Before tragedy struck in 1983, Thistle, in Utah County, was a thriving railroad and farming hamlet. The town was completely destroyed by a huge landslide that left it as a submerged wasteland. Thistle is now Utah’s most costly ghost town, with damages and relocation costs totaling over $200 million as a result of the catastrophic event.
The Thistle’s History
The name “Thistle” came from the abundance of thistle plants in the region when it was founded in the late 1800s along the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. Thistle was an important railroad intersection with a roundhouse, depot, and hotel. It was also a thriving farming community where residents reared cattle and planted crops in the lush valley. With 600 residents and a thriving economy in the beginning of the 20th century, it had schools, churches, shops, and social centers.
But when truck and car transportation became more popular in the 1920s, the town’s economy declined, and many businesses closed, along with the population. Thistle was a ghost town by the 1980s, with only a few dozen individuals remaining.
The Misfortune of Thistle
Snowmelt and rain combined catastrophically in April 1983 to cause a massive landslide that blocked the railroad rails and the Spanish Fork River. This natural calamity created a dam, buried Thistle under a swiftly rising lake that covered 65 acres and reached depths of up to 200 feet. The remaining occupants were forced to evacuate due to the flooding, which also caused severe damage and environmental dangers by interfering with transportation and communication networks.
After a federal emergency was declared, the government and train company started an expensive project that involved spending over $200 million to rehabilitate infrastructure, relocate and pay residents, and stabilize the dam. Thistle was eventually abandoned in spite of attempts to lessen the effects of the calamity.
The Repercussions of Thistle
Thistle is owned by the state of Utah, however it is currently forgotten and off-limits to the public because to safety concerns. There are restrictions on access, and it is forbidden to trespass. Thistle is nevertheless a powerful reminder of the town’s past and the power of nature, even in its dangerous form. Despite being off-limits to tourists, it is a reminder of Utah’s past and is worthy of reverence. Thistle is a somber but captivating location that retains the remnants of its past amidst the serene surroundings.
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In Summary
In conclusion, Thistle, a prosperous farming and railroad town in Utah, was reduced to nearly nothing by a catastrophic landslide in 1983, leaving behind the most costly ghost town in the state, with damages reaching $200 million. The town’s early 20th-century growth, with a thriving economy and 600 inhabitants, is reflected in its history. But it became a ghost town by the 1980s due to economic downturn and depopulation brought on by the introduction of truck and car transportation in the 1920s. Thistle was forced to evacuate when a devastating landslide caused by rain and snowmelt buried it behind a lake. The landslide also seriously damaged the surrounding environment and infrastructure. Though efforts have been made to restore the area, Thistle is still off-limits and abandoned because of safety concerns; it is a somber reminder of the town’s past and the unwavering power of nature. Thistle’s ruins are not open to the public, yet they remain a hauntingly beautiful reminder of Utah’s past in the peaceful environs.
