New owners breathe new life into a historic motel while preserving the past Two figures stand outside the door of Moab’s Apache Motel: a weather-proofed lifesize cardboard cutout of the western film icon John Wayne, in a cowboy hat and a pistol hanging at his side; and a lifesize statue of a Native American man with feathers in his hair and a quiver of arrows at … [Read more...]
Moab’s Canyon & Waffle House: The Last Coffee-Counter in Moab, Utah
Coffee at the Counter Canyon Steak and Waffle House in Moab is decorated with nostalgic, black-and-white photos of simpler times, and each booth is named after a Beatles song. In 2020, when owner Shawn Welch visited the then-vacant building to consider re-opening it as a restaurant, she thought, “It just needs love,” which conjured the Beatles hit, “All You Need is … [Read more...]
Moab Workers Build Their Own Homes to Overcome Housing Shortage
In the under-construction Arroyo Crossing subdivision just south of Moab, dozens of people bustle in and out of 17 houses in various phases of construction. Some are just framed skeletons, others have sheathing and metal roofing, some have straw bale walls. Some of the people are residents-to-be working on their own and their neighbors’ homes through sweat-equity programs … [Read more...]
Moab Growth Limited by Building Cost and Water Supply
When a mobile Park home went up for sale on Walnut Lane in Moab, it would have been a sure bet for any area developer to realize windfall profits if they flipped it into luxury condos. Instead, Moab City stepped in and decided it would be better to safeguard the park and its residents against eviction and use the site for future affordable housing. In the past five years, … [Read more...]
Moab Housing: Luxury in Abundance but Scarcity of Affordable Housing
The obvious gentrification of Moab is reflected in the chic new HooDoo Hotel, featuring tall ceilings and wood and marble sculptures, along with the closure of the Rio Bar featuring a giant lizard. We visit the Josie Wyatt Bar and Grille and sit down for cocktails. The bartop marble is rusty, coarse, shiny and textured. The bar faces a manicured courtyard and fountain area. … [Read more...]
The Reality of Van Life in Moab, Utah
Cindy Martinez has been coming to Moab during the summers to work since 2016. She’s nearing 65, and her husband is 70. Both collect disability, and both live out of their van. “There are good things and bad things that happen in Moab,” Martinez said. The wages in Moab are high, but the cost of living is higher. Maintaining daily routines while living out of a vehicle is … [Read more...]
Living Without Cars in Moab, Utah
Moab's Millcreek Parkway: A Story for Locals Only While vacationing in Moab last month, we found another example of how Grand County residents take ownership of their community. Moabites pride themselves on thinking differently and living deliberately with the notion that closer contact with nature should not entail driving to a destination, but that nature should be … [Read more...]
Flying for the First Time over Some of the Most Spectacular Scenery on Earth, Moab Utah
The sensation of taking off in a single-engine Cessna with our two kids — ages four and six — and watching their eyes become saucers while their jaws drop, naturally causes a parent to wonder: “Will they love this or hate it? Will they relax and have fun or will they remember this as agonizing child abuse?” I have no idea. It only takes a few minutes until the grip of fear … [Read more...]
John W. Williams: Moab’s Wild West Doctor
In 1896, Moab was a small town of 400 or 500 people, mostly ranchers, farmers, and miners, with no doctor. Grand County Commissioners at the time created a new position of County Health Officer for a salary of $150 a year, which was accepted by a man named John W. Williams, later known locally as “Doc” Williams. Williams served the community for more than 20 years, … [Read more...]
Easy Bee Farm: Growing Food on Easy Street in Moab Utah
The entrance to Easy Bee Farm, just off Easy Street in Moab, is tucked between thick curtains of growth that make it hard to spot if you haven’t been there before. “That’s part of the adventure,” laughs Rhonda Gotway-Clyde, who owns the farm. Once found, the long gravel drive leads to what does feel a little like a magic kingdom, lush with flowers and vegetables, and … [Read more...]