Moab – the story of

Timber Schuman
·2 min read

MOAB, Utah (KREX) — Welcome to Moab, population 5,000. A town known for its views, parks and jeeps.

Arches National Park was established all the way back in 1929.

But interpretations specialist Karen Garthwait says the park’s popularity only started to increase exponentially in recent years. That’s when Moab, a dusty oil and gas town, traded in its boom/bust economy and made a smart bet on tourism and outdoor recreation.

The sand flats and similar areas are another huge draw for jeeps and dune buggies.

Several shops downtown offer rides, guides, and tours.

In fact, most Moab shops are geared towards tourists, but for the locals and shop employees like Abby Estenson at Desert Sol, behind the scenes isn’t so glamorous.

But, while prices may be high, Abby says the people make up for it.

Moab doesn’t just have a good economy, it’s almost recession-proof. During the recession, the town stayed close to normal while surrounding areas fell.

Owner and Broker of Moab Realty Dave Biersheid tells me even when sales numbers weren’t the highest, values remained high. In fact, he says when the pandemic hit and so many fled to small towns including Moab, each house here nearly doubled in value.

Dave says the average cost of a three-bedroom house in Moab has gone up to $550,000.

Broker Randy Day has been here for decades. He explains how taxes hit homeowners not just when buying, but especially when building.

Day says the impact fees tied to initially phases of construction are put directly onto you. These fees include sewer and water lines, as well as every cost of every permit.

Randy also adds “NIMB-iasm” into the mix, meaning Not In My Backyard. Everybody wants affordable housing, but nobody wants it next to them, leaving no room for any development.

But affordable housing isn’t out the window yet – in fact, San Juan County, just a few miles outside of Moab which is in Grand County, is building some big plans.

There is 5,000 acres of State Trust Land that Utah has decided to build housing developments on to help with accommodation for high school and college students, since the fund used for construction is to be used for the benefit of schooling.

Both Randy and Day say it can’t happen fast enough for businesses who need workers and employees and locals who need an affordable place to live.

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