Thistle

Thistle is an abandoned settlement in Spanish Fork Canyon in Utah County, where you can still see houses, shops, and a red schoolhouse that are partly underwater. The buildings sit on a hillside at about 5000 feet and can be viewed from Route 6/89.

The town was founded in 1883 to supply trains with coal and water and serve as a rest stop for the railroad. A major landslide in 1983 destroyed the settlement and forced everyone to leave quickly.

The town was a place where railroad workers and Mormon settlers lived together, running schools, bakeries, and restaurants. This mixing of different groups shaped daily life and the buildings still reflect this shared past today.

You can view the ruins from a large pullout next to the double road cut along Route 6/89. Keep in mind the site is on private property, so access may be limited.

A landslide in 1983 dammed the water and created a natural lake, flooding large parts of the settlement. Residents had only two hours to leave their homes before the water covered everything.

Location: Utah County

Inception: 1878

Elevation above the sea: 1,537 m

GPS coordinates: 39.99139,-111.49833

Latest update: December 7, 2025 09:27