🚙 Exploring the Hidden History of Utah’s Gilsonite Mines & Forgotten Ghost Towns

After spending some time around Kenney Reservoir, near the border of Colorado and Utah, we decided to do what we always do — follow our curiosity. A visit to the local district office turned into a real adventure when a friendly local tipped us off to a favorite spot of his, just across the Utah border. That was all the invitation we needed.

Crossing the Border – But No “Welcome to Utah” Sign Here

We took a road that felt like a secret passageway. There was no grand "Welcome to Utah" sign, just a strange culvert-style tunnel you drive through that tells you — yep, you’ve officially left Colorado. The road was paved, but rough and patchy, like it’s been mended more times than we could count. Honestly, it looked like it hadn’t had a proper facelift since WWII.

Even though we weren’t passing any cars, the road clearly served a purpose. And soon, we found out exactly what that purpose was.

💎 Discovering Gilsonite – Utah’s Shiny, