What Once Was: Forgotten History of Southern Utah

What Once Was
  • 5.0 (31)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

From ghost towns swallowed by sagebrush to outlaw shootouts, dam failures, pioneer tragedies, and frontier legends — Southern Utah is filled with stories you won’t find in the history books. What Once Was is a cinematic history podcast that uncovers the lost towns, people, and mysteries of Utah’s past. Each episode blends immersive storytelling, soundscapes, and original research from old newspapers, family records, and pioneer journals. Whether you’re a Utah local, a descendant of pioneers, or a traveler fascinated by ghost towns and Old West history, this podcast brings the forgotten corners of the frontier back to life. 👉 Subscribe to What Once Was for biweekly episodes that make Utah history unforgettable.

Episodes

  1. 10/31/2025

    Under Fear’s Spell: Witchcraft and Murder in Southern Utah

    The true story of Mary Parker’s murder, the man they said she bewitched, and the fear that haunted Southern Utah. This episode of What Once Was unravels one of Southern Utah’s most chilling frontier murders: the killing of Mary Parker in 1880 just outside of what would later become Zion National Park.  This story covers the rumors of witchcraft that surrounded her, and the trial of the man accused of her death. Through historical newspapers, family records, and Mormon folklore, we explore how fear, faith, and superstition collided in these small desert towns along the Virgin River and impacted the towns of Rockville and Springdale.   🎧 Join the community: → Become a patron: https://patreon.com/whatoncewas → Follow on Instagram: @whatoncewas.podcast   The stories I share are based on old records, newspapers, local legends, and oral histories. While I do my best to tell them truthfully, some details may be lost to time. Please remember—many of the places we mention are on private land. Don’t trespass or go exploring without permission. Let’s keep history alive without disturbing what’s left of it.   Intro music is "A Calm Hellfire" by the Wayward Hearts

    35 min

  2. 10/27/2025

    Springdale, Utah: From Pioneer Settlement to the Gateway of Zion National Park

    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 sacrifices of World War I and II. It’s a story of faith, family, and transformation—where joy became the answer to sorrow, and a canyon became a sanctuary for the world.   🎧 Join the community: → Become a patron: https://patreon.com/whatoncewas → Follow on Instagram: @whatoncewas.podcast   The stories I share are based on old records, newspapers, local legends, and oral histories. While I do my best to tell them truthfully, some details may be lost to time. Please remember—many of the places we mention are on private land. Don’t trespass or go exploring without permission. Let’s keep history alive without disturbing what’s left of it.   Intro music is "A Calm Hellfire" by the Wayward Hearts Banjo Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay

    59 min

  3. 10/16/2025

    Rockville, Utah: Utah's Last Treasure | Southern Utah Pioneer History

    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.   🎧 Join the community: → Become a patron: https://patreon.com/whatoncewas → Follow on Instagram: @whatoncewas.podcast   The stories I share are based on old records, newspapers, local legends, and oral histories. While I do my best to tell them truthfully, some details may be lost to time. Please remember—many of the places we mention are on private land. Don’t trespass or go exploring without permission. Let’s keep history alive without disturbing what’s left of it.   Intro music is "A Calm Hellfire" by the Wayward Hearts Conch shell Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay

    53 min

  4. 10/02/2025

    Forgotten Settlements of the Virgin River: Southern Utah’s Lost Pioneer Towns

    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 immersive storytelling and real historical accounts. Perfect for history lovers, road-trippers, and anyone curious about the people who carved out lives along the Virgin River.   🎧 Join the community: → Become a patron: https://patreon.com/whatoncewas → Follow on Instagram: @whatoncewas.podcast   The stories I share are based on old records, newspapers, local legends, and oral histories. While I do my best to tell them truthfully, some details may be lost to time. Please remember—many of the places we mention are on private land. Don’t trespass or go exploring without permission. Let’s keep history alive without disturbing what’s left of it.   Intro music is "A Calm Hellfire" by the Wayward Hearts

    30 min

  5. 09/18/2025

    Grafton: Floods, Faith, and the Ghosts of Utah’s Dixie

    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, protectors, and sometimes adversaries. This is the story of Grafton: not just a ghost town, but a place where joy, grief, and resilience left a lasting mark on southern Utah history.

