You’ll find the abandoned mining town of Wattis in Utah’s Serviceberry Canyon, where the Wattis Brothers and M.S. Browning launched coal operations in 1916. The town thrived through railroad connections and mining prosperity until environmental challenges and economic vulnerability led to its decline. Today, at 6,000-7,000 feet elevation, you can explore industrial ruins, workers’ housing, and haunting mine entrances that reveal Carbon County’s rich coal-mining heritage beneath rugged canyon walls.
Key Takeaways
- Wattis was established in 1916 as a coal mining town in Serviceberry Canyon, Utah, founded by the Wattis Brothers and M.S. Browning.
- The town thrived through coal production beginning in 1918, supported by a 2.5-mile private railway connecting to Utah Railway’s mainline.
- Residents faced harsh living conditions with minimal amenities, creating a tight-knit multicultural community centered around mining work.
- Environmental challenges, including water scarcity and poor soil conditions, combined with economic dependence on coal, led to the town’s decline.
- Today, Wattis stands abandoned with photogenic industrial ruins, workers’ housing remains, and mine entrances set against Serviceberry Canyon’s backdrop.
The Birth of a Mining Town
While railroad construction dominated Utah’s early industrial landscape, the Wattis Brothers and M.S. Browning saw an opportunity in coal. They purchased 160 acres from the U.S. government in 1916, establishing what would become both a thriving mine and community.
The Utah Construction Company headed the development efforts, having already established itself as a major force in western infrastructure. You’ll find the town’s origins rooted in Serviceberry Canyon, roughly eleven miles southwest of Price, where the Wattis Brothers had founded their settlement around 1912.
The community dynamics centered entirely around coal extraction, with the town’s infrastructure developing in lockstep with mining operations. The first coal shipments began in 1918, marking the start of decades of mining prosperity.
The Wattis Brothers’ Legacy
The Wattis brothers’ influence on Utah’s development extended far beyond their coal mining venture in Serviceberry Canyon.
From mining pioneers to industrial visionaries, the Wattis brothers helped forge Utah’s path toward economic prosperity and development.
From founding the Utah Construction Company in 1900 with Thomas Dee and David Eccles, to establishing critical railway contracts across the Western U.S., their contributions shaped the region’s industrial landscape.
Their early success came from Oregon Short Line construction, setting the foundation for their future endeavors.
You’ll find the Wattis brothers’ legacy most evident in their innovative approach to integration. They didn’t just mine coal – they built the infrastructure to support it, including a 2.5-mile industrial spur track connecting to the Utah Railway.
Establishing the community in 1912 as founders, they created a blueprint for successful mining towns in Carbon County.
Even after selling their coal operations to Lion Coal Company in 1919, their impact persisted through the town that bears their name.
Their pioneering spirit in railroad construction and mining operations helped transform Carbon County into a crucial industrial hub during the early 20th century.
Life in the Coal Mining Camp
Living conditions in Wattis reflected the harsh realities of early 20th-century coal mining camps, where company-built housing clustered tightly around the mine entrance.
You’d find modest wooden homes, often crowded and lacking basic amenities like indoor plumbing and electricity. Yet strong community bonds formed as families shared these challenging circumstances.
Daily life centered around the demanding mine work, with miners facing long shifts underground in dangerous conditions. The Mountain Rose Temperance Society formed to address social issues affecting miners and their families. The miners sought better working conditions through United Mine Workers organizing efforts in 1903.
The multicultural workforce, including many immigrants, created a unique miner culture that flourished despite the hardships.
You’d find social life revolving around the company store, local churches, and schools.
While labor disputes occasionally disrupted the camp’s rhythm, the tight-knit community supported each other through strikes and safety concerns, sharing both struggles and celebrations in their isolated mountain home.
Railroad Development and Transport
As western rail expansion boomed in the early 1900s, Wattis Brothers emerged as pivotal players in developing Utah’s essential railroad infrastructure.
Through their Utah Construction Company, they shaped the region’s transportation future, particularly in coal transportation networks. The Feather River Route, completed in 1909, demonstrated their expertise in large-scale rail projects.
