Bradshaw Bowman built Kiva Koffeehouse by hand at age 87, finishing the structure in June 1998 along Utah Highway 12 between Escalante and Boulder — one of the most visually dramatic stretches of road in the country, and one of the most isolated. The building is shaped from natural and earthen materials that blend into the canyon wall. Bowman was an artist, engineer, and builder; his daughter Barry Ence has operated the koffeehouse through every warm-weather season since it opened.
The address is Hwy 12, Mile Marker 73.86, Garfield County — a setting that tells you who arrives here: people driving into or out of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument who want a wholesome meal, a pastry, or a great cup of coffee in a building worth stopping for on its own terms. The café runs Wednesday through Sunday 8 AM to 4 PM, seasonally from spring through fall. A Kiva Kottage overnight accommodation operates on the property. The copyright on the site reads "© 1998-2019," confirming the founding year.
**Verification notes** Website live; 1998 founding confirmed via Deseret News and Utah Stories; Bradshaw Bowman as founder confirmed; Barry Ence as current operator confirmed in local press; address Hwy 12 Mile Marker 73.86, Escalante, UT 84726 confirmed across Yelp and TripAdvisor; seasonal operation schedule confirmed on site.
Sources
- https://www.kivakoffeehouse.com/
- https://www.yelp.com/biz/kiva-koffeehouse-and-kottage-escalante
- https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g56980-d511668-Reviews-Kiva_Koffeehouse-Escalante_Utah.html
- https://www.deseret.com/2007/9/29/20044023/kiva-koffeehouse-family-run-business-offers-cool-retreat-in-southern-utah/
- https://utahstories.com/2013/07/desert-koffee-the-kiva-way/