Zion Ghost Tours Southern Utah To Ghost Towns

Zion Ghost Tours Southern Utah To Ghost Towns

by Karina Frost

Places for vacations can be quite difficult to pick. The beach is overrated and probably foreign travel may not be on your agenda. <A href="http://zionatvjeeptours.com">Zion ghost tours southern Utah</A> 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.

In southern Utah you will find the ghost town of Silver Reef. It was begun as a mining town due to the plentiful silver deposits found there. The town survived a raging fire in 1879 that destroyed most buildings which were however rebuilt later. It was however not able to survive the worldwide drop in the price of silver and many mines were shut down. This led to a relocation of this town.

Grafton is another town in southern Utah located just at the southern entrance of Zion Park. It offers a glimpse into the life of the ancient settlers of the town. It boasts of historic homes coupled with green pastures and a beautiful view of these banks of Virgin River. The town has been used as a setting of several Hollywood movies.

There are vivid tales about the origin of the ghost towns. Grafton was begun in the year 1859 on the southern banks of Virgin River. According to history, the original settlers were Mormon pioneers who established a cotton mission in this area in accordance to directions from Prophet Brigham Young. The establishment of this town along Virgin River was a blessing and curse at the same time.

It is said that in 1862, there was rain fall that lasted forty consecutive days and the river water became too big and washed the town away. The town had to be moved just about a mile north for remaining residents to survive. Later, they built industries for spinning cotton and silk although the town was abandoned in 1920s.

All that remains of Grafton is a church, a few houses and cemetery but it still is one of the most popular and photographed ghost town. The flood in 1862 and subsequent Indian attacks in 1866 led to the abandonment of this town. The cemetery is probably the point of interest for most people as it tells a sad tale of the harsh times that were 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.

The place is huge, save the trouble of talking wrong turns by hiring a guide. In addition, the guide will entertain you and educate you on the history, geology and ecology of this area. Several guide companies exist and choosing one you may have to rely on customer reviews. Finally, remember to telephone in advance to book a place.



You can visit <a href="http://zionatvjeeptours.com">zionatvjeeptours.com</a> for more helpful information about Zion Ghost Tours Southern Utah For Vacation.

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