Most Utahns know these towns as pit stops—places to eat, pee and refuel while traveling between the Wasatch Front and points south. They’re familiar only with the fringes, where chain restaurants and gas stations line the highway exits. But if you venture along the business loops between I-15 exits—the old main streets—you may discover a gem worth your detour: a unique museum, a funky thrift store, maybe even a street mural.

33 N. Main Street, Nephi, UT

Nephi’s only mural—at least to our knowledge—was started in 2019 and, after a pandemic delay, completed in 2021. A project of Juab High School’s art department, the original design was created by the teacher, Kristy Carter, while the artwork for each letter was designed by students.

5 N. Main Street, Fillmore, Utah

Fillmore’s tree mural was created in 2012, years before most towns in Utah began commissioning artists to spruce up the sides of buildings. It was the brainchild of Peggy Christensen, owner of the now-defunct P C Art & Frame at the corner of Main and Center Street. The mural was painted by Doug Jolley, a former high school art teacher who lives in Fillmore, where he paints landscapes and figurative scenes in acrylic. The sign on the tree reads “Home Sweet Home, Est. 1851.”

91 N Main St, Beaver, Utah 

Painted by Billy Hensler in 2018, the wildlife mural on the north side of Beaver Sport & Pawn can hold its own against anything being done in the cities. Visions of mountain goats, elk, and rainbow trout burst from the brick walls like a sportsman’s fever dream. The Provo artist has created wildlife murals all across the state, from Eagle Mountain to Coalville, and several for major mural festivals.

73 N. Main Street, Parowan, Utah

Not far north of Cedar City, Parowan is probably the least-visited pit stop on the list, but if you’ve been to Brian Head Resort, you’ve probably driven through it. The town’s welcome mural, located on the side of a local business, was painted by Jed Sudweeks, a local master craftsman who designs furniture for a living. If you want to see the OG of local murals, you’ll need to drive 11 miles west of Parowan to view the Parowan Gap petroglyphs. The gap is a distinctive geologic formation carved out by an ancient river. For centuries, it was a meeting place for Indigenous peoples, from the Fremont to the Hopi and Paiute, all of whom left their mark on the Navajo sandstone.

Petroglyphs at the Parowan Gap

In Plain Site

With our In Plain Site byline we feature publicly viewable art, both official and street art, throughout the state of Utah.