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All the United States Utah Moab Hole N" the Rock
AO Edited

Hole N" the Rock

A house carved into a rock in the 1940s.

Moab, Utah

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Been Here
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  WhiskeyBristles / Atlas Obscura User
  WhiskeyBristles / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Franklin Delano Roosevelt bust carved into the side of the home.   Tyler Cole
  Michelle Enemark
Beloved pet donkey, “Harry”   Michelle Enemark
The best roadside attractions have a great big sign and arrow.   Michelle Enemark
  Hole in the Rock Official Website
  Hole in the Rock Official Website
  paulabow / Atlas Obscura User
A bigger-than-life punctuation commitment to N” rather than N’.   Tyler Cole
7-10-24   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
Gift shop and entrance to the home.   Tyler Cole
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
7-10-24   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
7-10-24   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Travelers along U.S. Highway 191 in Southeastern Utah are amazed to discover this unique, 5,000-square-foot home carved directly into a rock.

Albert Christensen began construction on his rock home in the 1940s, digging, carving, and blasting for 12 years before moving his family in and opening a unique diner for desert passersby. Though Albert died in the late 50s, his wife Gladys continued to live in the rock and run the diner for many years. She died in the 70s, and both she and her husband are buried on the grounds of the rock they called home.

Today the whimsically punctuated Hole N" the Rock is a successful roadside attraction, running tours of the home Christensen built with passion and drive so many years ago.

Inside, 14 rooms are arranged around huge pillars, with shelving carved right out of the walls. Among the attractions are a fireplace with a 65-foot chimney drilled through solid sandstone, a deep french fryer, and a bathtub built into the rock.

Though no human lives in the Hole N" the Rock today, it is still inhabited by the charming Harry, a taxidermied pet donkey. He is in poor repair, but it is apparent that he was well-loved and was mounted with care by his former owner, Albert.

Outside the living quarters, you’ll find a rock and cactus garden, a petting zoo, plus picnic tables and benches carved from stone.

Related Tags

Holes Taxidermy Roadside Attractions Eccentric Homes Homes

Know Before You Go

Located 12 miles south of Moab, Utah on US Highway 191.

Community Contributors

Edited By

michelle, tylercole, WhiskeyBristles, Blindcolour...

  • michelle
  • tylercole
  • WhiskeyBristles
  • Blindcolour
  • ashcashvaglica
  • Collector of Experiences
  • Darrell Powers
  • paulabow

Published

November 2, 2009

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Hole N" the Rock
11037 US-191
Moab, Utah, 84532
United States
38.390464, -109.454635
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Places 9

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