    46 min

  6. 09/04/2025

    A Bad Penny Always Turns Up

    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 involved have been changed* (Don't forget: If this story resonates, please follow, share, and review—it helps more than you know!)   🎧 Join the community: → Become a patron: https://patreon.com/whatoncewas → Follow on Instagram: @whatoncewas.podcast   Please remember—many of the places mentioned are on private land. Don’t trespass or go exploring without permission. Let’s keep history alive without disturbing what’s left of it.   Intro music is "A Calm Hellfire" by the Wayward Hearts Knitting Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay  St Patricks dance Music by Alana Jordan from Pixabay

    30 min

  7. 08/21/2025

    Enterprise, Utah: Built from Ruins, Held by Grit

    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, Utah — through the journals of Orson Huntsman, the grit of settlers like the Holts and Winsors, and the tragedies that tested this community to its core. From typhoid to warplanes, from ice cream parlors to spy arrests, this is the story of a town that wasn’t supposed to make it… but did. *I am working on my correct pronunciation of towns so if you listened to the previous episode you might notice a different pronunciation of Hebron in this one* (Don't forget: If this story resonates, please follow, share, and review—it helps more than you know!)   🎧 Join the community: → Become a patron: https://patreon.com/whatoncewas → Follow on Instagram: @whatoncewas.podcast   The stories I share are based on old records, newspapers, local legends, and oral histories. While I do my best to tell them truthfully, some details may be lost to time. Please remember—many of the places we mention are on private land. Don’t trespass or go exploring without permission. Let’s keep history alive without disturbing what’s left of it.   Intro music is "A Calm Hellfire" by the Wayward Hearts

    46 min

  8. 08/07/2025

    Hebron: A Town Haunted by Faith, Fire, and the Devil Himself

    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-hidden tales of a community that ultimately vanished—but whose echoes remain. This is the story of Hebron—once a bustling town, now a memory whispered by the wind. If you love ghost towns, forgotten history, and stories that send chills down your spine, this episode is for you. (Don't forget: If this story resonates, please follow, share, and review—it helps more than you know!)   🎧 Join the community: → Become a patron: https://patreon.com/whatoncewas → Follow on Instagram: @whatoncewas.podcast   The stories I share are based on old records, newspapers, local legends, and oral histories. While I do my best to tell them truthfully, some details may be lost to time. Please remember—many of the places we mention are on private land. Don’t trespass or go exploring without permission. Let’s keep history alive without disturbing what’s left of it.   Intro music is "A Calm Hellfire" by the Wayward Hearts Accordion music in this episode by Peter Barbaix from Pixabay

    48 min

  9. 07/24/2025

    Modena, Utah - The Glory Days at the End of the Line

    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 thriving frontier town into a mostly forgotten speck on the map. This is the story of the town at the end of the line—and the people who refused to be left behind. 🎧 Join the community: → Become a patron: https://patreon.com/whatoncewas → Follow on Instagram: @whatoncewas.podcast   The stories I share are based on old records, newspapers, local legends, and oral histories. While I do my best to tell them truthfully, some details may be lost to time. Please remember—many of the places we mention are on private land. Don’t trespass or go exploring without permission. Let’s keep history alive without disturbing what’s left of it.   Intro music is "A Calm Hellfire" by the Wayward Hearts Harmonica music by Samuel Copier from Pixabay  Piano music by Francesco Bondi from Pixabay

    19 min

  10. 07/24/2025

    Stateline, Utah - The Mining Town That Went Boom then Bust

    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 historically grounded storytelling, we bring this ghost town back to life—if only for a moment. Because sometimes, the loudest echoes come from places long abandoned.   🎧 Join the community: → Become a patron: https://patreon.com/whatoncewas → Follow on Instagram: @whatoncewas.podcast     The stories I share are based on old records, newspapers, local legends, and oral histories. While I do my best to tell them truthfully, some details may be lost to time. Please remember—many of the places we mention are on private land. Don’t trespass or go exploring without permission. Let’s keep history alive without disturbing what’s left of it. Intro music is "A Calm Hellfire" by the Wayward Hearts

    16 min

  11. 07/24/2025

    The Outlaws and Legends of Desert Springs Station

    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. 🎧 Join the community: → Become a patron: https://patreon.com/whatoncewas → Follow on Instagram: @whatoncewas.podcast The stories I share are based on old records, newspapers, local legends, and oral histories. While I do my best to tell them truthfully, some details may be lost to time. Please remember—many of the places we mention are on private land. Don’t trespass or go exploring without permission. Let’s keep history alive without disturbing what’s left of it. Intro music is "A Calm Hellfire" by the Wayward Hearts

    18 min

  12. SEASON 1 TRAILER

    What Once Was Trailer

    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.

    1 min

Trailer

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About

From ghost towns swallowed by sagebrush to outlaw shootouts, dam failures, pioneer tragedies, and frontier legends — Southern Utah is filled with stories you won’t find in the history books. What Once Was is a cinematic history podcast that uncovers the lost towns, people, and mysteries of Utah’s past. Each episode blends immersive storytelling, soundscapes, and original research from old newspapers, family records, and pioneer journals. Whether you’re a Utah local, a descendant of pioneers, or a traveler fascinated by ghost towns and Old West history, this podcast brings the forgotten corners of the frontier back to life. 👉 Subscribe to What Once Was for biweekly episodes that make Utah history unforgettable.

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