Historic Utah Ghost Town Is Offered For Sale

The ghost town of Woodside, located along Hwy 6 in Emery County, is up for sale. It is an old rail road town that once boasted a population of about 300. Now it consists of a deserted service station, a couple other tumble-down buildings and about 700 acres extending along the Price River on both sides of the highway.

Oh, there is also an unpredictable cold water geyser and two or more “free range” llamas.

Woodside is located about halfway between Price and Green River, on the main road to Moab. Many people drive past it every day and the current owners think it has recreational potential. They are asking almost $4 million.

It is not often that a historic Utah town comes on the market. The official town charter would need to be renewed, but the town could be resurrected.

This Deseret News article provides background information. Here are excerpts:

Woodside got its start in 1881. It was called Lower Crossing then and was used by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad as a water stop.

The town grew to include several stores, a blacksmith shop and even a school. The population peaked around 1920, when about 300 people called Woodside home.

"When the railroad had no more use for (Woodside), it was just kind of doomed to a slow death," said Edward Geary, a retired BYU professor and the author of "A History of Emery County."

The land is owned by the Pogue family and sits midway between Price and Green River on the way to Moab, so it could become a viable stop for travelers.(Mike) Metzger also noted that if the nuclear power plant goes in near Green River, that could increase the properties development potential.

Geary conceded that some ghost towns — and even towns facing the threat of extinction — have made impressive comebacks.

"You have to remember, Park City was never a ghost town, but it was close," he said. "It was only a shadow of what you see there now, but they (developed) recreation and then it became just a wonderful place to live.