Cedar City's desert lighthouse still stands — for now
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A lighthouse that incongruously perches over the desert may go dark soon, now that state officials have taken steps toward condemning the Cedar City attraction.
Why it matters: The 88-foot, functioning lighthouse over I-15 has been a popular, if bizarre, local icon for years.
Driving the news: The Utah Department of Transportation made an offer last week for the land as it prepares to widen the adjacent highway, lighthouse owner Laurie Scholzen told Axios.
State of play: UDOT announced in fall that it would seize and demolish the site under eminent domain to expand the highway interchange amid rapid population growth and traffic.
- The project will be in design for the rest of the year, with construction scheduled to begin next spring, UDOT spokesperson Kevin Kitchen told Axios.
Catch up quick: The lighthouse was built about 25 years ago to advertise a then-new commercial area on the south edge of town.
- After Scholzen's family bought the property for her husband's dentist office about a decade ago, they made repairs and began offering ticketed tours last year.
The latest: Scholzen hasn't accepted UDOT's offer, which only covers the market value of the property, not the lost tourism business.
- She said the family is still seeking a legal avenue to keep the lighthouse, but eminent domain law gives the state a wide berth.
What's next: Scholzen says she hopes to reopen for weekend tours in May and June when the weather warms up.
- Meanwhile, she may seek a buyer who's willing to relocate the lighthouse.
What they're saying: "Each layer had to be built in place, brick by brick, cut to fit," Scholzen said. "The architecture of this structure is so underrated; it is really a cool thing. … So we're hoping that there'll be some private investor who would be interested in relocating it and keeping it open."