Grafton Ghost Town (located near Zion National Park)

Introduction:

What? :

Grafton Ghost Town is a small group of wooded buildings in good condition stands near the Virgin River just south of the boundary of Zion National Park near Rockville.

Nearby you can visit the well-preserved cemetery containing several graves dating from the 1860s.

Unless you are into settlement history, I do not think this is a must stop on your way, except few old and renovate buildings there is not a lot more to do here.

 

 

Blogs on nearby locations:

• Zion National Park
• Zion National Park – Drive Through the Park Road
• Zion National Park – Kolob Area
• Zion National Park – Kolob Area, Middle Fork Taylor Creek Trail
• 
  
• Bryce National Park 
• Kodachrome State Park
• 
  
• St. George, Utah - Outdoor Activities
• St. George, Utah – Snow Canyon State Park
• St. George, Utah – The Vortex (Bowl) Hike
• St. George, Utah – The Kiln
• 
  
• Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
• Buckskin Gulch
• Toadstool Hoodoos  
• Lone Rock Beach NRA
• Alstrom Point

Where? :

Located about 8 miles east of Zion National Park East Entrance.

Rockville town is located about 4 miles east of Springdale on highway 9.

From Rockville this is 3.5-mile drive to the other side of the Virgin River over a bridge and drive east on a well-maintained dirt road down the river.

Follow the dirt road, do not take any turn left heading to the mountains, until you will reach the road end.

 

Google Map Link

 

 

When? :

The old ghost town is open year-round.

 

 

Due note 1: No restroom, no fee.

 

Due note 2: Day use only, not a night stay.

 

Due note 3: The 1.5 dirt road may be impassable to drive during periods of heavy rain.

 

Due note 4: This can be a short 15 minutes stop 30 minutes with driving in and out.

 

Due note 5: The nearest location for gas, food, bathrooms, water is in Springdale.

 

 

 

My thoughts:

Unless you are into west settlement history, I do not think this is a must stop on your way, except few old and renovate buildings there is not a lot more to do here.

Nice stop on your way to Zion.

 

 

The Visit:

 

Grafton ghost town was established in 1859.

Due to floods and other difficulties its population declined and by 1890 only four families remained. I read that the last inhabitants did not leave until 1944.

Grafton location is relatively isolated from neighboring towns, being the only community in the area located on the south bank of the Virgin River.

In 1997, the Grafton Heritage Partnership was organized to protect, preserve, and restore the Grafton Townsite.

 

Today when visiting here you can see about five large structures remain, well-maintained buildings, 3 farmhouses and the two large community building, some were actually built to be use as film set.

The schoolhouse at Grafton, built in 1886, was also used as a church and public meeting place.

 

Nearby you can visit the well-preserved cemetery, just before turning right to the old building the graveyard is on your left.

This small graveyard containing small number of graves dating from the 1860s, surprisingly the place is maintained, clean and with flowers.

 

 Additional Pictures