Nik Hougen is Moab's local hermit. He lives alone in the rugged wilderness far from downtown Moab. When Richard Markosian, Utah Stories publisher, interviewed him Nik explained how to find him, "You need a UTV to go the first 90 minutes. Then you need to walk the next stretch. It's rough country—about 45 minutes if you don't stop." After run-ins with the BLM and unwanted … [Read more...]
Moab: Affordable Housing Meets Sweat Equity
“I drive around Moab quite a bit and never see anyone building single family homes,” notes Ben Riley, Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Southeastern Utah (HASU). “And, if I do, it’s usually more upscale, selling in the $300,0000-plus range. I just don’t see any building that isn’t condos or hotels.” It’s no news that tourism is a booming industry in Moab. Arches … [Read more...]
Combining Economic and Environmental Sustainability
With its red rock and blue sky, Moab is a land of contrasts. But another stark contrast is that of growth-oriented business owners and the residents who see the recent growth as perhaps too much of a good thing. The economic, social, and political landscape of Moab has changed dramatically since the uranium-based economy came to an end several decades ago, and recreational … [Read more...]
Have Fun in Moab, Utah
The editorial staff at Utah Stories magazine has been covering Moab for six years and we love sharing our knowledge. We guarantee the following itineraries will make your next visit a fantastic one. Jeeps (families) From March 24 to April 1, Jeeps of all grades and conditions will converge on Moab for the annual Easter Jeep Safari. Jeep Safari was started in 1967 by the … [Read more...]
Concert in Paradise
The cliff walls that surround us required ten million years to form. Gravity, pressure, wind, water, and most significantly, time, were all required to produce the dark crimson, black-stained, sandstone walls with ferns growing out of mossy cracks. The Sitka spruce wood fibers in a Stradivarius violin have melded with the beetle-abdomen varnish to produce a richness in the … [Read more...]
Moab’s Peace Tree —Green Smoothies and Green Eggs and Ham
Now in its 20th year, Moab’s Peace Tree Café prides itself on using fresh, light, and healthful ingredients in its menu. “We don’t have any fried foods, and everything is fresh, not frozen,” says owner Karen Whipple, who started the restaurant in downtown Moab in June 1998. For much of 2010, the restaurant was closed while renovations were made to expand the business into … [Read more...]
Moab’s Sundial Medicinals Provides Tinctures For Health
“I grew up using herbs, so they’ve always had a place in my life,” says Emily Stock, owner/operator of Moab’s Sundial Medicinals. Stock started her company in 2012 after several years of studying herbalism, nutrition, and alternative medicine. Sundial’s products are all hand-made personally by Stock, from garden to shelf. “I grow and wild-harvest about 30 percent of the … [Read more...]
Moab’s Moonflower Community Cooperative
Moonflower Community Cooperative in Moab, has come a long way from the years it spent in a building made of old ammo boxes in the early 80’s. Back then it was called Life Stream, but was referred to locally as “The health food store.” The store and co-op originally opened in 1975 and was organized by longtime resident Conrad Sorensen. For years it was run on a volunteer … [Read more...]
Moab’s Back of Beyond Books Proves that Indie Book Sellers Can Still Make It
“There are two ways to die in the desert,” says Andy Nettell; “thirst and drowning.” He is repeating one of his recent summaries of a favorite book called The Secret Life of Water, by Craig Childs. Nettell is without a doubt a book lover and enthusiast, and his joy of books is contagious. Books are losing ground to electronic media, and independent bookstores are falling by … [Read more...]
Moab Made Artisan Shop Features Local Art and Artisan Goods
The greatest thrills in writing a human-interest story come from the connections and facets that can appear from one single, passionately-written piece. A writer finds a gem in the wilderness, and holds that gem of words and photos up to the light to see that it actually reflects far and wide, and that it’s not only the writer who appreciates this rare find, but others as … [Read more...]