Utah is full of quirky, bizarre, and unforgettable roadside stops. Here are ten of the weirdest, each with a brief description and a source for further reading.
1. Hole N” the Rock (Moab)
A 5,000-square-foot home carved out of a massive sandstone rock, featuring guided tours, an exotic zoo, and unusual art sculptures. It’s a true oddity in Canyonlands Country.
2. Metaphor: The Tree of Utah (Wendover)
This 90-foot-tall psychedelic sculpture stands alone on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Created by artist Karl Momen, it’s both baffling and inspiring to passersby.
3. Dinah the Pink Dinosaur (Vernal)
A giant, cartoonish pink dinosaur built for a motel, now a symbol of Vernal’s paleontological pride.
4. Hollow Mountain (Hanksville)
A convenience store and gas station carved directly into a rock formation in the middle of the desert. It’s as practical as it is peculiar.
5. Snelgrove Ice Cream Cone (Salt Lake City)
A massive ice cream cone sculpture, the last remnant of a beloved local ice cream brand.
6. Desert Bottle Tree (Wendover)
An old tree festooned with bottles, cans, and tokens-each a wish or memory left by travelers.
7. Star Noodle Dragon (Ogden)
A buzzing neon dragon sign, dubbed the “Blade Runner dragon,” and a longtime icon of Ogden’s quirky side.
8. Fantasy Canyon (Vernal)
Otherworldly sandstone rock formations that look like something from a fantasy novel or a progressive rock album cover.
9. Devil’s Slide (Weber Canyon)
Two parallel slabs of limestone jutting out of a mountainside, resembling a giant playground slide-hence the name.
10. The “Up” House (Herriman)
A real-life replica of the colorful house from Pixar’s “Up,” complete with whimsical details and vibrant paint.
These attractions showcase Utah’s offbeat spirit and are perfect for anyone seeking something out of the ordinary on their next road trip.
Sources:
- https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/utah/roadside-attractions
- https://www.theholeintherock.com
- https://www.businessinsider.com/utah-coolest-road-trip-pit-stops-2022-8
- https://www.utah.com/articles/post/10-of-the-most-bizarre-places-in-utah/
- https://in.hotels.com/go/usa/weird-quirky-things-to-do-utah