These 8 Towns in Utah Have Beautiful Architecture

When thinking of Utah, iconic natural landscapes like canyons, mountains, and arches often come to mind. While these natural wonders are undeniably prominent, the state also boasts remarkable human-made architecture, particularly in its small historic towns. The Beehive State is a hive of b-e-a-utiful buildings, especially in and around these charming communities. These towns are filled with structures that tell stories of the past, ranging from quaint schoolhouses to grand churches and even unique rockside gas stations. Here are eight such settlements showcasing stunning architecture from intimate one-room schoolhouses to expansive palace-like churches.

Eden

This Eden is known for hoarfrost rather than horticulture. Eden, Utah, sits several thousand feet above sea level and hosts Powder Mountain, one of America's largest ski areas. In between runs of its 5,000-plus acres, skiers can relax at Skylodge, a 5,500-square-foot event center comprising two connected rotundas at an 8,900-foot elevation. Additionally, they can overnight at Horizon, an elite mountaintop community consisting of over two dozen creative cabins set on stilts to withstand the 300ish inches of annual snowfall.

On the opposite end of the architectural spectrum is the West Point Cannery, a no less astounding structure that was built in 1925 and was recently moved, brick by brick (approximately 80,000 of them), to Eden's Sunnyfield Farm. This former tomato cannery joined the farm, butcher shop, and blacksmith shop as part of a historic blacksmith village.

Spring City

As avid World Atlas readers are well aware, Utah was settled by Mormons. This singular history springs forth in Spring City, which, according to the Friends of Historic Spring City, "graphically documents the techniques of Mormon town planning in Utah." Among its exemplary Mormon-built relics are the Bishop’s Storehouse (c. 1905), John Frantzen House (c. 1873), and Spring City Ward House (c. 1900). The last of those is a former Mormon meetinghouse that currently serves as a Mormon church. Virtually every building in Spring City is part of the Spring City Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. To this end, there are historic designs and stories around every corner.

Manti

Located just 20 minutes south of Spring City, Manti is another Utah municipality with magnificent Mormon architecture. In fact, outside of the towering temples in big cities like Washington and Salt Lake City, Manti's temple is arguably the prettiest place of Mormon worship. The Manti Utah Temple was completed in 1888 at the hilltop site of the Manti Stone Quarry, which supplied the oolite limestone for its construction. It thus became the fifth or sixth constructed temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and, after many renovations, stands 179 feet tall and spans nearly 75,000 square feet.

The temple is accompanied by the Pioneer Heritage Center and Gardens, a 2.5-acre park with everything from a reflecting pool to an amphitheater to elegant statues. Besides the temple and its grounds, Manti's architectural marvels include the Manti Carnegie Library (c. 1911) and the Francis Marion Jolley House (c. 1875).

Hanksville

Though home to only about 200 people, Hanksville is filled with unique but striking structures. First up is the Wolverton Mill, which is a historic wooden mill that was used to process gold and is now a tourist attraction outside the Bureau of Land Management office. Another is the Hanksville Meetinghouse School, a quaint multi-use space rooted in the early-20th-century LDS Church. But the holy grail of offbeat Hanksville hospitality is Hollow Mountain, a gas station/convenience store built into the side of a rock in 1984. Its construction reportedly required over 100 cases of dynamite, and visitors can adore its construction, take photos, and enjoy Utah’s architecture.

Park City

Another green-sounding place that is quite white, Park City has the largest ski resort in America. The Park City Mountain Resort contains 7,300 skiable acres and three base villages. All are beautiful, but Historic Old Town is the most architecturally significant of the three, given its history as a silver mining hub. Many marvelous edifices were erected during the late-19th-century mining boom, some of which still occupy Old Town's Main Street. Those interested in the local history and architecture can visit the Park City Museum, which is housed partly in the 1885-built Old City Hall, showcasing a rustic construction style. Nearby lies the 1886 Park City Union Pacific Depot, which famously housed Robert Redford's restaurant Zoom. Though built a bit after the boom, the Egyptian Theatre deserves a mention for being a picturesque Park City staple that hosts the Sundance Film Festival and earned Banksy's stamp of (dis)approval.

Grafton

Grafton is a ghost town, but you’d be mistaken in calling it dead. This former Mormon settlement is alive with tourists who photograph exquisitely preserved properties. Chief of these are the Alonzo Haventon Russell Home (c. 1888), John & Ellen Wood Home (c. 1877), Louisa Maria Russell Home (c. 1879), and Grafton School House (c. 1886). From simple wooden construction to intricate brickwork, these sites showcase all kinds of beautiful architecture.

While Grafton was hemorrhaging inhabitants, its buildings were injected in Western films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Thus, a visitor can pretend to be in a Wild West shootout before riding into the sunset over Zion National Park.

Torrey

Like Grafton, Torrey is a gateway to a national park. Unlike Grafton, it has living residents—around 200 of them, according to the U.S. Census. Permanent and temporary Torreyites explore the 241,000ish-acre Capitol Reef National Park and then decelerate by touring quaint historic haunts. In addition to the Behunin Cabin (c. 1883) that sits inside the park, one can admire the Charles W. and Leah Lee House (c. 1895) and Torrey Log Church-Schoolhouse (c. 1898) in Torrey proper. As you can probably guess, such buildings are affiliated with Mormons. Indeed, the church-schoolhouse with its Greek Revival influence served as an LDS Church meetinghouse and community school.

Panguitch

While Panguitch may not be the liveliest of Utah’s towns, it is a dream destination for architecture enthusiasts. This is because the Panguitch Historic District boasts nearly 400 contributing buildings, many dating back to the 19th century. Riddled with deep red brickwork and a rustic vibe, Panguitch's district is perhaps the largest in rural Utah. There are multiple ways to explore this area. One is via the Historic Panguitch Walking Tour, which showcases commercial icons like the Panguitch Gem Theater, Blue Pine Motel, and Cowboy's Smokehouse Cafe. One can also opt for the Historic Red Brick Homes tour, which focuses on the captivating red brick residences that dominate the city. Panguitch was once a brickmaking hub, so much so that bricks were currency.

Wrapping Up

Utah’s architectural treasures, from Eden’s mountaintop monoliths to Panguitch's redbrick abodes, showcase the state's diverse history and charm. The historic Mormon structures in Spring City and Manti, Hanksville's unique rockside gas station, and Grafton’s cinematic ghost town add to this rich tapestry. Each location offers a unique glimpse into Utah's past, inviting exploration beyond its natural wonders. These architectural gems are more than just buildings—they are stories etched in stone and brick, waiting to be experienced firsthand.