Castle Rock, also known as "Frenchies" is a

ghost town A ghost town, deserted city, extinct town, or abandoned city is an abandoned settlement, usually one that contains substantial visible remaining buildings and infrastructure such as roads. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economi ...

in Summit County, Utah, United States. The location is currently the site of an automotive junk yard. Some buildings, such as the town's gas station, still stand.

History

The area was first used as a campsite in 1847 by

Brigham Young Brigham Young ( ; June 1, 1801August 29, 1877) was an American religious leader and politician. He was the second President of the Church (LDS Church), president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1847 until h ...

and his followers emigrating during the

Mormon Trail The Mormon Trail is the route from Illinois to Utah on which Mormon pioneers (members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) traveled from 1846 to 1869. Today, the Mormon Trail is a part of the United States National Trails Syst ...

from

Nauvoo, Illinois Nauvoo ( ; from the ) is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States, on the Mississippi River near Fort Madison, Iowa. The population of Nauvoo was 950 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Nauvoo attracts visitors for its h ...

. Castle Rock was founded in 1860 when Head of Echo Canyon, also known as "Frenchies", a

Pony Express The Pony Express was an American express mail service that used relays of horse-mounted riders between Missouri and California. It was operated by the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company. During its 18 months of opera ...

station was built in what is now Summit County. The town of Castle Rock grew around the station as families settled there, hoping to trade with travelers and in 1872, a school was built and functioned until 1937. The original log structure of the station closed in 1867 and was purchased by a French trapper, who moved it a mile away from its current site. Nothing remains of the original Head of Echo Canyon station. In 1872, it became a stop for the Union Pacific Railroad, and was temporarily inhabited by the David Rees and David Moore families. The site of Castle Rock is now home to an automobile junk yard and is private property.

References

{{reflist Ghost towns in Utah Ghost towns in Summit County, Utah Pony Express stations Mormon Trail 1860 establishments in Utah Territory