Hollow Mountain

Hollow Mountain gas station in Hanksville

(Hanksville) There are a lot of gas stations in Utah. Probably thousands. Most of them sell fuel, snacks, and drinks. But I can only think of one that required excavation equipment to build. I’m not talking about the foundation… I’m talking about digging into a mountain.

That's what makes the Hollow Mountain gas station in Hanksville so memorable.

I promise there's a convenience store in there

Everybody stops here. Tourists , locals, off-roaders, people towing boats, photographers, road-trippers, and I’m sure plenty of people who didn’t know it was here… saw it driving by… and turned around to come back to make sure their eyes weren’t playing tricks on them.

I didn't realize it at the time, but 20.20 is a cool number to stop on

Hollow Mountain is one of those places I automatically pull into whenever I'm passing through Hanksville. The owner has always been friendly and over the years, I've gotten to know her a little bit. She always has a good story about the current state of things… whether that be local, regional, or national. I always look forward to chatting with her and hope she’s working on the day I’m there.

Gas pumps outside, amazement inside

Of course, the main reason why people stop here (besides needing gas in seemingly the middle of nowhere) is the novelty of the place. The gas station was literally excavated into the sandstone hill back in the 1980’s. This isn't a building designed to look like a mountain. It’s actually inside one. That alone makes it worth stopping.

Yes, the gas pumps are outside. When you go inside, you'll find everything you'd expect from a gas station and convenience store. There are snacks, bottled drinks, souvenirs, ice cream, travel necessities, and all the little things people suddenly realize they need after spending hours driving through the desert.

Snacks inside Hollow Mountain

Maybe you’re on your way to Capitol Reef National Park to see the Temple of the Sun and Moon. Or you’re heading to Lake Powell. Or perhaps you’re coming from places like Goblin Valley State Park and on your way to Long Dong Silver. No matter which direction you arrive from, you've probably driven through a whole lot of desert to get here. And after a long drive like that, a stop usually sounds pretty good.

My theory on this soda fountain machine is pretty solid

Which brings me to my theory about Hollow Mountain. The fountain soda tastes better here. It just does. I have absolutely no scientific evidence to support this claim, but after driving through miles and miles of red rock, sagebrush, and open desert, that first cold drink is as refreshing as any drink ever. Maybe it's the mountain, maybe it's the desert, or maybe I'm just thirsty. Whatever the reason, I'm sticking with my theory.

The restrooms in the back of the mountain

Also, if you do stop here, do yourself a favor and use the restroom. Not because it's the nicest restroom in Utah. But because it takes you even deeper into the mountain. How many gas stations can say that?

Passageway to the back of the gas station

Now, I need to be honest about one of my experiences here. About 20 years ago, I made a mistake here. A terrible mistake. I saw a Kokopelli keychain hanging among the souvenirs and almost bought it. I remember thinking how much I liked the design. Then I did what so many of us do. I figured I would get it next time.

And you know what? I never saw it again.

To this day, I still look for it every time I stop here. It has become a running joke with myself. Somewhere out there, somebody owns the greatest Kokopelli keychain I've ever seen. I hope they're taking good care of it.

Kokopelli nowhere to be found

One thing that makes me smile the past couple of times I have been here is the large Holy Ghost petroglyph figure painted into the front of the building. For years, it was simply an interesting image to me. Then I visited the Great Gallery Petroglyphs. Now when I see this painting, it feels different. I smile at it. It's like recognizing an old friend in an unexpected place.

The "Great Ghost" painted on a wall outside

Hollow Mountain isn't the biggest attraction in Utah. It’s also probably not the most important (unless you miscalculated how empty parts of Utah are and you’re running on fumes). But this place sure is memorable. You might even tell your friends about it when talking about your trip. You see it once and never forget it. It’s worth a stop.

And if you happen to find a really cool Kokopelli keychain while you're there, please let me know. I've been looking for it a long time.

The entrance to the Hollow Mountain gas station

LOCATION:

40 North, UT Hwy 95

435-542-3298 Facebook Page

Even the petroglyphs are wondering how ancient this relic is