks good”? That’s what we’re here for.
Come burn with us. Bring a friend. We’ll take care of the rest.
