Places for vacations can be quite difficult to pick. The beach is overrated and probably foreign travel may not be on your agenda. Zion ghost tours southern Utah in the vicinity of a historic national park however sounds like a plan. Beautiful weather and amazing canyons grace the landscape of Zion National Park.
One of the two ghost towns in Southern Utah is the Silver Reef. It was originally a mining town blessed with abundant deposits of silver. A fire in 1879 brought down many buildings which were rebuilt later. The town however did not survive the drop in the world market prices for silver which led to closing down of the mines and an eventual relocation of this town.
The other ghost town here is Grafton. It is an inspiration for people wishing to catch a glimpse of early life. The beauty of this town lies in its historic homes which can still be seen, green pastures and an amazing view of this Virgin River. It is located on the southern side of Zion Park and has also appeared in a few Hollywood films.
There are many tales that explain the how the town came into existence. The year was 1859 when the original settlers decided to settle on the southern Virgin River banks. The Mormon pioneers as they are often called put up cotton missions as directed by their Prophet Young. The river was mandatory for their survival but it also brought catastrophes.
The story is told that in the year 1862, there was heavy rainfall lasting for forty consecutive days. The result was massive flooding of this river which eventually washed the town away. It had to be relocated about a mile northwards. Industries were then built for cotton and silk spinning which sustained the town until its abandonment in the 1920s.
The flood of 1862 and consequent attacks by the Indians in 1866 contributed to the eventual abandonment of this town. All that remains now is an old church house, a number of houses and a cemetery. The cemetery is one of the most inspiring places in this town as it tells a story of sorry state of life in the 1800s.
A tour to the ghost towns is quite an experience even for the young ones. There is plenty of space to stroll, take pictures and admire the life that was in past few hundred years. Due to the nature of these roads, however, a 4WD drive is advised. It may be tempting to go by yourself but it would be for your own good to have a tour guide. This place is vast and you may not know which route to take.
You will find your visit enjoyable with a guide as they entertain and show you around. There is so much to learn from them in terms of history, ecology and geology of this area. There are plenty of tour guide companies and one has to choose the best. Customer reviews are available from their websites is a good place to start. Remember to call in and book in advance.
One of the two ghost towns in Southern Utah is the Silver Reef. It was originally a mining town blessed with abundant deposits of silver. A fire in 1879 brought down many buildings which were rebuilt later. The town however did not survive the drop in the world market prices for silver which led to closing down of the mines and an eventual relocation of this town.
The other ghost town here is Grafton. It is an inspiration for people wishing to catch a glimpse of early life. The beauty of this town lies in its historic homes which can still be seen, green pastures and an amazing view of this Virgin River. It is located on the southern side of Zion Park and has also appeared in a few Hollywood films.
There are many tales that explain the how the town came into existence. The year was 1859 when the original settlers decided to settle on the southern Virgin River banks. The Mormon pioneers as they are often called put up cotton missions as directed by their Prophet Young. The river was mandatory for their survival but it also brought catastrophes.
The story is told that in the year 1862, there was heavy rainfall lasting for forty consecutive days. The result was massive flooding of this river which eventually washed the town away. It had to be relocated about a mile northwards. Industries were then built for cotton and silk spinning which sustained the town until its abandonment in the 1920s.
The flood of 1862 and consequent attacks by the Indians in 1866 contributed to the eventual abandonment of this town. All that remains now is an old church house, a number of houses and a cemetery. The cemetery is one of the most inspiring places in this town as it tells a story of sorry state of life in the 1800s.
A tour to the ghost towns is quite an experience even for the young ones. There is plenty of space to stroll, take pictures and admire the life that was in past few hundred years. Due to the nature of these roads, however, a 4WD drive is advised. It may be tempting to go by yourself but it would be for your own good to have a tour guide. This place is vast and you may not know which route to take.
You will find your visit enjoyable with a guide as they entertain and show you around. There is so much to learn from them in terms of history, ecology and geology of this area. There are plenty of tour guide companies and one has to choose the best. Customer reviews are available from their websites is a good place to start. Remember to call in and book in advance.
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