What Once Was: Forgotten History of Southern Utah

From ghost towns swallowed by sagebrush to outlaw shootouts, dam failures, pioneer tragedies, and frontier legends — Southern Utah is filled with stories you won’t find in the history books. What Once Was is a cinematic history podcast that uncovers the lost towns, people, and mysteries of Utah’s past. Each episode blends immersive storytelling, soundscapes, and original research from old newspapers, family records, and pioneer journals. Whether you’re a Utah local, a descendant of pioneers, or a traveler fascinated by ghost towns and Old West history, this podcast brings the forgotten corners of the frontier back to life. 👉 Subscribe to What Once Was for biweekly episodes that make Utah history unforgettable.

What Once Was: Forgotten History of Southern Utah is a history podcast hosted by What Once Was, with 12 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

What Once Was hosts What Once Was: Forgotten History of Southern Utah, a history show with 12 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #11

  Under Fear’s Spell: Witchcraft and Murder in Southern Utah

  Oct 31, 202535 minS1

  <p>The true story of Mary Parker’s murder, the man they said she bewitched, and the fear that haunted Southern Utah.</p> <p>This episode of What Once Was unravels one of Southern Utah’s most chilling frontier murders: the killing of Mary Parker in 1880 just outside of what would later become Zion National Park. </p> <p>This story covers the rumors of witchcraft that surrounded her, and the trial of the man accused of her death. Through historical newspapers, family records, and Mormon folklore, we explore how fear, faith, and superstition collided in these small desert towns along the V...

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  Episode #10

  Springdale, Utah: From Pioneer Settlement to the Gateway of Zion National Park

  Oct 27, 202559 minS1

  <p>Beneath the towering cliffs of Zion National Park, a small farming town learned to survive floods, famine, and tragedies. This episode of What Once Was uncovers the forgotten story of Springdale, Utah—from its early Mormon pioneer settlers and water-powered mills, to its midwives, miracles, and devastating disasters that shaped life along the Virgin River.</p> <p>You’ll hear how a community of farmers and craftsmen became the Gateway to Zion, weathering the floods, the rise and fall of Cable Mountain’s flying lumber, the building of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel, the arrival of the CCC, and the sacrif...

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  Episode #9

  Rockville, Utah: Utah's Last Treasure | Southern Utah Pioneer History

  Oct 16, 202553 minS1

  <p>Rockville, Utah — the town once called “Utah’s Last Treasure.”<br> Founded after the devastating Virgin River flood of 1862, Rockville rose from the mud to become one of Southern Utah’s most beautiful and enduring settlements. From floods and faith healers to bears, telegraph lines, and the rise of Zion National Park next door, this episode uncovers the story of the town that refused to disappear — and the people who built the heart of the Virgin River Valley.</p> <p> </p> <p>🎧 Join the community:<br> → Become a patron: https://patreon.com/whatoncewas<br> → Follow on Instagram: @whatoncewas.podcast</p> <p> </p> <p>The s...

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  Episode #8

  Forgotten Settlements of the Virgin River: Southern Utah’s Lost Pioneer Towns

  Oct 2, 202530 minS1

  <p>Episode 8 of What Once Was takes you deep into the forgotten history of Southern Utah’s Virgin River settlements. From Duncan’s Retreat to Northrop, and Shonesburg/Shunesburg, we trace the lives of early pioneers who battled floods, isolation, and conflict in the shadow of what is now Zion National Park. You’ll hear stories of Native encounters, love and loss, and communities that rose with hope only to vanish with time.</p> <p>If you’re fascinated by Utah history, Mormon pioneer settlements, or the ghost towns scattered across Southern Utah, this episode brings the past to life through...

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  Episode #7

  Grafton: Floods, Faith, and the Ghosts of Utah’s Dixie

  Sep 18, 202546 minS1

  <p>Grafton, Utah — today it’s one of the most photographed ghost towns in the West. But in the mid to late 1800s, it was a community clinging to the banks of the Virgin River, where floods, fears and faith tested every family who lived there. From the Marvelous Flood Tenney’s unforgettable birth to the tragedies in the cemetery, to the violence of the Black Hawk War and the final blow of the Hurricane Canal, this episode dives into the stories settlers and their descendants passed down. Alongside them are the Southern Paiute families who were here first — guides, friends...

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