Grafton Ghost Town is a historic mining town in Utah near the Virgin River just south of the boundary of Zion National Park. The town was abandoned in 1938, but many of its buildings remain.
The town is only a quarter mile from the main highway to Zion National Park, but is relatively little visited because it is hard to find and the unpaved road can be impassable when wet.
The town of Grafton has been around since the late 1800s and is full of fascinating history. From its original inhabitants to the many businesses that once operated there, Grafton offers a unique glimpse into what life was like during this period of American history.
Grafton was a mining town in Utah whose population dwindled after the local mine closed in the late 19th century. Without the mine, the town no longer had a source of income, and people began to move away. Eventually, the town became abandoned and is now known as a “ghost town.”
Built in 1886 this building was used as a school, community meeting place, church, and a place for dances and plays. People would come from all the settlements on the Upper Virgin River to attend the community dances, which were held on weekends.
Built in 1862 this adobe home features a hand-crafted front porch where Alonzo Haventon Russel’s family met to socialize and sing. Alonzo was an expert blacksmith by trade and supplied his services to the town.
The Grafton Cemetery is located on high ground off on a side road leading into Grafton. More than the line of headstones indicates, the cemetery is thought to contain 80 gravesite. Along with Grafton residents, the cemetery also includes the graves of Native Paiute.