Thistle Ghost Town
- Admission
- Free
- Hours
- Open 24/7 (Best viewed during daylight hours)
- Duration
- 15-30 minutes
- Parking
- Unpaved pull-off areas along the highway
- Access
- Viewable from roadside pull-offs; the ruins themselves are on rough, hazardous terrain and not wheelchair accessible
Thistle is a haunting ghost town drowned by a massive landslide in 1983 that dammed the Spanish Fork River. Today, visitors can view the eerie ruins of partially submerged houses and collapsed structures from the highway. It stands as a silent, powerful reminder of nature's sudden destructive force.
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Once a bustling mountain railroad town, Thistle was abruptly destroyed in April 1983 when a massive landslide dammed the Spanish Fork River. Within days, the rising waters completely drowned the valley, forcing residents to evacuate their homes forever.
Today, Thistle stands as an eerie, waterlogged monument to the power of nature. From the roadside, visitors can view the iconic half-submerged ruins of a drowned home and the remnants of flooded railway structures.
Located just off Highway 6, this modern ghost town offers a hauntingly picturesque stop for travelers journeying through Spanish Fork Canyon. It serves as a stark visual reminder of the sudden disaster that reshaped the local landscape.
Ratings
attractionVisitor Tips
- ◆ Pull off safely at the designated viewing areas along US Route 6, as highway traffic moves very quickly.
- ◆ Bring a camera with a good zoom lens to capture the details of the submerged ruins from a distance.
- ◆ Visit during the golden hour of late afternoon for the most dramatic lighting on the canyon walls and drowned structures.
Heads Up
- ◆ The ruins are located on private property and active railroad land; do not trespass or attempt to walk down to the submerged structures.
- ◆ Exercise extreme caution when pulling on and off the busy highway, especially during bad weather or high-traffic weekends.
Common questions
Is the red drowned house in Thistle still standing?
No, the iconic half-submerged red house collapsed in late 2022. Only a pile of debris remains in the water where the structure once stood.
Can you walk around the Thistle ghost town ruins?
No, the remaining ruins of Thistle are located on fenced private property and trespassing is strictly prohibited. Visitors must view the site from the safety of the public highway pullouts.
Where is the best place to pull over and view Thistle?
The best viewing area is a paved pullout on the shoulder of US-89, just south of the junction with US-6 in Spanish Fork Canyon. This overlook includes informational plaques about the 1983 landslide that created the lake.