The Mi Vida Story - A Historic Home

Charlie lived in comfort and luxury on top of the hill overlooking Moab Utah. He built his home to face the sunset. Every night at 5 pm Charlie opened his home, and his guests would start to arrive.

The Sunset Grill, formerly the Mi Vida Restaurant, was the home of Uranium King Charlie Steen. As you view the red rocks of Canyonlands, hike the magnificent Arches or floating down the Colorado River, remember the name Charlie Steen. He was instrumental in getting Moab known throughout the world by his discovery of uranium in the area.

In the early 1950s Moab was a small farming community. Arches and Canyonlands were places only a lucky few experienced. In 1952 Charles A. Steen, geologist and prospector, put Moab on the world map.  

The Atomic Energy Commission was offering a $10,000 reward for finding domestic uranium. Charlie had the knowledge and skills it would take to locate the uranium. While other miners were content gathering small amounds of surface deposits around Moab, Charlie wanted more. After three long years of searching with his family nearly destitute, and his resources expended, he made his final attempt to extract ore samples 240 feet beneath the earth's surface.  

Having broken his drill bit, he went into town. He stopped for gas, not realizing what lay in the back of his jeep. The attendant approached the jeep with a Geiger counter. They were both surprised by the activity it created. It was July 3rd 1952 and Charlie had finally hit "paydirt" without even knowing. He had found his 60 million-dollar mine and named it "Mi Vida" Spanish for My Life.  

Life of course changed dramatically for the Steens. They went from using a washboard in the river to having their laundry flown by Charlie's private pilot to Grand Junction, Colorado. Every year there was a new red Lincoln Continental, and because of poor television reception in Moab, Charlie put a television in his plane, and would fly his family over Moab to watch their favorite shows.

Charlie was a generous person. He donated property to local schools and churces. He built "Steenville", a housing development for his employees, and offered low interest mortgage loans. Charlie also bought a mountain and built his dream home, complete with greenhouse, servants quarters, and the largest swimming pool in the state. Roses lined the street below and flowers grew everywhere. Longtime locals can tell of his $50,000 poker game, rubbing noses with celebrities like Hendry Fonda, or even an "I Love Lucy" episode, where Lucy tries to get Ricky to join her in the hunt for uranium.  

After 9 successful years, Charlie moved his family from Maob to a 22,000-sq. ft house in Reno, Nevada. After years of living in a true millionaires fashion, Charlie and his wife M.L. moved from Reno to Colorado. They are living a quieter life now, and will always be remembered as Moab's most famous millionaire.  

Charlie's former home is now the Sunset Grill. He comes by occasionally to visit friends and enjoy the "Million Dollar View" he created. On display at the restaurant are 3-foot replicas of Charlie's discovery boots, cast in bronze.  

The Clayton family invites you to join us for an enjoyable evening at Charlie's. So come up and experience "Dining above the rest".

Open Year Round from 5:00 pm - Monday thru Saturday

Mention this web page when you call!

All contents of this page - Copyright 1999-2007 Moab Internet.