April 08
Hanksville, Utah Sunday
After a full day of driving remote back roads was ready to eat a good steak and crash into a soft matress after a long hot shower ; and then arrived in Hanksville , Utah. There should have been a roadsign at the edge of town ; Welcome to Hell .
Started out early in Kayenta, AZ at the Burger King -- the one with the USMC "Code Talkers" museum-- also see Kayenta, AZ post --
Headed north Hwy 163 about 20 miles to Monument Valley, Navajo Nation. It's beyond description and could have stayed there and looked at it for days. It IS that phenomenal.
After Monument Valley, north to Mexican Hat and take Hwy 261 north. This is southern Utah and is beyond beauty . Through Valley of the Gods that overlooks Moki Dugway,... a phenomenon of a switchback road that climbs 1,100 vertical feet on the cliff edge of the southern Utah mesa plateau. -- also see Moki Dugway post--
Pick up Hwy 95 north up past Fry Canyon where the US mined uranium.
Through Capitol Reef and Glen Canyon National parks. Looked like the surface of the moon in places. THIS was the veiw... phenomenal!
Past Hite, Utah ,... early ferry site across the Colorado river.
Now up into the northern central part of Utah. Still,... the whole day really unique geography... beyond spectacle.
and then at 6;30pm+ ... running late for a day of road trip... arrive at Hanksville, Utah ... Welcome to Hell !
Now,... Hanksville , UT is one of my most favorite places on earth. I love small towns... but this is in between nowhere,... and nothing. Stop at a decent looking motel, and a hand written note on the door is -- in honor of Jesus, our lord... we are closed today. That's right .... it's SUNDAY. So lets close!
A 1/4 mile up the road was Hole in the Wall,... the gas station... litteraly in the side of a mountain... a hole in the wall. They said there was a motel down further.
This was a desert motel of last resort. While tanding in the lobby , with another car pulling up, we were told they had 1 room left; we'll take it. $ 80.00
The little owner motel lady was smoking a cigarette through her tracheotomy. The young surfer dude helper said it was the best room there. This was like Bates motel.
T-bone has never forgiven me for staying in this room. She said the sheets were changed by turning them over. The TV had 3 stations... with Mormons talking about the Book of Mormon; this was way before the broadway play. The bed was a crater that we slid together in the middle. It was an experience.
Next morning... the resturaunt across the street said they were just opening and the delivery truck had not arrived,... so no coffee. We head back up to Blondies. Now I could say something about Blondies resturaunt.... but I was just glad to get something to eat. Road trips offer some unique experiences; this was one!
Now,.. T-bone still holds Hanksville over me for that stop. I love small towns... Hanksville, Utah at 220 people/ residents.. is a unique place in between some of the greatest views / geography on earth,... Moki Dugway to Capitol Reef.... and I'm glad I got ot experience this place!
and next morning on Hwy 24... there was good motel; sometimes... press on.
**************
from Wikipedia:
The town was settled in 1882, and known for a time for the name given to the surrounding area, Graves Valley. It took the name of Hanksville in 1885, after Ebenezer Hanks, who was the leader of the group of pioneers who established the small Mormon settlement.[3] It was not incorporated until January 6, 1999.[4]
The REA brought electricity to the community in 1960. Today agriculture, mining, and tourism are the main drivers to the local economy. Tourism is particularly important with people coming for recreation at Lake Powell, Capitol Reef National Park, the Henry Mountains, the San Rafael Swell, Goblin Valley State Park, and the solitude of the surrounding deserts and slot canyons.
Hanksville was a supply post for Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch, who would hide out at Robbers Roost in the desert southeast of town.
During the uranium mining frenzy following World War II, Hanksville became a supply center for the prospectors and miners scouring the deserts of the Colorado Plateau. Many abandoned mines can be found in the deserts surrounding the town.
4 Corners Tracks of the StoneBear
April 08
Hanksville, Utah Sunday
After a full day of driving remote back roads was ready to eat a good steak and crash into a soft matress after a long hot shower ; and then arrived in Hanksville , Utah. There should have been a roadsign at the edge of town ; Welcome to Hell .
Started out early in Kayenta, AZ at the Burger King -- the one with the USMC "Code Talkers" museum-- also see Kayenta, AZ post --
Headed north Hwy 163 about 20 miles to Monument Valley, Navajo Nation. It's beyond description and could have stayed there and looked at it for days. It IS that phenomenal.
After Monument Valley, north to Mexican Hat and take Hwy 261 north. This is southern Utah and is beyond beauty . Through Valley of the Gods that overlooks Moki Dugway,... a phenomenon of a switchback road that climbs 1,100 vertical feet on the cliff edge of the southern Utah mesa plateau. -- also see Moki Dugway post--
Pick up Hwy 95 north up past Fry Canyon where the US mined uranium.
Through Capitol Reef and Glen Canyon National parks. Looked like the surface of the moon in places. THIS was the veiw... phenomenal!
Past Hite, Utah ,... early ferry site across the Colorado river.
Now up into the northern central part of Utah. Still,... the whole day really unique geography... beyond spectacle.
and then at 6;30pm+ ... running late for a day of road trip... arrive at Hanksville, Utah ... Welcome to Hell !
Now,... Hanksville , UT is one of my most favorite places on earth. I love small towns... but this is in between nowhere,... and nothing. Stop at a decent looking motel, and a hand written note on the door is -- in honor of Jesus, our lord... we are closed today. That's right .... it's SUNDAY. So lets close!
A 1/4 mile up the road was Hole in the Wall,... the gas station... litteraly in the side of a mountain... a hole in the wall. They said there was a motel down further.
This was a desert motel of last resort. While tanding in the lobby , with another car pulling up, we were told they had 1 room left; we'll take it. $ 80.00
The little owner motel lady was smoking a cigarette through her tracheotomy. The young surfer dude helper said it was the best room there. This was like Bates motel.
T-bone has never forgiven me for staying in this room. She said the sheets were changed by turning them over. The TV had 3 stations... with Mormons talking about the Book of Mormon; this was way before the broadway play. The bed was a crater that we slid together in the middle. It was an experience.
Next morning... the resturaunt across the street said they were just opening and the delivery truck had not arrived,... so no coffee. We head back up to Blondies. Now I could say something about Blondies resturaunt.... but I was just glad to get something to eat. Road trips offer some unique experiences; this was one!
Now,.. T-bone still holds Hanksville over me for that stop. I love small towns... Hanksville, Utah at 220 people/ residents.. is a unique place in between some of the greatest views / geography on earth,... Moki Dugway to Capitol Reef.... and I'm glad I got ot experience this place!
and next morning on Hwy 24... there was good motel; sometimes... press on.
************
from wikipedia:
The town was settled in 1882, and known for a time for the name given to the surrounding area, Graves Valley. It took the name of Hanksville in 1885, after Ebenezer Hanks, who was the leader of the group of pioneers who established the small Mormon settlement.[3] It was not incorporated until January 6, 1999.[4]
The REA brought electricity to the community in 1960. Today agriculture, mining, and tourism are the main drivers to the local economy. Tourism is particularly important with people coming for recreation at Lake Powell, Capitol Reef National Park, the Henry Mountains, the San Rafael Swell, Goblin Valley State Park, and the solitude of the surrounding deserts and slot canyons.
Hanksville was a supply post for Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch, who would hide out at Robbers Roost in the desert southeast of town.
During the uranium mining frenzy following World War II, Hanksville became a supply center for the prospectors and miners scouring the deserts of the Colorado Plateau. Many abandoned mines can be found in the deserts surrounding the town.
