Grafton was the location for the iconic bicycle scene in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
The settlement was repeatedly relocated due to flooding from the Virgin River, with the current site being the third iteration.
The Grafton cemetery contains the graves of several pioneers who died during the arduous trek to the region in the mid-19th century.
The schoolhouse, built in 1886, also functioned as the community church and social center.
The town was founded as part of the Cotton Mission, intended to establish Southern Utah as a source of cotton for the territory.
Despite being a ghost town, the site is privately owned by a non-profit organization rather than a state or national park system.
The buildings exhibit a transition from traditional log cabin architecture to milled-lumber frame construction as the town developed.
Archaeological remnants suggest the area was used by Southern Paiute groups long before the arrival of European settlers.
Grafton is the most photographed ghost town in the American West, situated along the Virgin River in Washington County, Utah. Originally established as a Mormon pioneer settlement in 1859, the site was eventually abandoned in 1944 due to flooding risks and the difficult geography of the area. It serves as a rare, well-preserved example of 19th-century agricultural frontier life in a desert climate. The site remains under the care of the Grafton Heritage Partnership, which preserves the original schoolhouse, church, and several pioneer dwellings. Visitors can explore the grounds, which include an intact cemetery featuring gravestones of original settlers. The town layout reflects the traditional Mormon grid system applied to a rural farming context. The site gained international fame as a filming location for the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It is currently maintained as an open-air historical site, requiring visitors to respect private property boundaries and historical structures.
The view looking toward the schoolhouse with the red rock cliffs of Zion in the background.
Bring your own water, as there are no amenities, restrooms, or potable water sources on-site.
Stay on the clearly marked paths to protect the delicate original soil and structures.
Check the Grafton Heritage website before visiting to ensure the site is not closed for private events or restoration work.
Do not attempt to drive heavy motorhomes or trailers on the dirt road leading to the site, as the bridge crossing the Virgin River is narrow and weight-restricted.
The site is occasionally closed for limited periods due to road maintenance or weather-related damage to the access road.
No climbing on or entering the historical structures; maintain silence; pack out all trash.
