Illustration: meunierd© shutterstock.com
“STAY WHERE JOHN WAYNE STAYED” Apache Motel’s newest owners embrace property’s unique seven-decade history Written by Sharon Sullivan | Photos by Murice D. Miller
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ESTERN MOVIE LEGEND JOHN WAYNE USED TO STAY AT THE APACHE MOTEL WHILE WORKING ON FILMS IN THE MOAB AREA, AS DID JOHN FORD, DOROTHY MALONE, ANTHONY QUINN, THE CREW OF THE MOVIE GERONIMO, AND A HOST OF OTHER MOVIE STARS FROM THE 1950S AND 1960S. IN THE 1990S, MEMBERS OF THE FILM CREW FOR THELMA AND LOUISE STAYED THERE. Nicole and Burke Priest bought the motel a year-and-a-half ago after the opportunity to purchase the iconic landmark was presented to them during the pandemic – when fewer people were traveling. “Our attitude was we’d rather invest in Moab in uncertain times than anywhere else during certain times,” Burke says.
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While the modest rooms at the motel are popular with budget-conscious travelers, the Apache is rich in history and vintage charm. Built in 1954, the Apache Motel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. While it’s not certain where the name originated (the Apache Indians did not reside in the region) Burke believes the motel was
MOAB AREA REAL ESTATE MAGAZINE June–July 2022
