Grafton, Utah - A Serene Ghost Town on the Virgin River

Grafton - Virgin River Ghost Town

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By 1920, Grafton's population had been reduced to just three families and the local Mormon Church was discontinued the following year. The last residents of Grafton, Frank Russell and his wife, Ellen, moved away in 1944. Electricity, plumbing and other modern utilities were never introduced into Grafton homes.

Today, this historic community is preserved by the Grafton Heritage Partnership Project, a non-profit organization which unites government and private landowner interests in preserving Grafton as an historic site.

Grafton's preserved and restored structures are situated in a beautiful valley, surrounded by the awe-inspiring mountains and formations of Zion National Park. Unsurprisingly, the site has been utilized in three movies, including the popular 1969 film, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman.

1861 Alonzo Russell home. Russell was a blacksmith by trade and supplied the settlement with all manner of services. He lived in the home until he died in 1910, at the age of eighty-nine and was buried in the Grafton Cemetery. His son, Frank and wife, Ellen, moved into the house in 1917 and lived in the home until they moved to St. George in 1944. They were the last residents to leave Grafton. Kathy Weiser, April, 2008.

This image available for photographic prints

and downloads HERE!

The old town site displays several original buildings including the 1886 two-story adobe school house, which is one of the most photographed ghost town structure in the American West.

The site also includes the adobe home of the Alonzo Russell family, built in 1861. His son, Frank and daughter-in-law Mary Ballard Russell moved into the house in 1917 and lived in the home until they moved to St. George in 1944. They were the last residents to leave Grafton.

The 1877 John Wood Home, made of brick, also stands, along with a log barn and log granary, all surrounded by a historic split rail fence.

The 1907 wooden Ballard Home and barn also still stand. Another home, also owned by Alonzo Russell and built in 1879 also continues to stand.

Up the road from Grafton is the 1862 Grafton Cemetery, which continued to serve residents until 1924.

Grafton, located just south of Zion National Park, can be accessed by driving to Rockville, Utah on UT-9 and turning south on Bridge Lane, which crosses the Virgin River on a historic, single-track iron bridge, before the road turns westward. The pavement soon ends and climbs into the hills on the Smithsonian Butte Road, a 9-mile scenic back road to the cemetery. The town site is just beyond the cemetery.

Contact Information:

Grafton Heritage Partnership Project

P.O. Box 630184
Rockville, Utah 84763

435-635-2133

David and Maria Ballard built this home and barn around 1907. David worked as a cattle rancher. He died in 1939, Kathy Weiser, April, 2008.

This image available for photographic prints

and downloads HERE!

Alonzo Russell handily installed his third wife, Louisa and

their six children right across the road in this cabin

completed in 1879, Kathy Weiser, April, 2008.

This image available for photographic prints

and downloads HERE!

The Grafton Cemetery served from 1862 to 1924, Kathy Weiser, April, 2008.

This image available for photographic prints

and downloads HERE!

The road to Grafton from Rockville crosses this historic 1924 one-lane iron bridge, Kathy Weiser, April, 2008.

This image available for photographic prints

and downloads HERE!

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