Exploring Grafton Ghost Town in Utah

I’m a fan of ghost towns. I’m a fan of dark tourism in general. Part of the planning for our foray into the desert landscapes of Arizona and Utah was to research historical sites and ghost towns to visit. Grafton ghost town, near Zion National Park, was a fascinating spot to discover while we were in the area.

Where is Grafton Ghost Town

Located off the road to Zion National Park in the far south-west of Utah, Grafton sits along the Virgin River valley. Until 1850, this area was Mexican Territory. The Mormons fled religious persecution in the USA and settled from Salt Lake City and down along the Virgin River. Not far from Hurricane, Kanab, and other main centres around Zion National Park, it is an easy stop while you’re visiting the park.

How to get to Grafton

If you are coming from Hurricane, take the UT-9 road from La Verkin towards Zion. Turn right onto Bridge Road at Rockville and follow the road around to the right until you reach Grafton. If you’re coming from Zion National park, turn left onto Bridge Road about 5 miles outside of the park. Crossing the old Rockville Bridge is awesome. This bridge was built for the National Park Service in 1924; so that people could take a circular route from Zion to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon on their National Park tour.

The history of Grafton

The site was first settled in 1859 by settlers on a mission to grow cotton and find religious freedom. The first site was washed away in the Virgin River floods of 1862, and repositioned to its current location. The community had a constant struggle with both the silt in the river (their irrigation systems were constantly clogged); and land wars with the local native Indian population.

The indigenous population were initially very welcoming and helpful to the Mormons, helping them choose the best areas to cultivate. However the settlers brought too many livestock and depleted resources, and resentment arose. The Black Hawk Indian War of the 1860s saw that resentment come to a head. Many of the settler communities were razed and people fled and consolidated their towns for safety. By 1868, peace with the Indians had been restored and Grafton was resettled, but at a far reduced number.

Grafton Ghost Town

The End

Grafton’s numbers dwindled at the beginning of the 1900s. With minimal irrigated land available, it was hard for new generations to make a living and build a life for their family, so they often had to move elsewhere. In 1933, the National Park Service bought up land and farms of those wanting to leave. And in 1945, the last residents left Grafton. The descendants still gather annually to celebrate the legacy and share stories of their heritage.

Movies filmed in Grafton

The most famous movie filmed in Grafton was the 1969 classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid with Paul Newman and Robert Redford. Others include, In Old Arizona (1929, the first talkie filmed outside), and The Arizona Kid.

Visiting Grafton Ghost Town

The town has some restored homes, outbuildings, the hall / church, and graveyard. You can visit the buildings and all have signage to explain their heritage. You can even go into some. I ran into a lizard in the old weaving house – he was not weaving, unsurprisingly. Here are some tips for visiting Grafton:

• If it’s a hot day, there is no respite from the heat in Grafton, so bring water and a hat.
• It is a dirt road for part of the journey, so drive slow.
• There are no amenities in Grafton.
• It’s a ghost town, not a fun fair – don’t expect gun battles and costumes.
• It’s a good place to visit after a day at Zion.

Love road-tripping in the USA? Route 66 is the classic!

Hotels near Grafton

Hotels near Zion are very busy, but here are some options for you…

• Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Virgin Zion National Park (One Camino Del Rio, Virgin) – This is a great option if you want proximity to the park & Grafton, but the amenities of Hurricane!
• Heller House Inn on Main (225 E. Main Street, Rockville) – This is the closest accommodation you’ll get to Grafton. This beautiful B&B in Rockville offers modernised Inn facilities in the quaint town of Rockville.
• Want to be right on the doorstep of Zion National Park? Then I recommend Hampton Inn & Suites Springdale/Zion National Park (1127 Zion Park Boulevard, Springdale) – This 2-star hotel has a fantastic review score and is only 1.6km from the park.

Other activities near Grafton, Utah

• Zion National Park – Need I say more? Zion is one of the most beautiful National Parks I have ever visited. Different from many of the big parks in the area (Grand Canyon, Bryce etc.), it is set in the canyon, so your eyes are averted upwards. It is a spectacular river valley of hikes, wildlife, and incredible rock formations.
• River Rock Roasting Co. Love coffee as much as I do? Then you just HAVE to visit the River Rock Roasting Company. With two branches in nearby La Verkin, these guys really know their beans, how to roast them, and serve them in delicious style.
• Explore La Verkin & Hurricane – If you want some of the creature comforts of a city in between hikes and nature in Zion, then enjoy the shopping and amenities of La Verkin & Hurricane. With so much passing traffic heading to Zion, they have many!

Exploring Grafton Ghost Town in Utah

If you’re heading to Zion National Park, I would definitely recommend a stop in Grafton ghost town in Utah. You can have a great look around, get yourself a bit spooked, and see what life would’ve been like in this frontier town, in around 1 hour. It is a neat diversion if you have kids and want a hands-on way to teach them about the history of the area.

Visiting Vegas too? Check out my Las Vegas for Beginners guide!

All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM; and an iPhone.