The Wattis Branch, a 2.5-mile private rail spur completed in 1917, transformed the town’s coal shipping capabilities. This crucial development occurred the same year Utah Railway began independent operations with their own locomotives and rolling stock.
Here’s what made this development significant:
- Connected the isolated Wattis mine directly to Utah Railway’s mainline
- Cost $171,000 to construct, later purchased by Utah Railway in 1921
- Required minimum annual shipments of 100,000 tons of coal
- Integrated with broader western railroad networks through the Feather River Route
You’ll find this railroad expansion was vital for both the town’s survival and Utah’s economic growth, enabling coal shipments to reach markets far beyond the mountain west.
Architecture and Town Planning
While railroad infrastructure shaped Wattis’s connectivity to the outside world, physical design and architecture defined life within its boundaries.
You’ll find the town’s architectural significance reflected in its practical early 20th-century Western style, with buildings strategically placed along the rail line on a broad canyon floor between towering cliffs.
The town design clustered essential services near the tracks, including a post office, hotel, and general store. Similar to structures in Whidzo, these buildings featured distinctive archways and moldings.
You can spot the careful planning in the placement of loading docks and warehouses, maximizing industrial efficiency.
Though the roads were rough and graveled, the buildings showed craftsmanship with finished interior walls.
Public structures like the schoolhouse and church demonstrated the community’s investment in permanent facilities, while utilitarian structures served the town’s industrial backbone.
The new company constructed boarding houses and homes to accommodate the growing mining workforce.
Environmental Struggles
If you’d visited Wattis during its mining days, you’d have witnessed the harsh reality of water scarcity, as the town relied on trucked-in water due to the lack of natural springs.
You’d have encountered the challenging arid climate, where strong winds and seasonal extremes made both daily life and mining operations increasingly difficult.
The environmental hardships weren’t limited to weather alone, as the poor soil conditions and distant water sources prevented successful farming efforts, leaving the community wholly dependent on mining for survival.
Water Scarcity Impacts Life
Despite Utah’s naturally arid climate, the water scarcity challenges in Wattis reached unprecedented levels that devastated both wildlife habitats and agricultural operations.
The community’s struggle with water conservation became evident as local marshlands dried up and farmers watched their fields disappear. You’ll find that these conditions forced tough choices between preserving natural ecosystems and maintaining human needs.
Key impacts on Wattis’s community resilience included:
- Wetland habitats vanished, driving away native bird species
- Grazing lands turned unstable near newly created water storage areas
- Traditional farming practices became impossible as water supplies dwindled
- Local families faced difficult decisions about abandoning their agricultural heritage
The situation exemplified broader challenges across Utah, where 75% of residents worried about dwindling water resources while struggling to adapt their way of life to increasingly scarce conditions.
Harsh Climate Challenges Settlement
Because Wattis faced unrelenting environmental pressures, the settlement’s harsh climate proved insurmountable for long-term habitation.
You’d experience brutal summers exceeding 100°F, followed by winters plunging below freezing. These extreme temperature swings wreaked havoc on buildings, equipment, and any hopes of climate resilience.
The environment’s hostility didn’t stop at temperature. You’re constantly battling toxic dust storms carrying arsenic-laden particles from abandoned mines, while drought-stricken soil crumbles beneath your feet.
The land’s instability undermines foundations and roadways, making new construction nearly impossible. Settlement viability faces constant threats from deteriorating infrastructure, contaminated dust clouds, and the sheer intensity of weather extremes.
It’s a perfect storm of environmental challenges that ultimately drove residents away.
The Decline and Exodus
While Wattis once thrived as a bustling coal mining community, the town’s decline began sharply in the 1950s when coal demand plummeted throughout the region.
The town’s economic vulnerability became painfully apparent as residents faced the harsh reality of depending on a single industry for survival.
