Why is Grafton a ghost town?
The town of Grafton was established as a cotton mission. Brigham Young called missionaries to southern Utah to grow cotton after the Civil War. Many towns were established, and most survived, but Grafton was abandoned due to heavy flooding of the Virgin River and the outbreak of the Blackhawk War.
What happened in Grafton Utah?
Now a ghost town, Grafton was repeatedly abandoned by Mormon settlers because of its inhospitable environment. Illness, severe elements, and Indian attacks made the town lethal to most of its inhabitants. In 1859, five families settled along the Virgin River in what would become the town of Wheeler.
How did Grafton Utah get its name?
Wheeler didn’t last long; it was largely destroyed on the night of January 8, 1862 by a weeks-long flood of the Virgin River, part of the Great Flood of 1862. The rebuilt town, about a mile upriver, was named New Grafton, after Grafton, Massachusetts. The town grew quickly in its first few years.
Who lived in Grafton Utah?
Grafton, Utah Territory, 1866-1868 A mere two years latter, in 1866, Grafton became a ghost town for the first time. When the Utah Territory was settled, the upper Virgin River valley was already inhabited by native Southern Paiute peoples.
Can you visit Grafton Ghost Town?
There is no charge to visit Grafton ghost town. A donation to help maintain and restore Grafton would be gratefully accepted by the Grafton Heritage Partnership Project.
Is Grafton ghost town worth visiting?
Do not expect to spend a long time here, but it is definitely worth a visit. It is a visit on your own sort of ghost town at the end of a gravel road just outside Zions National Park. It’s history us quite interesting, and if you like frontier towns with a history, Grafton is worth visiting.
Can you visit Grafton Utah?
Getting there. Grafton is a 1-2 hour side trip on your way to/from the main entrance of Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah. From SR-9, turn right (south) on Bridge Road, just past Rockville town center.
Where is Ghost Island Utah?
Fremont Island is a 2,943.04-acre (11.91 km2) island located in Great Salt Lake in northern Utah, United States….Fremont Island.
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°09′56″N 112°20′23″W |
| Area | 11.91 km2 (4.60 sq mi) |
| Length | 8.57 km (5.325 mi) |
| Width | 2.76 km (1.715 mi) |
How much does it cost to get into Kolob Canyon?
Visitors will need to stop at the visitor center to pay the park entrance fee ($30 for a private vehicle, good for a week). The Kolob Canyons Visitor Center, open daily, has a small bookstore, some interpretive exhibits, and an information desk, where a helpful ranger is stationed to answer questions and issue permits.
Why is it called New Grafton?
When Wheeler was destroyed by the flooding Virgin River on January 8, 1862, Pioneer settlers rebuilt the town, calling it New Grafton, named after Grafton, Massachusetts. The town began to grow and by 1864 there were 28 families living and farming in Grafton. Some of the original orchards are still standing today.
Is Grafton Utah’s most famous ghost town?
Zion National Park sees all kinds of crowds throughout any given day, yet very few of them even know that they’re passing a historic (and actually famous) ghost town. Grafton, Utah is said to be the most photographed ghost town in the West.
What’s up the road from Grafton?
Up the road from Grafton is the 1862 Grafton Cemetery, which continued to serve residents until 1924. Grafton, located just south of Zion National Park, can be accessed by driving to Rockville, Utah on UT-9 and turning south on Bridge Lane, which crosses the Virgin River on a historic, single-track iron bridge before the road turns westward.
What is the most photographed ghost town in the west?
Grafton, Utah is said to be the most photographed ghost town in the West. First settled in December 1859 as part of the cotton mission sent by Mormon leader Brigham Young, Grafton was first called Wheeler and was about a mile downriver of where it is now.