Moab Made describes itself as “a shop dedicated to the local artisan community.” I would add that the Main Street store is hand-crafted for the individual who appreciates singular items. Moab Made’s wares have soul and personality. Moab Made was founded by Rebecca McAllister in 2016. “It was created out of a personal desire to do something that I knew I would feel really pas … [Read more...]
Moab’s Desert Sun Ceramics
Walk through the door of Desert Sun Ceramics in Moab and you will see “Gregoire Pottery”—bowls, mugs, pitchers and other ceramic items created by owner Barb Gregoire. But the studio is more than a venue for only one woman. Desert Sun Ceramics is open to novices and experts alike. The mission is “to provide a creative, inspirational learning environment where everyone can expl … [Read more...]
Moab Root Cellar Project: History is ‘Preserved’ For the Future
“The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” —William Faulkner “We don’t really think of ourselves and our lives as history,” said Christy Williams Dunton, the Development Director for the Museum of Moab. “But we are. We are living histories.” As one may carefully preserve the harvest in mason jars, Dunton makes “jars of memory jam,”—her term for the digital recordings of … [Read more...]
Moab Road Trip
Local Moab resident, Heila Ershadi, gives the insider take on where to go and what to see in Moab. A trip to Moab can mean mean many things, such as appreciating the landscape’s astounding beauty, experiencing the charm of a unique desert town, enjoying world-class outdoor recreation, and even reconnecting with the wild magic found in nature and your own soul. It can also m … [Read more...]
Skydiving Moab: Find Space and Views
Here on earth, space is at a premium. City dwellers feel crowded, which is why we come to places like Moab, where the scenic vistas are vast. But even in Moab, traffic gets congested. In seeking more space, what could possibly be less claustrophobic than skydiving? But even the word “skydive” has connotations that have prevented me from considering it in the past, because tha … [Read more...]
Redtail Air: Fly Like a Hawk over Utah’s Stunning Scenery
The pilots of Redtail Air have one of the the most exhilarating professions in the southwestern United States: flying over the breathtaking terrain of southeast Utah and sharing their vast knowledge of the region with awestruck passengers. Senior pilot Larry Van Slyke says “My favorite flight is Green River to Sand Wash early in the morning. It's stunning to fly over a c … [Read more...]
CommuniTea Garden: Moab Man Embraces the Grace of Open Space
One afternoon in early spring, I met Jay Nethercott on a lot in downtown Moab that he estimates could have made him hundreds of thousands of dollars. But instead, he joined forces with local nonprofit Resiliency Hub to create a space where nature meets community. It’s called the CommuniTea Garden, a name inspired by the “Tea and a Topic” open forums that Resiliency Hub hosts in … [Read more...]
Guest Workers in Utah
They come to Moab from all over the world. Tourists, yes, but also guest workers. Service industry employers say these workers, brought in on temporary visas, are necessary for the viability of their businesses. “You just can’t get enough help in Moab,” says Judy Bane, Lodge Manager at Moab’s Red Cliffs Lodge resort. However, some advocacy groups, such as the Souther … [Read more...]
Nik Hougen, Moab’s Local Hermit out of Hiding
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 a … [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...]