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 They
began building the rock in 1945 after their children had grown.
Albert lived there until his death in 1957. Gladys continued
to live there and develop Hole in the Rock into the attraction
it is until her death in 1974.It’s almost a shame no one lives at the world famous Hole N” the Rock with its antique furniture and bedding, fine, fine art, a perfect 65 to 72 degrees year-round – without artificial heating or cooling. On the other hand, because it is a must-see tourist stop, thousands of people each month can enjoy the original endeavor. And with new ownership, the attractions continue to grow.  The
original kitchen that served the diner is still there, but the
front of Hole N” the Rock is a gift shop with souvenirs
jewelry. Erik has added a Trading Post with Native American
items and in a year has added his own personal stamp to Hole
N” the Rock with an impressive collection of antiques he
has collected over the years.“I’ve always has these things and now I have a great place to put them on display,” he said. These include very old gas pumps in mint condition, an old horse buggy, ore cars, a two-story outhouse. Erik places each of these things to fit the scheme and theme of Hole ‘n the Rock, which is eccentric Moab, 1950s.  The
property encompasses five axcres, two and a half of which are
pure rock – red rock, of course. Erik has added a few ostriches,
an arcade for kids and brand new restrooms in addition to the
Trading Post. The gardens and fountains have always been a sculptured
masterpiece and still are. Erik’s partner, Ken Rice, makes
cement sculptures which are displayed and available for purchase
on site.Erik and Wendy moved to Moab from Utah County. Erik discovered Hole N” the Rock while traveling on business to Texas. Having spent some time here with his son running the river and jeeping, Erik perused the real estate papers at a local motel and found Hole N” the Rock for sale. Two months later the deal was closed.  “In
our peak season we do 200 tours a day,” Erik said. “This
year we’ll have a nice picnic area and we will be putting
in a little grocery store soon.”Currently Hole N” the Rock, located about 15 miles south of Moab on Highway 191, is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. During spring and summer hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. A half-dozen tour guides are employed during the peak season, and each visitor is teated to a tours of all 14 rooms. The exhibits outside of the home offer a break from traveling and many points of interest all related to southern Utah culture. |
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