I hadn't been in the Escalante area since about 2001 -- my memory of the area was that had a good state park but not much else in the way of facilities. The state park is still quite good for camping, but now there is much more. Like much of Utah, the increase in tourism in recent years had made some small but important changes -- new gas stations with small convenience stores, more places to eat, and more interest in preserving the past.

My understanding is that this building housed a cooperative in the early 1900's, the a general merchandise store, and now occasionally serves as an art gallery.