History of Marysvale Utah

Text Box: A Brief History of Marysvale, Utah The Marysvale area had its beginnings long before the Mormon pioneer era. Marysvale is located near the Old Spanish Trail that winds up the Sevier Valley. In addition to a prehistory of Fremont and Paiute Indians, Spanish explorers and gold-seekers first visited the area no later that 1776 when the Escalante expedition passed closed by. Some historians argue that the area was visited well before the 1776 date by Spanish militias and fortune seekers who would come up the Spanish trail each spring from Los Angeles looking for gold and Indian slaves. They would return each fall with captive Paiutes for the Mexican slave market. Marysvale or Merryvale as it was called early on in some documents has historic signs of these Spaniards such as the stone arrastra beside Pine Creek about half-way up Bullion canyon. There are many other clues of this fascinating era for those who wish to explore the area and do the research. We know where there is an ancient stone hut and wall foundation that predates Mormon times, that is built in a way very typical of Old Spain. It is located right on the remains of the old Spanish Trail. We also have come across some diggings high in the Tushar Mountains that also predate the 19th century. These crude mines using similar techniques to what I have seen in Northern New Mexico which were definitely done by Spanish descendents of the explorers and settlers from Old Santa Fe and Mexico. The gold mining era reportedly started with the discovery of some large gold nuggets found near the confluence of Pine Creek and Two Mile Creek in lower Bullion Canyon not too far from where we live at Bullion Creekside Retreat. For more details of the colorful history of Marysvale, the mines, and Paiute County to the present I would recommend two books; one is ‘The Ghosts of Gold Mountain’ by Merrill G. ‘Doc’ Utley and the other is ‘The History of Piute County’ by Linda King Newell. Bryan and Ana Burrell

Text Box: Marysvale, Utah - an adventure in itself...

Text Box: Marysvale Home History Lodging Map Weather Activities Utah Adventures