There’s a Good Reason These Tiny Towns in Utah Are Off Limits

There are places you can’t visit in Utah because they are private or exclusive. There are some former mining towns that have been fenced off for safety reasons. Then there are these three towns that would require a snorkel to visit. 

The Enigmatic History of Rockport

Rockport was a town in Utah before it was a reservoir. At one point this town had 200 residents but by the time the reservoir was built in 1952 it had dwindled to a few farms. Still, the houses and what remained of the school were swallowed by the rising water. 

The only part of Rockport you can see now is the cemetery on the hill, unless there is a drought that sometimes uncovers the foundations when the water retreats. You can find the reservoir and cemetery near I-80 north of Park City. 

The Tragic Mudslide that Swallowed Thistle

Thistle was a little town quietly doing its thing when in 1983 a mud slide flowed down the side of the canyon and blocked the Spanish Fork river. As the water backed up behind the slide, the town went under water.

All the residents were able to get out safely and eventually the slide was cleared. What remains of Thistle is the husks of the homes and businesses. There are some strange stories that come from the site like this one about bees.

Lake Powell: An Unexpected Graveyard for Hite

In 1883 a man named Cass Hite established a crossing of the Colorado River in Glen Canyon. Later prospectors looking for gold came and it became a small town with a post office.

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When the Glen Canyon Dam was built, Lake Powell filled up and covered what was left of Hite. When the water level drops, the remains of Hite can be seen again. Otherwise, it is the third town that was covered by water and hard to visit.