Moab
Apache Motel
A two-story brick motel built in 1954–55 for Moab's uranium boom, where John Wayne stayed while filming; the 1955 arrow sign still stands.
- Built
- 1955Built fall 1954 to spring 1955 as a motel (opened April 1955); south extension c. 1958.
- Style
- Mid-century two-story brick motel
- Type
- Inn
- Credentials
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
The story
Salt Lake businessman Ken P. Alexander’s company built the two-story brick motel in 1954-55 for travelers drawn by Moab’s uranium boom, which quadrupled the town’s population between 1954 and 1964. After it opened in 1955 it hosted film companies and their stars; John Wayne stayed there while filming and later brought his family on vacation. The motel struggled after the boom, passed through several owners, and was bought in 1977 by Taiwanese immigrants J.J. and Shou-Yu Wang, whose remodeling furnished much of the interior. The original 1955 arrow sign still stands by the lobby.
Good to know
- Address: 166 South 400 East, Moab, UT 84532
Things to do
Tours nearby
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Last verified October 2026. Details change; confirm with the inn before you book.