If youre looking to dive deeper into the world of urban exploration, this book is for you. 35 Best & Fun Things To Do In St. George (Utah) The building that housed the Intermountain Indian School was originally built for use as the the Bushnell Army Hospital, where soldiers wounded in World War II received care from 1942 to 1946. Iosepa Ghost Town 40.54197, -112.73317 Photo Credit: @Brent Clark - flickr.com Starting off our list of abandoned places in Utah is the old Iosepa ghost town. This, combined with other more successful mines in the area caused the population of Silver City to drop even further. There are many abandoned buildings scattered throughout Utah. Although this area was inhabited as early as 1870 the town never amounted to much until 1900 when Samuel Newhouse purchased the Cactus Mine. A few home foundations, gravestones and a distinct white picket fence remain today. The mining company installed a 7,000-foot aerial tram in 1900, allowing for more secure passage of the ore straight from the mine to the Union Pacific and Rio Grande rail depots in downtown Park City. Heres how our system works: Abandoned: Is abandoned with ruins, Read More 21 Ghost Towns In Texas [MAP]Continue, 2023 Urbex Underground - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, Ultimate Guide to Finding Abandoned Places. St. George City Council discusses reclaiming 'abandoned' cemetery plots Surprisingly, when the sheriff got wind of this he ultimately let her keep the body since it was so well preserved.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'urbexunderground_com-leader-2','ezslot_12',615,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-urbexunderground_com-leader-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'urbexunderground_com-leader-2','ezslot_13',615,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-urbexunderground_com-leader-2-0_1');.leader-2-multi-615{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Seven Wives Inn - Real Saint George Haunt. . As the railroads played less of a role in commerce and travel, Ogden Exchange suffered. All Rights Reserved. Little Black Mountain Petroglyph Site. Only a few people remained in Grafton until the last family left in 1944. Elsewhere in the former business district, an abandoned caf has managed to escape the destructive forces of vandals and trespassers; a peek in the window reveals a dining room that seems to have been frozen in time, patiently waiting for its proprietor to unlock the door and fire up the stove. The original residents handprints are framed by brightly-hued patterns as well as carvings that date back to the late 19th century, when the ancient ruins were first discovered by members of the group conducting the Hayden Survey, an ambitious effort to map the entirety of the American West. By 1943, the mine was the fourth-largest producer of coal in the state, peaking at a production of more than 2,000 tons per day during World War II. Zion National Park [Guide, Maps, Itineraries & More] | Visit Utah However, one of the more popular and well-known is found at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon. The tram shut down in 1953 when metal prices plummeted and the mine could no longer turn a profit. Silver City today is a collection of ruins and remains from the old Tintic Mining District from over 100 years ago. September, Friday the 13th grand opening. Metal and junk salvagers snapped up any materials of value left behind, and graffiti artists used the massive concrete structures as canvases for their colorful designs and messages. Youre in the right place. Silver Reef is unique in that it has a mix of silver ore found in sandstone, which is not typical for silver ore deposits. Urban exploration can be very gear-heavy, especially when exploring abandoned places in Utah. The town's founders were largely native Pacific Islanders who had been converted to the Mormon faith by missionaries sent to Hawaii to proselytize. Predictably, business at the mines ground to a halt yet again at the conclusion of the war, and the towns rail lines were removed and sold as scrap. 21 Ghost Towns In Utah [MAP] - Urbex After Marie Ogdens husband died in the early 1930s, she found solace in spiritual pursuits and ultimately experienced what she believed to be divine revelation. A ranch hand and a few friends went searching for the soldier but were attacked on their way near the summit of the mountain. Other times, there's just a hole in the ground and a few scattered boards. Abandoned Places In Georgia 1. However, one of the more popular and well-known is found at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon. The landslide swept away almost all of the wooden structures and forced any remaining residents to live elsewhere. We highly recommend either thePETZL Actik Core, or theBlack Diamond Wizfor those on a budget. 40.1948, -111.6199Photo Credit: findinterestingplaces.com. