I came across Hole N’ The Rock years ago when traveling from Moab to Monticello Utah. But not until recently did I pull over to check it out.
Located 12 miles south of Moab on Hwy 191, Hole N’ The Rock can’t be missed, it sits right on the side of the highway. If traveling from the north you’ll first notice HOLE N’ THE ROCK whitewashed in massive letters on the side of the rock with an arrow pointing to the entrance. If traveling from the south you might first see the Jeep sitting on top of the rock with a driver at the wheel.
Albert and Gladys Christensen carving their home into a massive sandstone structure which now serves as an unusual museum. collection of Lyle Nicol’s authentic metal sculptures and other odd things petting zoo that features animals like zebras and an ostrich. This unique structure is definitely worth a visit just for the oddity and novelty of it
5,000 square feet — carved out of the side of a mountain of sandstone? Albert and Gladys Christensen called home for more than 30 years remains.
It’s called Hole N’’ The Rock. (Not to be confused with Hole in the Rock in Kane County, the trail the Mormon pioneers used in 1880.) You can visit this unique structure by passing through Moab on Highway 191. Don’t worry, it’s easy to find. Just refer to the side of the mountain for a giant arrow showing the way. Once you arrive, you are certain to have an interesting experience.
Knick knacks, yard gags, antique farm equipment, penny squishing machines, among other attractions send a slight waft of “cheesy” into the atmosphere, but, hey, the parking lot was filled to capacity with license plates from all over. Could a crowd that large be wrong?
The attraction boasts a petting zoo filled with cute and cuddly to exotic, tall and hairy, including a two-humped camel, wallabies, an ostrich, and many more animals to enjoy.
The gift shop and General Store stock art pieces and “art” pieces in every price range. The Trading Post houses original Native American artwork and pottery as well as metal work by local artist Lyle Nichols.
And then there’s the house; the “sandstone-carved wonder” that started it all. For $6.50, you can take a tour and learn the history of the home.
The 20-year-long painstaking process of blasting and carving resulted in a surprisingly ingenious structure comprised of 14 rooms and a huge fireplace that maximize the use of limited space.
Albert lived in the home only a short time before dying suddenly in 1957. Gladys, who continued adding to the home’s interior, remained in the home until her death in 1974. Both are buried on the property.
To this day, the home remains as it was when Gladys lived there raising her family.
Overall, Hole N” The Rock is uniquely Moab. It prides itself on its one-of-a-kind appearance, and unapologetically unconventional nature. Yeah, it’s corny and trippy, but much like the love shared between Albert and Gladys Christensen, its appeal will endure.
The two million motorists who traverse US Hwy 191 between Monticello and Moab each year pass one of the most unique and interesting places in the Western United States.
the huge HOLE N” THE ROCK sign, painted high on the cliff, is impossible to miss.
Tens of thousands of visitors stop and visit. It is open year round. Many in the tourist industry agree that it is one of the most visited man-made attraction in southern Utah. And therein lies a tale.
Hole N” The Rock is located 11037 S. Highway 191 in Moab. For more information in Hole N” The Rock, please visit holeintherock.com.
