By midweek, one of Phoenix’s most recognizable rock formations looked less like a desert landmark and more like a giant, sandstone gumball holder. City crews spent Wednesday morning scraping hundreds of wads of chewing gum from the Hole in the Rock formation at Papago Park after visitors joined a viral TikTok challenge that involved pressing chewed gum into the stone.
The bright, sticky blobs covered portions of the natural window, irritating sunset regulars and park stewards who see the formation as more than just a selfie backdrop. Locals said the stunt felt disrespectful to a place with deep cultural meaning and a geological timeline that stretches back millions of years.
As reported by Arizona's Family, recent visitors pointed to a TikTok trend that shows groups chewing gum and sticking it to the rock, leaving “hundreds” of pieces glued in place. The outlet quoted one person who called the scene “disgusting” and another who said the formation “deserves more respect.” City of Phoenix crews were on site scraping gum and residue from the sandstone.
Why the rock matters
The Hole in the Rock is a short, heavily trafficked trail and a distinctive sandstone butte inside Papago Park, a go-to spot for photographers, joggers, and families chasing golden-hour views. According to the City of Phoenix master plan, the rock holds cultural significance because its openings were used by early Indigenous people to mark solstices, and the sandstone itself was formed over millions of years. That combination of cultural and geological importance is why visitors and officials say the site needs careful protection.
Cleanup and visitors' reaction
Even after the cleanup effort, witnesses told reporters that bits of gum remained wedged into cracks, dotting the rock with garish colors. “That’s disgusting,” one visitor told Arizona's Family, while another chalked it up to people chasing “internet clout.”
Other parkgoers said they made a point of tossing their gum in the trash, not on the rock, highlighting a clear divide between everyday visitors and those treating the landmark like a prop for viral content.
Park management faces a choice
The Papago Park master plan warns that high-profile features such as the Hole in the Rock are vulnerable to deterioration from heavy use and vandalism, and it recommends stronger interpretive messaging and stewardship to protect cultural resources. The document notes that without better signage and visitor education, small acts of misuse can quickly accelerate damage to sensitive sites.
That leaves park managers weighing the cost of repeated cleanups against more robust, long-term preservation measures as summer crowds return. Officials and regulars are pushing simple habits that could make a big difference: carry out trash, seal and toss gum instead of spitting it out, and report vandalism to park rangers.
The Hole in the Rock is an easy, heavily visited climb, which means the impact of small choices adds up fast for a structure that is both ancient and culturally meaningful. For now, crews will keep spot cleaning, while the best defense may be a mix of clearer messaging and a little more public care.
