This should be a listing for the "Kanab Sand Cave" instead of the Moqui Cave which is just a bit further North.
The Sand Caves are located 5 miles north of Kanab on the East side of the highway. These sand caves are easily accessed and can by seen from HWY 89. The hike itself is a short half mile round trip hike.
These sand caves were man-made when they began mining for the sand in the area. The mining process was short lived once the miners realized that almost the entire State of Utah is covered in sand and it can just be picked up from the ground; and now we have these spectacular caves to explore.
Moqui Cave was once used by Anasazi people as a shelter or food store, according to archaeological digs in the area. It was rediscovered by white settlers in the 19th century, and served as a speakeasy in the 1920s during Prohibition.
In 1951, the cave was purchased by Laura and Garth Chamberlain, who opened a tavern and dance hall the following year, and it became a tourist attraction and museum.
Its museum exhibits include a rock collection, including fluorescent minerals, fossils, pottery, spear points, American Indian artifacts and art, dinosaur tracks (estimated to be over 140 million years old).
It has displays about the Anasazi. There is also display about the Ancestral Puebloan.
In the saloon, the original mosaic bar-top and bar stools from the tavern days still exist. Behind the bar, there are moqui marbles in various sizes.
Visited in 2018 - all the ruins are recreations. There was even somebody there working on/building a wall while we visited. It's free, so I guess you get what you pay for? Good spot to take the dog for a walk if you're on a roadtrip.
Permanently Closed