Posted in Utah
March 06, 2016
Nature is Reclaiming This One Abandoned Utah Spot and It’s Actually Incredible
After the devastation of this little town in 1983, nature is reclaiming this spot in Utah.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Thistle was a little hamlet tucked alongside an old trade route in Utah county, south of Spanish Fork. During the heyday of the steam railroad, it was an important stop for the Denver and Rio Grande Western RailRoad.
In April of 1983, a huge landslide blocked the Spanish Fork River, flooding the town of Thistle. Luckily, residents had plenty of time to evacuate.
Many buildings were completely destroyed and carried away by floodwaters.
Some buildings remained, but were buried up to their eaves in mud or water.
The landslide caused $200 million in damages, and shut down rail service for months. The landslide, which measured 1,000 feet wide, 200 feet thick and a mile long, remains the largest slide Utah has ever experienced.
Check out this video shared by electricaman on YouTube to learn more about Thistle’s history.
Have you ever visited Thistle?