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'urbexunderground_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_19',186,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-urbexunderground_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0'); 37.25297, -113.36773Photo Credit: stgeorgeutah.com. Unlike most abandoned places in Utah, the Delta Solar Ruins arent remains from an early settlement or part of a mining operation. Also neartby is the ghost town of Newhouse. On Memorial Day weekend each year, the graveyard draws hundreds of descendants of these early settlers, who gather in the desert to celebrate their heritage and remember the souls interred in the dusty ground at this stunning example of abandoned places in Utah. The dirty walls are splashed with graffiti, and comically, a few tumbleweeds have even made their way inside the building. By 1879 roughly 2000 people called Silver Reef home. The cheaper material Delta Solar had in mind was essentially plastic, which proved no match for the brutal conditions of the Utah desert. Ultimately, the project was considered fraud, and the company was fined nearly $50 million back in 2018. Interested in venturing outside Utah? Unfortunately, a string of bad luck would hit the town. During the 1950s, the town of White Mesa was born. That concludes our list of abandoned places in Utah, but that doesnt mean thats all there is to find. As the building decayed naturally, scrappers and vandals accelerated the process. Continue driving about an hour toward Helper and you can also find Latuda, a ghost town former after the mine closed in 1967. The lodge also has some uninvited guests in the form of ghosts. Unlike most abandoned mining ghost towns, Ophir continued to mine in some capacity just before 1960. Spooky Locations in Rural Utah - Utah Film Commission The site includes stone kilns and a cemetary. In 1859, a group of five Mormon families founded the town of Grafton in Utahs Dixie region, so named for the settlers attempts at cotton farming as directed by church leader Brigham Young. The town was named after the biblical reference to Ophir, where King Soloman brought his gold his old to Isreal. Our Picks For The 15 Best Abandoned Places In Utah In 2023 These canals however would frequently get clogged and need cleaning out, requiring a massive amount of labor and time. First timers should start with Grafton and Silver Creek. The ghost town of Grafton, located south of Zion National Park, was originally settled by Mormon pioneers, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who answered the calling of their prophet and church president Brigham Young to establish towns throughout Utah. Promontory 10. (435) 628-3737. Location: Anasazi Ruins are in Bluff, Utah, in the state's southeast corner About: The Anasazi Ruins are dwellings and buildings the Puebloan Native Americans created, which some previously knew as the Anasazi. By bathing the corpse in a salt bath, and injecting the body with milk and eggs, Marie believed that she could repurify the body and bring it back to life. Some structures still stand, imprisoned by silt. When enrollment dropped in the early 1970s, the school expanded its reach to other tribes and was renamed the Intermountain Inter-Tribal School in 1974. Today the structure has survived arson, vandals, and scrappers. Damen Silos 41.84125, -87.67337 History: The Damen silos were built in 1906 to store, well grain. 10 of the Creepiest Haunted and Abandoned Places in Utah Located just south of Zion National Park along the Virgin River, the area was well-suited to agriculture, although the new residents were quickly forced to sacrifice some of their cotton production to focus on growing food to feed the community. The federal government deeded the property back to Brigham City with the requirement that the land remain open space for use as recreation. Remains of a coke oven in Irontown. Just down the road from Silver City is a small batch of old abandoned buildings. Old Arrowhead Swimming Resort, Benjamin, Utah County The Old Arrowhead Swimming Resort, located in Benjamin of Utah County, is considered as one of the most haunted places. When it comes to abandoned places in Utah, Satans Land might just be the most ruined. The mine also delivered rich yields of silver, copper and lead, but after these stores had been mostly depleted at the start of the 20th century, the population of Gold Hill dwindled to nearly zero. 38.46081, -113.26279Photo Credit: rootsrated.com. Newcastle, UT (14.2 mi.) Old Irontown 4. Over the years the building has housed offices, barbershops, and a cafe. This ghost town has quite an interesting history and may just send chills down your spine when you visit. Dhuring the late 1870s and early 1880s, the height of the towns silver boom, Silver Reef was the most populous place in southern Utah. Today explorers can venture through the nearby ruins, or take a look at what an authentic mine shaft would have looked like back in the early 1900s. Grafton 2. By 1924, it was home to 1,000 residents, dozens of homes, offices and stores as well as a hotel and a heated swimming pool. There are no shafts there today, only a large pit and hills of rock and mineral deposits. While this ghost town has many commercial elements to it, its still a cool explore, especially if youre already in the area for something else. Allegedly, the Ogden Exchange Building is one of the most haunted abandoned places in Utah. The population gradually dwindled over the ensuing decades, and it was permanently deserted in the 20th century. HAUNTED HOUSES IN ST. GEORGE, UT - HauntWorld Thistle is definitely one of the more interesting abandoned places in Utah, as it has numerous vacant homes and ruins for explorers to photograph and check out.