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Show APRIL moab serves probably the best pancakes in the world. There, diners will see a montage of old photos on the wall that Continued from page 11 prove Moab Jan Wilking, says that growth in tourism offers economic opportunities. Moab is something like the Park City of 20 years ago, says Wilking, who still lives in Park City but has a number of Moab investments, including the Slick Rock Cafe, which he owns along with other Park City businessmen. “Right now, I see a lot of enthusiasm in young people involved in entre- MICHOL EX PE DiTTLON Ss MOUNTAIN BIKE ¢ RIVER SEA KAYAK ¢ HIKE RAFT MOAB « ALASKA « IDAHO « BAJA » NEW ZEALAND 497 N. Main * Moab, UT * 84532 RENTAL * 800-648-8488 e SALES SERVICE OUTDOOR We Have GEAR Showers Diamond Back ~ Marin ~ Voodoo Schwinn ~ Titus ~WTB ~ Keith Anderson Nike ~ Pearl Izumi ~ Bell ~ Gyro Asolo ~ Shimano ~ Carnac 800-635-1792 * 801-259-7882 497 Main MOAB, UTAH girls doing exercises, Model Ts being driven where only jeeps tread nowadays, and a look at a little, desert town and its people from way back when. On the back of the Jail House Cafe menu is a proclamation, urging the reader to support locally-owned businesses. One glance down the street Jim Stiles: Moab’s Conscience. tells preneurship,” Wilking says of Moab. “They are going to have something because of the evolution of Moab.” One reasonWilking invested in Moab is because Park City real estate has become so expensive. But Wilking, who considers Moab something of a parallels second home, says the between Park City and Moab are not complete. Moab may grow but probably will never be as rich as Park City. “The big difference between Moab and ski resorts is that their tourists consume in completely different fashions. A family of four can spend four times as much at a ski resort than they would in Moab,” Wilking explained. In fact, as tent cities spring up along the Colorado and Kane Creek during the spring and fall bicycling seasons, it’s apparent that these tourists will spend as little as possible, in high contrast to the money-throwing skiers up north. ts difficult to tell just how fast tourism is growing in Moab — except to say that it is exploding. Between March and December of 1995, 154,000 people used the Sand Flats recreation area, where the Slick Rock bike trail is located. That compares to 10,000 people who are estimated to have used it in 1988. Most mountain bikers don’t even bother to go to Arches. Yet, from 1990 to 1995, visitation to Arches went from 620,719 to 859,372 and increased another 22 percent in just the last year. The park’s popularity is increasing so rapidly, that the quality of the experience is now being openly questioned. Back in Moab, motel rooms have increase. Commercial camping sites in Moab have increased from 715 in 1991 foe eg APRIL to 1,030 in 1995 an increase of 44 percent. Residents of Moab will benefit greatly from the growth of their tourist economy Wilking said. “As a tourism economy emerges and evolves, there are so many incredible opportunities for someone hall MOAB $10.00/evening 801-259-3330 has been a real town since the Mormon pioneers arrived. The old black and white photos, show school- increased from 757 in 1991 to 1,299 in 1995 — a staggering 73 percent star 1996 who wants Influx of Franchises And despite the influx of franchises, there still are nesses, like Groffs ishing in Moab. independent Rim Cyclery, Across Place is the Jail House from busiflour- Poplar Cafe, which still PAGE tale: Wendy’s, Arby’s, Denny’s... At the other end of town, next to McDonald’s, is another locally-owned restaurant, the Star Diner. There Marc Horwitz and his mother, Mona, dispense vegetarian dishes, including tofu. A native of the San Francisco Bay area, Marc moved to Moab after discovering the place at the first Fat Tire Bike Festival 10 years ago. Considering himself something of a newcomer to Moab, even after 10 years, Horwitz recently declined to sell some of his land to another ernment is having to help people keep or find housing. “Even if you have two people working for $5 an hour, its hard to pay the rent,” Moser said. Senior citizens, perhaps, have been hit the hardest, Moser explained. Grand County is working on various plans to make housing affordable for seniors, including developing a senior citizen’s trailer court. All this, as new Sante Fe-style condominiums spring up outside of town, near the golf course. There, new, large houses dot the red rock hillside and provide a contrast to the smaller, traditional houses within the city limits. fast-food franchise. “I would like to see Moab grow with a little quality,” he says while dispensb ing a cappuccino from Bill and Robin Groff pioneered mountain biking in an ancient-looking Moab at Rim Cyclery, far right. brass machine. “The fast-food places, the hotels and motels They are the same contrasts that you are such junk. The new Arby’s building might find in any tourist town, form Park City to St. George. is a slap in the face.” Still, tourism is a good thing for rom the golf course, you can Horwitz. “People who come into town get directions to the world- famous Slick Rock Bike Trail. “Just go to the cemetery and are good for business.” And the Star Diner is doing well, despite its location next to McDonald’s. Others, however, haven't fared so well, turn right,” you’re told. And up into the hills east of Moab, you'll find it, a black trail of says Moab Mayor Tom Stocks. “These people have come in here and sucked the money out,” the mayor says of franchises and _ outside investors. “Some (local) people have gone out of business. We don’t need to encourage outside franchises to come in here and take the cream off the top.” The mayor sees the tourist econo- my as a fragile one. And he sees interlopers on the horizon. Already, he says, ski resorts are beckoning moun- tain bikers out of the hot desert summers. No Panacea The mayor sees things slightly differently than another old-time Moab resident, Dale Moser, who thinks tourism has come to stay. “We would have a hard time getting rid of the tourists, if we wanted But to become independent.” the says, tourism brings a lot of “social problems.” Not only do working people find it difficult to make a living working in the service industry, but the escalation in property values is putting many residents in a housing crunch. Local gov- Moser, to.” who sits on Grand County’s governing council, agrees that tourism is no panacea. Reflecting on Moab’s past, Moser said mining provided a good tax base, as well as tourist-based high-paying economy, jobs. by The contrast, provides a smaller-tax base and jobs that pay very little. Along with that, he 12 rubber left across miles of red rock, where bicycle enthusiasts by the tens of thousands try their skills from March through November. Craig Bigler, the project manager for the Sand Flats Recreation Area, says all those people bring a lot of impact on the environment. “The impact on the land, vegetation and habitat is tremendous. If one person strays off the trail, everyone you've got a road.” else follows and Sand Flats tries to involve cyclists into taking responsibility for the environment. dents hit But when Sand Flats watch out! “These bikes,” says kids high school stufor Easter break, don’t Bigler, even “because bring they’re too drunk to ride.” Instead, they drive cars and jeeps through the red rock and generally tear the place up. Law enforcement officials from all over Utah come to Grand County to help patrol the week long melee. It just makes you wonder if Abbey and Steen and all those old-timers aren't just rolling over in their graves. @ |
