Grafton was first settled in 1861, and the Great Flood of 1862 washed the town site away. The town was then resettled on higher ground in1862. Although Grafton is a ghost town, its once-thriving community spirit lives on. Its soul lives as one beholds green pastures, and imagines settlers working in the fields and crafting these buildings within this lands' striking beauty. Grafton returns us to a time when life was tenuous but strengthened by residents who relied on religious faith and each other to survive. Such communities, then and now, instill a sense of belonging to place. This connection between people and landscape lives today through many of Grafton's descendants. May you revel in the history of Grafton and join us in preserving its future.
Why did the settlers abandon Grafton? There was too much water when they didn't need it, too little when they did. In 1906 a newly built canal delivered Virgin River water to the wide, flat Hurricane bench 20 miles downstream. Many Grafton families packed everything even some of their homes and reassembled them in Hurricane. The loss of farm fields from repeated flooding, and lack of modern utilities contributed to their leaving Grafton. Grafton's remaining buildings stand as a place holder, a physical memory of a time and lifeway few living today recall. Towns like this are rare, and becoming rarer. Most pioneer villages either lost their historic heart as they grew into modern towns or were washed away in flash floods.
The buildings and features of Grafton have exceptional value in illustrating and interpreting the heritage of this community and are tangible reminders of people, events and ideas that have shaped its history. Grafton is located just east of the town Rockville on Highway 9, just a few miles before the entrance to Zion National Park. Though most of the buildings are fenced off and are not available for public access, you can still go and enjoy this beautiful area and marvel at the pioneers who once settled there. (From graftonheritage.org. Click here for more information.)