You’ll find the story of Wattis’s exodus marked by four key factors that sealed its fate:
- Lack of economic diversification left no alternative employment when mining became unprofitable
- Loss of critical infrastructure and transportation links isolated the community
- Population decline accelerated as families sought opportunities elsewhere
- Harsh environmental conditions made it difficult to sustain alternative industries
Within a generation, Wattis transformed from a vibrant mining town to another of Utah’s silent ghost towns, its empty buildings standing as evidence to the boom-and-bust cycle of resource-dependent communities.
Modern-Day Ghost Town Exploration
When you explore Wattis today, you’ll need to navigate carefully through unstable structures while keeping safety equipment like flashlights and first aid supplies close at hand.
Your DSLR or mirrorless camera, paired with wide-angle and prime lenses, will capture the haunting details of abandoned mining facilities and weathered buildings against Utah’s dramatic desert backdrop.
You should plan your visit during golden hour lighting conditions, either early morning or late afternoon, to photograph the town’s remaining architectural features in their most striking state.
Safety and Access Tips
As visitors venture into the remote terrain of Wattis, proper safety preparations and access considerations become essential for exploring this historic ghost town.
The rugged landscape at 6,000-7,000 feet elevation demands careful planning for safe exploration, while access routes often require high-clearance vehicles and knowledge of current road conditions.
Before heading to Wattis, follow these critical safety precautions:
- Pack emergency supplies including first aid kit, extra water, and a satellite communication device
- Wear protective gear like sturdy boots and gloves to guard against hazardous debris
- Research property boundaries and secure necessary permissions to avoid trespassing
- Share your planned route and return time with a trusted contact
Stay alert for abandoned mine hazards, unstable structures, and sudden weather changes while traversing this remote location.
Photography and Sightseeing Highlights
Three distinct photography zones await visitors to Wattis ghost town: the industrial ruins of Lion Coal Company’s operations, the remnants of workers’ housing, and the scenic Serviceberry Canyon backdrop.
You’ll find compelling photographic techniques work best during golden hour, when sunlight bathes the weathered structures in warm tones. Capture storytelling elements through wide-angle shots of mine entrances and railway spurs, or zoom in on rusted machinery details that reveal the site’s industrial past.
For dramatic contrast, focus on nature’s reclamation – where vegetation intertwines with decaying wood and metal. Visit during spring for vibrant colors or winter for stark snow-covered scenes.
Don’t miss the nearby ghost towns of Hiawatha and Blackhawk to complete your visual documentation of Utah’s coal mining heritage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were There Any Major Mining Accidents or Disasters at the Wattis Mine?
You won’t find major accidents or disasters in mining safety records for the Wattis Mine. Available accident reports and historical documentation don’t show any significant incidents involving multiple fatalities there.
What Was the Peak Population of Wattis During Its Mining Heyday?
You’ll find exact peak population figures aren’t documented, but based on mining techniques, town infrastructure, and comparison to nearby Hiawatha, Wattis likely reached between 800-1,500 residents during the 1940s-50s mining boom.
Did Any Notable Crimes or Lawlessness Occur in Wattis?
You’ll find historical records show widespread prostitution, illegal bars, and gambling in Wattis, with underground tunnels helping evade law enforcement. Crime history matches other rough mining towns of that era.
Are There Any Paranormal Activities Reported at the Wattis Ghost Town?
Like a whisper in the wind, there’s little concrete evidence of paranormal activity in this location. While ghost sightings and unexplained noises occur in nearby ghost towns, you’ll find no documented cases here.
What Happened to the Mining Equipment After the Town Was Abandoned?
You’ll find most mining equipment was salvaged by Mountain States Machinery in 1964, while remaining machinery deteriorated in the elements. Some equipment’s still buried under tailings, contributing to historical preservation efforts.
References
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j57bIChGeY8
- https://utahrails.net/utahcoal/wattis.php
- https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Utah_Ghost_Towns
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Henry_Wattis
- https://onlineutah.us/wattishistory.shtml
- https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/m/MINING.shtml
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_Construction_Company
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wattis_Brothers
- https://utahrails.net/utahcoal/utahcoal-men.php
- https://utahrails.net/utahcoal/zehnder.php
