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Grafton: In the Shadow of Zion
STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIN ALDER
Some of the best memories of a road trip lie just off the beaten path. When it comes to Zion National Park, many visitors say Grafton, Utah, is the place theyšll never forget.
Settled in 1859 by Mormon pioneers and abandoned by the 1930s, Grafton is surrounded by a set of massive sandstone cliffs that provide one of the most scenic backdrops for any ghost town in the Southwest. Itšs worth the seven-mile detour from Utah Route 9.
My wife, Joy, and I recently took this detour that begins in Rockville, a tiny village with 300 residents and a Main Street lined with shady cottonwood and pecan trees. A slice of small-town America that once was, Rockville still has unmanned fruit and nut stands that operate on the honor system.
After turning onto Bridge Road, we passed over the Virgin River on Rockvillešs rustic 1920s-era girder bridge. The pavement twists and turns a bit before yielding to a bumpy but reliable gravel road. A rusting iron gate sculpted with iconic rock art symbols such as Kokopelli and the Shielded Warrior caught our eye before we reached the scenic Grafton cemetery. ...
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The March/April 2003 Issue is out. Find it at Las Vegas bookstores today.
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