Scavenger Haunt!

by Meagan, Sweet Branch

It’s a spooktacular City Library Scavenger Haunt for teens! From September 20–October 22, stop by any City Library and pick up a spine-tingling tracker. Inside you’ll find the gory details about hair-raising haunted places in Salt Lake City. Visit at least five of these locations, answer the questions about each one, and then return your tracker for a sticker and your very own paranormal logbook. 

Finished the tracker already? Are you hungry for investigating more paranormal occurrences? These places might be harder to visit in person, but we suggest looking them up online and researching some of what makes them so terrifying.

The Silver Fork Lodge
11332 Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd, Brighton, UT 84121

Originally the location of a miner tent city, the Silver Fork Lodge as it stands today was built in 1947. Guests of the hotel have reported lights and other electronics flickering, cold spots, moving objects, and disembodied moans and whispers.

Which supernatural occurrence scares you the most? The lights, cold spots, moving objects, or sounds?


The Alta Club
100 E S Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

According to legend, a man fell asleep while smoking a cigar and died in the ensuing fire. He’s said to wander the upper floors of the club. Another ghost haunts the basement and makes herself known by a faint scent of lilac perfume.

Do you think seeing a ghost or feeling a ghostly presence is scarier?


Bigelow Hotel
2510 Washington Blvd, Ogden, UT 84401

Built in 1927, this Ogden hotel has a dark history. An employee died by falling down the elevator shaft, and now the elevators have been reported to move from floor to floor with no one inside or on the floors the elevator stops on. Room 1101 is reportedly haunted by a woman who drowned in the bathtub, and Room 1102 is haunted by her son who committed suicide in the room. 

Would you ever stay in a room knowing something like this happened there? Why or why not?


Cottonwood Paper Mill 
6900 S Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121

The Mill has gone through many owners and been used for many things (including as a film set!), but that hasn’t stopped it from being listed as one of the most haunted locations in the state. People have reported doors opening and closing on their own, cold spots, and the lights turning on and off (even though the building no longer has electricity).

Why do you think there are so many reports of old mills or factories being haunted?


Grove Theater
912 W Garden Dr, Pleasant Grove, UT 84062

Weird happenings have been reported from the Pleasant Grove Theater since the 1950s, but the recent stories are more eerie. Staff have reported hearing footsteps on the stage when nobody is there, and signs and mugs have flown across the room on their own. The owner has nicknamed the ghost “Charlie”, but we don’t know who the ghost really is.

Why do you think people name ghosts? Would you name a ghost?


Snowed Inn
1310 Lowell Ave, Park City, UT 84060

The Snowed Inn was built as a replica of the owner’s grandmother’s Victorian Mansion, and the grandmother’s ghost is now said to haunt the building. Staff have reported seeing floating mist, and an old woman is sometimes seen in the back of photographs taken in the building. 

What would you do if a ghost appeared behind you in your photo?


Moon Lake
High Uintas, Duchesne County, Utah

Known as “the most haunted campsite in Utah”, Moon Lake is haunted by the ghost of a 7 year old girl who drowned in the lake. The girl is often sighted during the day by hikers or fishers, where she will approach, soaking wet, asking for help. At night, campers will hear loud splashing water, running, and sobs, but when they go out to investigate the lake is calm and there’s nobody around.

Would you be more nervous to see a ghost during the day than at night? Why or why not?


Fear Factory
666 W 800 S, Salt Lake City, Ut 84104

The beloved and world-famous attraction has a very dark history. Built in the 1800’s, the Fear Factory used to be an industrial cement factory known as Portland Cement Works. There are two confirmed grisly deaths of factory workers, but other records say more than two men died over the years. The factory closed in 1987 and sat vacant until Fear Factory bought the building in 2010. There are reports of screams being heard outside operating hours when the building is silent, and shadowy figures have been reported looking down from upper levels. Some have even claimed to hear a little girl laughing in the middle of the night, even though there are no reports of children dying in the factory.

Why do you think so many stories about hauntings involve children or the ghosts of children?


Rio Grande
270 S Rio Grande Street, Salt Lake City, Ut 84101
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The most famous ghost haunting this 1910 train station is known as The Purple Lady. According to lore, shortly after the station was constructed a woman and her fiance were having an argument and her ring ended up on the tracks. When she went down to retrieve it she was struck by the train and killed. Since then there have been countless reports of lights turning on and off, doors locking on their own, and unexplained singing in the ladies restroom (which seems to be an epicenter of activity). There are also reports of the figure of a man seen in the lobby and upper floors. 

Would you choose to haunt the place where you died? Or would you rather haunt another location?


The Library’s Teen Ghost Scavenger Haunt runs from September 20th through October 22nd. Booklets can be picked up at any City Library location.