Hi, I'm Dana.
Mom of four. Recent mahjong convert. Founder of Wasatch Sparrow.
How I got here.
A few months ago, a friend invited me over to learn mahjong. I expected to be polite, stay an hour, and leave. I stayed five.
There was something about it I hadn't felt in a long time. The four of us at the table, tiles clicking, hands warming up to the patterns, conversation flowing more easily than it had in years. By the end of the night I had bought a set on my phone. By the end of the week I was teaching my neighbor.
I'm a mom of four. My days are full. But I started carving out Friday nights for mahjong, and pretty soon other women started asking if they could come too. The group grew. The conversations got better. And somewhere in there I realized — this is what I want to do.
Why Wasatch Sparrow?
The Wasatch is home. The mountains are in our backyard, in our weekends, in our stories. Naming the business after them was the easy part.
The sparrow took longer. I went through a hundred ideas before landing on it. Mahjong's most iconic tile — the One of Bamboos — is traditionally illustrated as a small bird. In Chinese mahjong tradition, that bird is often a sparrow. The word "mahjong" itself, in some translations, means "sparrow."
I loved that. A small, common, often-overlooked bird that nonetheless plays a central role in the game. It felt right. Sparrows show up everywhere, including the Wasatch — usually where you don't expect them, in groups, talking. Just like the people we wanted to gather.
The Wasatch Sparrow way.
A few principles that shape every class we run.
No Snobbery
Mahjong has a reputation for being intimidating. We are working hard to make sure ours isn't. Whatever your level, you are welcome.
Slow Down
We don't rush. The point isn't to finish a hand quickly. The point is to enjoy the time you spent at the table.
Make It Beautiful
The space is warm. The tiles are beautiful. The drinks are nice. We treat your time like it matters, because it does.
I'd love to meet you.
Whether you are picking up a tile for the first time or you have been playing for years, there is a seat for you at Wasatch Sparrow.
Reserve a Spot