Welcome to the world famous Hole n the Rock. It's a 14-room house that was once a roadside stop and diner. The owners literally blasted their way into the side of a giant rock and kept expanding until they had created a 5,000-square-foot home.
The diner opened in 1945 and occupied what is now the kitchen. Albert Christensen did all of the excavation work himself and was also a taxidermist. His first project was his pet donkey, Harry. Maybe he should have started on roadkill first. Poor Harry.
Located south of Moab along U.S. Highway 191, Hole n the Rock is one of those places that's impossible to miss. Between the giant white letters painted on the cliff, the roadside billboards, the unusual sculptures, and the house carved into the rock itself, there's plenty to keep travelers entertained. 10-06
Institute of Terror
Salt Lake City, UT Photo courtesy Shawn Church
If you live in or have passed through Salt Lake City around Halloween time, you may be familiar with The Institute of Terror. This haunted house was known for scaring unsuspecting visitors and became a Halloween tradition for many people along the Wasatch Front.
What is attention catching here is the building itself. Even before you stepped inside, the place looked like it was up to no good. Around Halloween, the crowds, decorations, and anticipation helped make it one of the more recognizable seasonal attractions in Salt Lake City.
I'm not much of a haunted house person myself, but I always found it interesting how certain attractions become local landmarks. For many Utah residents, the Institute of Terror was one of those places. 10-06
UPDATE: The Institute of Terror name no longer appears on the outside of the building. The attraction was rebranded as Nightmare on 13th, which continues to operate today as one of Utah's best-known haunted attractions. Interestingly, the Institute of Terror name returned in 2022 as a separate attraction within the larger Nightmare on 13th complex. 06-26
Institute of Terror
