Entry No. 49 — the Salt Lake City file — filed under: ruins

Cottonwood Paper Mill

Built in 1883 by the Deseret News, this historic stone structure once produced paper for the region before a devastating fire gutted its interior in 1893. In the 20th century, it was repurposed as an open-air dance hall and later a haunted house attraction before being condemned in 2005. Today, its crumbling, graffiti-covered granite walls stand as a striking, fenced-off ruin at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon.

The move: Take a scenic stroll along the adjacent Big Cottonwood Canyon Trail to safely view and photograph the striking granite ruins from outside the security fence.

📍 Before you go The structure is condemned, fenced off, and monitored by active security systems on private property; entering is illegal and dangerous.

• 📍 Cottonwood Heights
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: 6900 S Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121, USA

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Wikipedia · preservationutah.org

last checked: 2026-07-20