What's Great About Hanksville, Utah?

The first time I passed through Hanksville, I was 10 years old. I was traveling to Lake Powell with my best friend's family and by the time we reached Hanksville, I thought we must have come pretty close to the end of the world. It was remote to say the least. We stopped at a little store built into a cave. Now THAT was cool! We didn't stay long though, and I didn't think about Hanksville for 12 years, until I met my now husband. He'd grown up there with his dad, who was a farmer and rancher. After my father-in-law passed away, we bought his farm from the estate and started spending a little time in Hanksville. I've come to discover what's great about Hanksville.

The first thing that's great about Hanksville is it's long growing season. Situated in the low desert of the Colorado Plateau, Hanksville's climate is generally mild, although temperatures reach 100+ for a portion of the summer. If the water is available most farmers are able to harvest four cuttings of alfalfa. The norm for most parts of the state is three. Livestock also does well since they don't have to weather long, wet winters. Gardeners benefit, too. Tomatoes produce prolifically and deliciously all summer and long into the fall. Watermelons from the area are regionally famous for their juicy sweetness. Peppers of all kinds are right at home. Plants that love cooler weather thrive in the spring, before the heat sets in and you can plant so early it's not uncommon to have sweet peas ready to eat by late May. Pretty much anything you would like to grow does well in Hanksville at some point in the year.

The second great thing is the terrain itself. Hanksville and the surrounding area is unparalleled in it's natural beauty. Picture every stereotypical image of the American West and you'll find it here. Our own farm boasts a beautiful sandstone spire that would be right at home in a John Ford movie. Hanksville itself is a river valley, the Fremont runs to the north of most of the town, with gorgeous sandstone cliffs and colorful clay soils bursting with minerals and metals, including uranium. The view in the distance includes the Henry Mountains, with their beautiful green, purple and blue meadows and forests. Then, of course, Lake Powell is less than an hour away. Lake Powell is a man made wonder. With it's miles of shoreline composed of red sand beaches, towering red sandstone cliffs and natural arches, Lake Powell is unlike any place else on earth. And we cannot forget Capitol Reef National Park, which is only about 20 minutes away. It's beautiful rock formations, hiking trails and remarkable plant life are more than deserving of their National Park designation.

Our third favorite thing about Hanksville is an interesting mix of unexpected scientific activity in the area. Our fabulous fossils have long been something Utahns are proud of, but this recent discovery (http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700235284,00.html) is pretty big news for any place, much less one as low profile as Hanksville. Combine that with the Mars Society's project (http://desert.marssociety.org/) and I have to say, little old Hanksville seems a bit more interesting these days! Of course regular people can't visit these sites, but knowing they are they adds a little excitement to the air.

Finally, the last great things about this little desert town are the people who live there. As you might have learned from Hollywood, people who live in such places are wizened and tend to be older and tougher than anyone you'll meet in an urban setting. I hate to stereotype, but in many cases the Hanksville locals would fit right into a Cohen Brother's movie. For example, the older lady -she's got to be in her 80s- who runs one of the local motels carries her cordless phone in a handmade leather holster at her hip because she is a one person show. If you call for reservations, she's likely to make your arrangements while out pulling weeds near the road. And don't even think about small talk. She not only doesn't have the time, she doesn't have the interest. But she will give you a comfortable stay in a spotlessly clean room and you'll probably want to come back again. Hanksville has two fast food style restaurants which serve above average breakfast fare in the morning and quite good burgers, fries and even steaks the rest of the day. They are generally staffed by friendly local teens or their parents who can give you the low down on the the county's high school sport record or the hot hunting spot if that's what you're in town for. And, there is usually a handful of colorful locals hanging out adding life to the scene. There are two convenience stores (including the one built into a cave, which is still open) and a grocery store in town, along with three motels, mostly serving the Lake Powell crowd or people taking the scenic route to Green River. Hanksville also has an elementary school and an LDS church. The recent economic times have forced us to list our farm for sale and we're quite sad about it. Hanksville isn't really our home, but it's a great place to visit.