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'urbexunderground_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_10',610,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-urbexunderground_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Thistles history actually started off a trade route for Native Americans before white settlers showed up. Novel diseases and crop failure made life difficult for the residents, however, and when the first Mormon temple was completed in Hawaii, many Iosepans opted to return to their homeland, leaving the town abandoned by 1920. Below are 21 favorite abandoned locations across the state. He built 60 homes to house employees and their families as well as a connection to the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad line in the nearby town of Helper. EAT. Love Utah? Utah-based International Automated Systems claimed to have revolutionized the science of solar energy collection, using its patented solar lens technology to harness the suns power to drive bladeless turbines that would produce electricity more efficiently than the conventional approach to solar production. Not far from Grand Central Mine you can find the remains of the Ureka Mine just over the ridge to the north. McIntosh Sugarmill Ruins 39.2966, -76.6038 Of all the abandoned places in Georgia, the McIntosh Sugarmill Ruins is a combination of beautiful, fascinating, and disturbing all at the same time. It served as the terminus for the Utah Southern Railroad line out of the neighboring town of Milford and was also the location for the regions primary post office. Built by the Deseret News in 1883, the Cottonwood Paper Mill used lumber harvested from nearby canyons as well as old clothing and fabric scraps to produce up to five tons of paper a day, most of which went toward publishing the legendary newspaper. Here . The settlement was named IosepaHawaiian for Josephin honor of Joseph Smith, founder of the young Mormon religion (thank you Redditor /u/HumanForSure). Along Frontage Roadpreviously known as Old Cisco Highwaydozens of residences and shops stand vacant and crumbling, many of them filled with trash, old clothing, defunct appliances and other debris that made its way inside when portions of the roofs collapsed. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. By 1890 there were only four families living in Grafton. (Submitted by Callum Swift) Read more 0 Mountain Meadows Massacre Site hbspt.forms.create({ Made up of the consolidation of multiple claims in the Treasure Hill region, the Silver King Mining Company was founded in 1892, and it later merged with several additional mines to form the Silver King Coalition Mines Company in 1907. Today, the ruins of the large dome-shaped stone kilns where the miners once extracted precious metals from raw ore serve as the primary landmark for this forgotten town. The trek was even more precipitous during seasonal inclement weather, which might include mudslides, flooding, heavy snow and ice. Samuel Newhouse died before the completion of his dream, but his brother Matt Newhouse continued on and completed the town and keep it up and running until 1910, when the ore in the Cactus Mine ran dry. Unfortunately, other Mormans werent as supportive of the islanders which left just under 50 people left to sustain the town. The crumbling brick and wood buildings that make up the communes Outer Portal are visible from Utah Highway 211, as is the gate leading to the Inner Portal, which for decades was marked by a sign indicating Maries Place.. If youre interested in the full story of White Mesa, I highly suggest checking out Johnny Joos full write-up on the town. Mining halted in 1884 due to the silver crash but reopened in 1916. The mine was a major part of the Main Tintic Mining District and was one of the larger mines in the area. During its heyday, Thistle boasted more than 600 residents with a school, saloon, post office, barbershop, and general store. Many ghost towns require maneuvering backroads with unreliable cell service and terrain, so be sure to do your research and ask locals before setting out. The building is nearly 10,000 square feet and is absolutely beautiful inside. The mill used acid-brining and leaching to for refinement. 3. Dammeron Valley, UT (11.9 mi.) Towards the end of construction, there were 23 structures on the property. One seemingly outside the realms of possibility? The Mormons ended up settling in the area during the Mormon Migration to Utah during the 1840s but were left largely undisturbed by the natives. On April 1st, 1893, a fire alarm sounded across the mill. It is the principal city of and is included in the St. George Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Most Haunted Hotels in Utah | Haunted Rooms America Find more DSLR options inour comprehensive guide. The town was founded in 1892 after a large gold deposit was discovered in a nearby mountainside. Mormon missionaries found eager converts in the Hawaiian Islands in the 1850s and 1860s, and church leaders decided to settle a community of about 100 converts in the desolate Skull Valley. Lucin 17. Whether you live in