5 Quirky Utah Facts That Will Surprise You

I’ve lived in Utah my whole life, and honestly, it still amazes me every day. Sure, we’re famous for jaw-dropping national parks and epic ski slopes, but some of Utah’s quirkiest features are what make me proudest to call this place home.

1. Take our state fossil, the Allosaurus. Most states leave this kind of thing to scientists or lawmakers—but not Utah. In the 1980s, schoolkids across the state voted to make it official. How awesome is that? I was part of it! Kids literally got to choose which prehistoric predator represents our state. I'm not sure we knew how cool this was while it was happening.

2. Then there’s the Great Salt Lake and its tiny, mighty residents: brine shrimp. These “sea monkeys” thrive in the salty waters and are harvested worldwide for fish food. Few people realize that Utah quietly powers a multibillion-dollar aquaculture industry. I still marvel at how life finds a way in such a salty and temperamental place.

3. And of course, pickleball. Utah takes it seriously—my mom is a sponsored 6.0 player, and I’ve watched the energy of the game sweep through my family, neighborhood parks, schools, church gyms and even some malls. It’s proof of Utahns’ playful spirit and tight-knit communities.

4. I can’t forget Tintic Standard Time, a quirky legend about miners running their own local clocks to maximize daylight. Fact or folklore, it’s a testament to the independent streak that’s woven into our state’s history.

5. Finally, I love that we celebrate the Bonneville cutthroat trout as our state fish, alongside our state dinosaur. It’s a reminder that Utah treasures both its wild history and unique natural resources. We are survivors. We make things happen. Living here, I can’t help but admire all the weird, wonderful, and endlessly fascinating quirks that make Utah, AWESOME Utah.