What Once Was: Forgotten History of Southern Utah

Beneath the towering cliffs of Zion National Park, a small farming town learned to survive floods, famine, and tragedies. This episode of What Once Was uncovers the forgotten story of Springdale, Utah—from its early Mormon pioneer settlers and water-powered mills, to its midwives, miracles, and devastating disasters that shaped life along the Virgin River.

You’ll hear how a community of farmers and craftsmen became the Gateway to Zion, weathering the floods, the rise and fall of Cable Mountain’s flying lumber, the building of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel, the arrival of the CCC, and the sacrif...

Rockville, Utah — the town once called “Utah’s Last Treasure.”
Founded after the devastating Virgin River flood of 1862, Rockville rose from the mud to become one of Southern Utah’s most beautiful and enduring settlements. From floods and faith healers to bears, telegraph lines, and the rise of Zion National Park next door, this episode uncovers the story of the town that refused to disappear — and the people who built the heart of the Virgin River Valley.

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Episode 8 of What Once Was takes you deep into the forgotten history of Southern Utah’s Virgin River settlements. From Duncan’s Retreat to Northrop, and Shonesburg/Shunesburg, we trace the lives of early pioneers who battled floods, isolation, and conflict in the shadow of what is now Zion National Park. You’ll hear stories of Native encounters, love and loss, and communities that rose with hope only to vanish with time.

If you’re fascinated by Utah history, Mormon pioneer settlements, or the ghost towns scattered across Southern Utah, this episode brings the past to life through...

Grafton, Utah — today it’s one of the most photographed ghost towns in the West. But in the mid to late 1800s, it was a community clinging to the banks of the Virgin River, where floods, fears and faith tested every family who lived there. From the Marvelous Flood Tenney’s unforgettable birth to the tragedies in the cemetery, to the violence of the Black Hawk War and the final blow of the Hurricane Canal, this episode dives into the stories settlers and their descendants passed down. Alongside them are the Southern Paiute families who were here first — guides, friends...

On St. Patrick’s Day 1935, Enterprise, Utah was alive with music, dancing, and laughter. By morning, rancher Thomas “Penny” Reed had vanished. For years, the town whispered — had he left his family, or had something darker happened that night?

Nearly three years later, a new sheriff uncovered a secret buried in the desert — and set the stage for one of southern Utah’s most sensational trials.

*This story is based on almost entirely from historical newspaper accounts, with the help of court records and family stories. Out of respect for descendants, the names of those most closely...

This isn’t a ghost town story.
It’s the story of a town that survived. This episode follows this town from its beginning to the end of WW2.

Born from Hebron’s collapse and carved into the high desert by pioneers, Enterprise weathered floods, blizzards, epidemics, and the losses of two world wars. It was a place where children danced on reservoir banks, telephones carried the weight of war, and the dam wasn’t just a wall — it was a lifeline.

In this episode of What Once Was, we trace the rise of Enterprise...

In the shadowed sagebrush country west of Enterprise, Utah, lies a forgotten ghost town with a history as dark as it is captivating. Founded by pioneers answering Brigham Young’s call, Hebron promised prosperity but instead faced relentless trials—natural disasters, fires, drought, and even whispers of supernatural possession.

From cattle rustlers and telegraph fires, to the eerie claims of spiritual hauntings that tore at the fabric of the community, Hebron’s story is one of survival, struggle, and stubborn hope. Join me as we peel back the layers of time, exploring firsthand accounts, forgotten journals, and long-h...

Beneath the blistering sun of Southern Utah lies a forgotten stagecoach station where fact and folklore blur—Desert Springs. Once an infamous outpost, now nothing remains, but whispers on the wind.

In this episode of What Once Was, we explore the chilling legends passed down through generations—stories of murders, outlaw gangs, and the mysterious lives of those who lived here. 

Through immersive soundscapes and historical storytelling, we peel back the layers of time to uncover what truth may still linger in the dust. This is history that will make you say WOW.

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In the far southwestern corner of Utah, where the desert flattens and the railroad once ruled, lies a quiet town with a loud past—Modena. It was built on the promise of progress, a bustling depot where trains stopped, sheep sheared by the thousands, and families that kept trying.

In this episode of What Once Was, we step into the dust and echoes of Modena’s heyday. Hear the clang of hammers on steel as tracks are laid. Bleats of sheep during shearing season. And witness how fire and the slow retreat of the railroad turned a thri...

Straddling the dusty edge of Utah and Nevada once stood a town built on gold, silver, and second chances—Stateline. For a moment at the turn of the 19th century, it boomed with promise: saloons rang with laughter, miners dreamed of fortune, and the frontier pulsed with life. But like so many Wild West towns, its glory was short-lived.

In this episode of What Once Was, we journey into Stateline’s heyday and explore its downfall downfall. You’ll hear tales of shootouts, lawmen and the everyday people that called this town home. Through immersive sound design and hi...

Discover the forgotten history of Southern Utah — from ghost towns and outlaw shootouts to murders and pioneer grit. What Once Was brings the past to life with immersive sound and vivid storytelling. New episodes launch July 24. Subscribe now and join the journey.