After the devastation of this little town in 1983, nature is reclaiming this spot in Utah.
Lemon Jenny/flickr Thistle was a little hamlet tucked alongside an old trade route in Utah county, south of Spanish Fork. During the heyday of the steam railroad, it was an important stop for the Denver and Rio Grande Western RailRoad.
Lemon Jenny/flickr In April of 1983, a huge landslide blocked the Spanish Fork River, flooding the town of Thistle. Luckily, residents had plenty of time to evacuate.
Lemon Jenny/flickr Many buildings were completely destroyed and carried away by floodwaters.
Lemon Jenny/flickr Some buildings remained, but were buried up to their eaves in mud or water.
Lemon Jenny/flickr The landslide caused $200 million in damages, and shut down rail service for months. The landslide, which measured 1,000 feet wide, 200 feet thick and a mile long, remains the largest slide Utah has ever experienced.
Check out this video shared by electricaman on YouTube to learn more about Thistle’s history.
Lemon Jenny/flickr
Thistle was a little hamlet tucked alongside an old trade route in Utah county, south of Spanish Fork. During the heyday of the steam railroad, it was an important stop for the Denver and Rio Grande Western RailRoad.
In April of 1983, a huge landslide blocked the Spanish Fork River, flooding the town of Thistle. Luckily, residents had plenty of time to evacuate.
Many buildings were completely destroyed and carried away by floodwaters.
Some buildings remained, but were buried up to their eaves in mud or water.
The landslide caused $200 million in damages, and shut down rail service for months. The landslide, which measured 1,000 feet wide, 200 feet thick and a mile long, remains the largest slide Utah has ever experienced.
Have you ever visited Thistle?
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