Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes
Utah is a beautiful state with plenty of natural wonders that attract professional photographers from far and wide. And mixed in with all those beautiful red rocks and alpine mountains, there's also an abundance of man-made art installations that make for some unique photo ops.
Should you find yourself in southern Utah, here are seven unique spectacles you might want to check out. If you're a fan of soda, license plates, junk art and random fixtures this list will not disappoint.
Giant soda cans
Utahns love their soda, which is probably what inspired this giant soda can display off Highway 50 in Salina. Roadside America tipsters say that these huge soda cans — which are actually giant oil storage tanks — have been repainted in recent years to resemble Coke products instead of Pepsi products. Some speculate that this may have something to do with the local Carl's Jr. negotiating a deal with Coke instead of Pepsi.
Take a picture next to a can of Coca-Cola, Sprite, Diet Coke or a Monster energy drink and then grab some grub at Carl's Jr. It's reportedly been awarded "the best Carl's Jr. in the state of Utah for the past nine years running," according to Roadside America.
Giant license plate spider
For most people, a giant spider is the stuff of nightmares. But if it's made out of license plates, it's not scary — it's cool. According to Roadside America, Deveren Farley built a giant black widow spider in 2018 out of galvanized steel. Farley made the head out of Utah license plates and used a stop sign to represent the spider's signature red mark on its underbelly.
"He said he built it because the purpose of art is to bring out emotions in people," Roadside America notes, "and he wondered if people would be scared by a big metal spider."
You can catch a gander of the giant metal spider at Morgan Termite and Pest Control in St. George.
License plate guitar
For those who aren't so keen on spiders, this license plate structure will be far more palatable. Also located in St. George and made by the same artist who constructed the giant spider, the license plate guitar on Main Street is definitely a photo op you don't want to miss.
Fun fact: If you like Deveren Farley's work and you live up north, you can take a look at his license plate dragon statue titled "Dad" in Bountiful's Town Square. The dragon used to be in St. George but moved permanently to Bountiful in 2023.
License plate pole
In case you haven't had enough license plate-themed attractions, here's one more stop to add to your list. As reported by Roadside America, Washington resident Kimball Gardner has an 81-foot-high pole in his yard that's covered with license plates from all 50 states. And it keeps growing! According to Tripadvisor reviewers, you can pitch in to the collection by donating an old license plate when you visit.
You can find the license plate pole on Washington Dam Road in Washington, Utah.
Rusty lawn creature art
You know what they say — one man's junk is another man's treasure. Make your way down to Enterprise and you'll see this quote in action. On Main Street on the east side of town, there's a yard with a collection of what Roadside America tipsters call "modified vehicles and junk creatures" that will likely prompt you to snap a few pictures. It's rusty yard art at its finest.
This area is also home to the first log cabin built in Enterprise, which is another photo op you can add to your travel album.
Landlocked lighthouse
Utah isn't exactly known for its lighthouses since it's not anywhere close to the sea, but that only makes this landlocked lighthouse structure in Cedar City all the more special. When built in 2000 its developers claimed it was the talled inland lighthouse in the U.S., according to Roadside America.
Visiting it may even stir up some emotions. One Roadside America tipster wrote, "I felt a deep and spartan kinship with this lighthouse. I lay my hands against the peeling paint on a few of the weathered stones that comprise her, and felt a tear well up in the corner of my eye. I brushed the drop away with a finger and wiped it ceremoniously against the stones."
You'll find the landlocked lighthouse at 1321 S. Providence Center Drive in Cedar City.
Hole N'' The Rock
This next manmade structure isn't just a photo op — it's a whole experience. The Hole N" The Rock home in Utah's Canyonlands is truly a unique roadside wonder. It's a 5,000 square-foot home that was built directly into the wall of the red cliffs by a man named Albert Christensen in the 1940s. The family lived in it for a time, but now it's strictly a tourist attraction with an adjacent diner, petting zoo and trading post.
As Atlas Obscura reports, "Inside, 14 rooms are arranged around huge pillars, with shelving carved right out of the walls. Among the attractions are a fireplace with a 65-foot chimney drilled through solid sandstone, a deep french fryer, and a bathtub built into the rock."
Speaking of photo ops, you might want to pull your camera out when you meet Harry, the Christensens' taxidermied pet donkey.
Want to add more photos to the album?
Utah is replete with both natural and man-made structures that make for some impressive photos. If you're looking for more Instagrammable moments, Roadside America has a full list of attractions and oddities throughout the Beehive State that are worth visiting.
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