Widtsoe Ghost Town – Is It Worth The Drive?
Nestled in the heart of Utah’s rugged landscape lies Widtsoe Ghost Town, a remnant of the American frontier’s vibrant yet fleeting history. Once a thriving settlement during the early 20th century, Widtsoe was established as a bustling community brimming with promise.
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Widtsoe Ghost Town History
Widtsoe Utah, is a ghost town with a rich history rooted in the early 20th century. Originally settled in the late 1800s and named after John A. Widtsoe, a prominent leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it thrived briefly as an agricultural hub.
The town, originally called Adairville, was renamed in 1917 to honor Widtsoe, who was influential in promoting dry farming techniques. This form of agriculture attracted settlers looking to cultivate the harsh but fertile land.
Widtsoe thrived primarily due to the sugar beet farming boom and the construction of irrigation systems that brought life to its arid grounds. The town’s prosperity was short-lived; by the 1930s, severe drought and economic difficulties, exacerbated by the Great Depression, led to a drastic decline in population and resources. As families abandoned their farms, the town gradually dwindled until it was deserted.
Today, it is a semi-abandoned community. Widtsoe stands as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by early settlers in Utah and remains a point of interest for historians and visitors alike.
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Widtsoe Utah Map
Map of Widtsoe via Google Maps
Our Visit to Widtsoe
While staying in Cannonville Utah to visit Bryce Canyon National Park, a local said, “You should head out to see Widtsoe. It’s a cool little ghost town.”
You say “ghost town” – we say, “let’s go.”
So, after a morning drive through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, we planned to check out this recommended place in the early afternoon.
Getting to Widtsoe
As the local said, just turn the other way on the road from Cannonville, which takes you to Bryce Canyon National Park. And so, we did as advised. Heading west on Highway 12, we turned right on Johns Valley Road (that’s 63 on your map).
We drove in reasonably open space with hardly any other cars on the road in this place. Before long, we see a turn-off for the Widtsoe Cemetery. We pulled in and took a quick look around. There was a cemetery but no ghost town as far as we could see.
Back up the road, we continued to drive – and soon, we came upon Widtsoe Junction. With excitement building, we turned right into the little establishment where we could spy some structures from the road.
Looking For The Ghost Town
And then, we looked, and we looked some more. Off to the right, we saw some inhabited structures. This had the look of the type of place where people decide to live when choosing to live “off the grid.” But where is the ghost town? Not seeing it. So, we kept driving – dirt road soon beneath the tires of our truck. Our tires ventured over a rocky and bumpy dirt path.
And after nearing what seemed to be the end of this smallish place, the realization set in upon us. There really is no ghost town here, after all. A few buildings that were well past their prime sat on the land. But these few structures were in the midst of an inhabited area.
A Disappointing Visit
We would not see the Widtsoe ghost town that day. Disappointed, we turned around to head back out to Johns Valley Road.
And so we share our little road trip with you, so that you can plan for a different adventure when you are in the area. In summary, “ain’t nothing here.” We recommend a left turn instead, as that will take you to Bryce Canyon National Park. And that place is indeed something to see.
Ghost Towns Worth Visiting
Check out these books for ghost towns that are worth visiting:
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Widtsoe Ghost Town Video
Check out our visit to Widtsoe Ghost Town on our YouTube video:
