Thistle
Buried by a Mountain
State: Utah
County: Utah County
Founded: 1883
Abandoned: 1983
Peak Population: 600
Thistle was a railroad junction town in Spanish Fork Canyon. In April 1983, after a wet winter, a massive landslide blocked the canyon, creating a lake that submerged the entire town. It became the costliest landslide in U.S. history at the time.
Railroad Town
Thistle grew as a Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad junction. Train crews changed here, and the town had hotels and businesses to serve them.
The Landslide
After heavy winter snowfall, the mountainside gave way in April 1983. The slide dammed Spanish Fork River, flooding Thistle. The town was permanently evacuated.
Timeline
- 1883 - Founded Railroad established junction
- 1983 - Landslide Mountain collapsed and flooded town
- 1983 - Evacuated Residents permanently relocated
Plan Your Visit
Best Time: Summer
Difficulty: Easy - visible from highway
Time Needed: 15 minutes
Quick Facts
- Costliest landslide in U.S. history at the time
- Entire town flooded within days
- A new highway tunnel bypasses the unstable area
Location
Address: US 6, Spanish Fork Canyon, Utah
Coordinates: 40.0092, -111.4994