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Five Must Visit Spooky Season Spots in SLC: Public Lands Edition

Not into haunted houses or the corn maze craze hallmarking this month? Good News — You can still celebrate spooky season – with us! October is the perfect month to explore or revisit your local parks and natural lands. Check out this list of our favorite five, quirky, and lore-filled SLC Public Lands spaces.

1. Allen Park

1328 Allen Park Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84105.

Allen Park has long been known for its interesting history. From a thriving artist’s sanctuary bolstered by the Allen family to an abandoned plot of land, to almost developed out of existence, to a now well-protected city property, Allen Park has seen its fair share of change.

What’s stayed consistent, however, is the whimsical spirit originally fostered within the park thanks to Dr. George Allen and Ruth Larson Allen. Scattered throughout the park you’ll find the original structures from when the parcel was first developed by the Allen family, mosaic inlays around each corner, sculptures, and peacocks (a leftover surprise from George Allen’s love of birds).

With the park scheduled to close for repairs over the winter, now is the perfect time to step back in time to a place of history, art, and natural wonder.

2. Gilgal Gardens

749 E 500 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84102

Another art focused Public Lands space is Gilgal Gardens!. Created by self-taught artist Thomas Battersby Child, Jr. in the mid-twentieth century, this space offers a quiet alcove filled with Child’s original sculpture work. From a Joseph Smith inspired sphinx to disembodied feet and hands, there is plenty to perk your curiosity.

The park is open from 9am to 5pm and includes pamphlets to help guide you through each piece.

3. Washington Sq. Park (City and County Building)

451 S State St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

While the park itself isn’t much to jump at, it’s what sits on top that will have you peeking over your shoulder. The City and County Building is a well-known site for paranormal activity in Salt Lake.  

The land which is now Washington Square was the original site for the Mormon pioneer camp in 1847. Since then, the space has been home to multiple public gatherings including cattle drives, medicine shows, and circuses. 

In 1894 during the construction of the building you see today, tragedy struck as heavy building materials fell off equipment resulting in the death of two young boys playing below. Their spirits are well known visitors in the building as well as a female who is thought to be their mother.

The sounds of an unexplainable gavel being hit is often heard, and past Salt Lake City Mayor, George Montgomery Scott, has been known to roam the third-floor hallways near his old office.

4. Joseph F. Steenblik Park

1050 W 800 N, Salt Lake City, UT 84116

Nothing says Halloween quite like your classic black cat…. Or four bronze cast cats, in this case. Steenbilk park is lovingly referred to as the “Cat Park” in the Rose Park neighborhood of Salt Lake.

From whom and where did four, large, bronze cat sculptures come from you might ask? Day Christensen, that’s who. Commissioned by the Salt Lake Arts Council, Christensen was tasked with creating these sculptures to honor Steenblik Dairy and it’s the feline friends that accompanied it. They stood as key features in the Rose Park Neighborhood for years and are lovingly remembered via this public art project.

5. Lindsey Gardens/SLC Cemetery

426 M St, Salt Lake City, UT 84103

Last, but not least, the SLC Cemetery and Lindsey Gardens.

For more of a classic Halloween experience, you can visit Lindsey Gardens which borders the SLC Cemetery. Sit out for a picnic or take a stroll from park to the largest city-run cemetery in North America.

The park itself offers rolling hills to walk around, a play structure, pavilion, and direct views of headstones just beyond the path. The cemetery is open to the public and boasts some interesting grave sites such as SLC’s first and only female governor, the famous grave marked ‘666 Taken by the Beast”, and the grave of the suspected Sundance Kid.
These two need little explanation, but they’re worth the visit if something just a little eerie is what you are game for.

We hope you check out these parks while the Autumn season is still in full swing here in Salt Lake. Have fun, be safe, and Happy Halloween!