Utah or out of state making a trip to these top abandoned places, they should be a part of any urban explorers must-see bucket list. This cemetery was the final resting place for many of Silver Citys residents and other settlers who didnt quite make it all the way to the west coast. Specifics on the locations are not given purposefully to ensure the abandoned places in Utah stay as vandalism and destruction free as possible. These places were all abandoned long ago and nature is starting to reclaim them. She was arrested after failing to produce a death certificate, however, police could not find a body. 38.97315, -109.71359Photo Credit: Andrew McAllister lookingatthewest.com. Just south of Zion National Park the remains of Grafton silhouette against the clear blue Utah sky. Silver King was one of the several major mines that put Park City on the map in the late 19th century, producing tons of silver, lead and zinc as well as smaller amounts of gold and copper. The Little Black Mountain Petroglyph site offers visitors a chance to view ancient petroglyphs up close and personal. Travel to this area requires remote navigating on the Transcontinental Railroad Backcountry Byway (Read: A View from The Past). Benson Grist Mill Yep, its another mine. By 1940 only 111 people lived in the area. 13. Around 1890 they built their town and named it after their leader, Iosepa (Yo-see-pa) which is Hawaiian for Joseph After a lot of blood sweat and tears they managed to slowly transform the inhospitable desert into a small oasis for themselves. Frisco is another abandoned place in Utah that was used for mining and ore processing. Iosepa ghost town and cemetery lies in the barren Skull Valley of Utah's West Desert. Only the graveyard and a renovated schoolhouse remain. If you love abandoned places and desert towns, Thompson Spring isnt a place youll want to pass up. Yes! Abandoned places in Utah photo by Road Trip Ryan In 1889, a group of Mormons arrived in Utah's Skull Valley to establish the Iosepa settlement. After a century of neglect, only a few bits of evidence of the towns existence remain, including a handful of building foundations, a few fire hydrants obscured by sagebrush and the towns cemetery. The newly faithful then relocated to the U.S. mainland to be closer to the Salt Lake City Templethe most sacred site in Mormonism. Here are some of Utahs most haunted places. Are there any other abandoned spots youve seen being taken back by nature? To pay your respects to this hardscrabble community, take State Road 9 from Rockville to Bridge Road. Take the back roads, follow train tracks, and find some places for yourself. After the outbreak of the Black Hawk War in 1866, Grafton was completely evacuated to nearby Rockville, Utah, due to fear of Indian attacks. It also included a general store used by the miners for their everyday needs. We recommend both theOsprey Packs Daylitefor sling backpacks or theMardingtop Tactical Backpackfor a standard two-strap backpack. Starting off our list of abandoned places in Utah is the old Iosepa ghost town. Camping is available at the Westside campground or the Sandpit campground. Old Irontown, one of the first Utah ghost towns. Most of the buildings remained standing for several years, including the Spring Canyon Hotel and the mining companys administrative offices, but all of the structures in the towns business district were demolished in 1975. The construction of I-70 several miles south of town also diverted many visitors who previously passed through the town, wreaking havoc on the livelihoods of many small business owners. Did we miss a site you think should have been included on this list? She claimed she could bring them back from the dead. Built by the Iosepa Historical Association, it is now the site of commemorative events every Memorial Day. White Mesa is a little-known town in the heart of Utah where many Ute Tribe members call home. Also be sure to check out the cemetery located just south of this site located near Ruby Hollow. The mill was sold to new ownership in 1892, which rebranded it as the Granite Paper Mill. Federal attorneys accused International Automated Systems of using a multilevel marketing scheme to promote the faulty technology, which ultimately never produced any energy, and after a lengthy court battle, the company was dissolved. One of the soldiers discovered a strange black silvery substance while working on the road. ST. GEORGE The 1980s was the last time the city of St. George reclaimed cemetery plots that were considered to be abandoned after going unused for decades.Now city officials are looking at . After disease and multiple seasons of failed crops, the islanders deserted Iosepa in 1917. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Nearest city Hawthorne, NV Nearby ghost towns Ione, NVBroken Hills, NV 02 Kennicott Just a few structures remained standing, including the old red schoolhouse, former railroad machine shop and a few partially-submerged dwellings. Save yourself with a headlamp, one of the most versatile pieces of urbex gear. Though the arid climate and cold temperatures of their new homeland were a shock to their systems, the roughly four dozen settlers in Iosepa were able to plant crops and raise livestock to provide for the community.