How To Know You've Become a Southern Utah Local

If you have moved recently to Southern Utah you are probably getting used to a new place. One day you will look around and realize the place feels like home. Here's how to know if you have become a local.

Your kids think a snow shovel is a dustpan.

If you use your old snow shovel to sweep up the garage, you may be a local. Canva

With only a smattering of snow every other year, that quickly melts on the warm pavement, snow removal isn’t a big priority in this climate. The only reason a snow shovel shows up is if you brought it with you when you moved South.

You are eating Mexican takeout while sitting in a carwash.

Two businesses you see a lot of in Southern Utah. You are bound to combine the two. Canva

At least half the restaurants in this area are of the Mexican variety and it seems like a carwash opens up every week. Chances are you will be combining the two.

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You know your neighbor is wealthy by looking at his side by side.

Off-roading has become as expensive as what you drive to work. Canva

With a wilderness nirvana just across the city limits, Southern Utahn’s value a good off-road vehicle. Enthusiasts spend anywhere from 30k to upwards of a 100k to ride through the dry gullies and sand dunes in comfort. You can hear these UHV’s roar down the roads leading to BLM land every weekend of the year.

You drive the Gorge like it’s a luge competition.

Driving the Virgin River Gorge above the speed limit. Google

The canyon carved out by the Virgin River is where they built the I-15 freeway. If you drive the posted speed limit of 55 through this gorge, expect the paint to be peeled from your car as locals pass you in the left lane. Mix in the slower moving diesel trucks and you have a driving demonstration that would make a Grand Prix crowd roar.

You understand going to the strip doesn’t involve anything X-rated.

The Arizona Strip is a lot of dust and desert. Canva

The top third of Arizona is separated from the rest of the state by the Grand Canyon and known as the Arizona Strip. This waterless wasteland can be navigated all the way to the North Rim, but the sharp rocks that rip tires have left many a vehicle stranded miles from civilization. Pretty wholesome except for the cussing.

If you have begun to relate to any of these, you are starting to fit in to the Southern Utah desert communities. Welcome and feel free to start shaking your head at the new arrivals.