Conservation groups are fighting to preserve 175,500 acres of public lands in Utah that the Bureau of Land Management has plans to lease for 130 oil and gas developments—a move that would be extremely detrimental for the wilderness areas, wildlife inhabitants, and the fight against climate change as a whole, says the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. On Sept. 12, the Center … [Read more...]
Moab’s Affordable Housing—Is There Hope?
Moab & Housing One might deduce that there is an affordable housing crisis when stories are circulated of working adults living with their parents, camped out on public lands and in the yards of friends and co-workers; house-sharing; and business owners housing workers in Airstreams and single-wide trailers. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development states … [Read more...]
Moab—500 Tourists for Every Resident
Moab's Tourists Moab, UT—Back in February, Moab’s City Council imposed a moratorium on new construction of overnight rentals. Despite room rates fetching upwards of $300 per night, the town that is home to Canyonlands and Arches National Parks wants to attempt to put the brakes on the growth they have experienced hosting nearly 3 million tourists in the town of around 5,500 … [Read more...]
Southeastern Utah Delicate Arches
The arches of southeastern Utah are monuments to earth’s history; but how fragile are they and how long will they last? Arches, such as Delicate Arch, are delicate to different degrees depending on size, life cycle, composition, and material. Utah Delicate Arches Natural arches are formed from various types of natural materials such as shale, limestone, basalt, granite, and … [Read more...]
Stargazing in Moab, Utah is amazing
Night skies are a tourism bright spot in Moab Moab is famous as a backdrop for dozens of movies, and stars are often seen hanging out at local hotspots. But the real stars come out at night. More than 80 percent of the American population is living under light-polluted skies. In 1994, Los Angeles experienced a power outage due … [Read more...]
Warriors on Cataract—Where warriors find healing
Warriors on Cataract takes veterans onto the Colorado to heal Warriors on Cataract exists as a nonprofit organization working to get underserved populations out into the Moab wilderness, including those who need help healing from the trauma of having served in the military. They focus on conducting four-day river trips for veterans who struggle with any sort of trauma … [Read more...]
Human remains—Native Americans, naked Mormons, or friends of dinosaurs?
Human remains are rock shop owner’s claim to fame Lin Ottinger is famous in the small town of Moab. Since 1960, he has owned and operated Lin Ottinger’s Rock Shop. The Moab Rock Shop is a combination store and museum can at once be seen as an authentic dedication to a love of geology and paleontology, and a tourists love it. Lin has an odd sense of humor, with some of … [Read more...]
Moab, Utah restaurant resurrection: the Moab Garage Company
From gasoline and auto repair in 1929 to liquid nitrogen ice cream in 2019 The Moab Garage Co. building chose its leaders, Erin and Ryan Bird, as much as they chose it; and the Birds have put some work into honoring the building’s history. The Birds came to Moab from Salt Lake City with an idea for a restaurant, and at the time, the property at 78 North Main Street was the … [Read more...]
Moab’s Identity Crisis: Will Moab Become a Town for Tourists, Locals, or NIMBYS?
Moab residents all say they want to see the town become less dependent on tourism with a more viable year-round local economy. But lip service and meaningful change are two different things. Some meaningful change is underway: Utah State University is expanding its campus. The airport is now servicing planes that carry fifty passengers; funding for a bypass … [Read more...]
Press On! Heila Ershadi and Kevin Brydie are Good News for Moab Sun News
The Voice of a City A good newspaper is the voice of a city talking to itself. The new publisher of the Moab Sun News , Heila Ershadi wants that conversation to be informed and robust. Originally from Tennessee, Heila Ershadi made Moab her home 11 years ago and began freelance writing for the Moab Sun News and other publications. In November of last year, when owner Andrew … [Read more...]