Its contemporary role as a tourist destination began with a film: the location was opened up for cinema, off-roading, and tourism because of the 1999 film The Mummy.[2] The site itself was opened up because the crew built a concrete ramp through a breach in the low wall, in the southwest opening of the formation, and one of the film's central locations was built inside.[2] In 1999, remains of plaster indicated where film sets had been constructed, and the area was littered with plastic bottles.[6]