Utah’s abandoned towns are fascinating bits of history. Long ago, people worked, played and lived out their lives in these towns, and it’s easy to imagine their stories. Here’s a little town that’s not quite completely vacant…but it’s definitely far from its original glory.
The tiny town of Thompson Springs was founded in the 1880s.
Don Graham/flickr It’s named for E.W. Thompson, who owned the sawmill in the area.
The town got its start as a stopping point for the Denver and Rio Grande trains that ran through as early as 1883.
Don Graham/flickr A passenger stop was added in 1883, which brought a bit of prosperity to the town.
While Thompson Springs never had very many residents, it was a central point for ranchers to bring their sheep and cattle for shipping.
Don Graham/flickr
At one point, the town offered a general store, saloon, hotel and motel. A post office was built in 1890.
Don Graham/flickr After coal was discovered nearby, the town became a bit larger, and soon included a school and restaurant. More people built their homes here.
In the 1950s, several factors contributed to this town’s demise.
Don Graham/flickr In 1955, the railroad began using diesel engines, which didn’t require water stops. In 1957, Interstate-70 was built, bypassing the town. Without the business of people traveling through the area, the restaurant and shops suffered. By the 1980s, only a handful of families remained. In 1994, Amtrak discontinued the train stop in Thompson Springs.
The California Zephyr still runs through town several times a day, but it no longer stops here.
Jerry Huddleston/flickr Though the latest census still shows about 39 people living in Thompson Springs, it’s mostly abandoned, and all that remains are some vacant buildings that stand as reminders of a once thriving, rural town.
Do you know anyone who grew up in Thompson Springs? We’d love to hear your stories in the comments!
Don Graham/flickr
It’s named for E.W. Thompson, who owned the sawmill in the area.
A passenger stop was added in 1883, which brought a bit of prosperity to the town.
After coal was discovered nearby, the town became a bit larger, and soon included a school and restaurant. More people built their homes here.
In 1955, the railroad began using diesel engines, which didn’t require water stops. In 1957, Interstate-70 was built, bypassing the town. Without the business of people traveling through the area, the restaurant and shops suffered. By the 1980s, only a handful of families remained. In 1994, Amtrak discontinued the train stop in Thompson Springs.
Jerry Huddleston/flickr
Though the latest census still shows about 39 people living in Thompson Springs, it’s mostly abandoned, and all that remains are some vacant buildings that stand as reminders of a once thriving, rural town.
If you’re interested in Utah history, you might enjoy reading about this avalanche in Bingham Canyon that devastated a community in 1926.
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