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This story was originally business insider.
Grant Johnson lived in Utah in 1995 in a 19-foot trailer. He was given the opportunity to purchase 40 acres of land in the rugged wilderness of the state.
Johnson was told the location had been abandoned by a cult in the 1970s, but it was the perfect setting for a lifelong dream. Using dynamite and my two hands, I turn the rocks on the property into my home.
Johnson, who worked as a backcountry guide in Utah’s uranium mines, used the Moab Desert’s famous Attraction “Hall and the Rock”a family home carved out of a sandstone cliff.
He spent $25,000 and spent the next 20 years completing his new residence. Anyone on Airbnb can now rent a bedroom in a special space About $350 a night, about $1,000 a night for the entire 3 bedroom cave.
@airbnb Is this stay rock solid, thanks to the host’s subsidy? #airbnb partner #airbnb #boulder #Utah ♬ original sound – airbnb
Johnson’s property is located in southern Utah, about a four-hour drive north of the Grand Canyon, near the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, known for its cascading rock formations.
Johnson lives in a cave with his partner when not renting. They also operate the estate as a homestead, growing tomatoes, peppers, garlic, and corn, some of which they sell.
Mr. Johnson also raises horses, cows, pigs and turkeys and plans to build his own grotto barn.
“This is a lifetime art project,” he told Insider.
He carved walls by hand using light and sound as guides
Johnson purchased dynamite through mining operations.
“That was in the ’90s, so it was just buying dynamite and signing papers. It’s a lot harder now,” he said.
The first explosion occurred in the winter of 1995. Johnson returned to the scene for eight years afterward, hollowing out his desired space, eventually landing at about 5,700 square feet.
When he first stepped into the cave he created, he couldn’t help but be in awe.
“There has been nothing in this space since dinosaurs,” he said. “It’s a 100 million year old rock.”
Johnson’s music room (left) and instruments on Johnson’s 40-acre property.Grant Johnson
In 2005, Johnson hired a professional builder friend to help complete the project. Together they poured cement floors and installed huge sheets of tempered glass to close the cave from the wilderness.
The boulder had six openings, all facing different directions and had to be sealed before it could be habitable. The last seat was installed he was in January 2014 when Johnson moved into this space.
Meanwhile, Johnson also molded the cave walls and doorways himself. He split the rock into the desired shape using a technique of drilling parallel holes and tying them with cords around the perimeter.
“There’s a lot of acrobatics and it’s really hard,” he told Insider.
In the process of sculpting, he played with light and sound in space. During the winter he sometimes sat in space to observe how the cave refracted sunlight during sunsets, or especially during the spring equinoxes.
“I just sat down and when I noticed something that didn’t fit or wasn’t bent correctly, I got a drill,” he told an insider.
While he was carving, he also played the harmonica and adjusted his plans based on the best pitch he could find. It paid off. Since moving in, Johnson has hosted many musicians, concerts, and even groups of Tibetan monks in the space.
“They purred and the sound never went away,” he said.
One of Johnson’s musician friends names different rooms after different keys. The living room is “E”.
You can rent a property for $1,000 a night on Airbnb
The cave now welcomes visitors on Airbnb. “West End” rooms with private staircases leading to private balconies are rented for $350 per night. For $1,000, guests can rent his entire three-bedroom property while Johnson and his partner move out and stay in a nearby cabin.
A remote view of Johnson.Courtesy of Grant Johnson
Airbnb guests can climb into the cave outside and use the rope swing in front of the property.of also show the list That sense of adventure extends inside, where guests should notice the “steep rock steps” that connect the cave rooms.
The cave runs off-grid and uses water for anything plugged into it, but it should be noted that hair dryers and pancake griddles in particular are too much for the hydroelectric system to handle. Also, one important thing to note is that there is no WiFi.
“The desert has a special energy, and this space resonates with it. “Its comfort, cleanliness and beauty far exceeded our group’s expectations.”
Guest parting advice: ‘Drive 4WD. Bring extra water. Value your time there. Relax. Go hiking. Unplug and enjoy the space. Please.”
Johnson said he loves hearing how his guests marvel at the pristine natural surroundings and how staying in the cave makes them feel connected to nature. We recommend stepping out onto the westernmost patio to take in the quiet desert nights.
“You can’t ask for a darker sky, you can’t ask for a quieter one,” he said.
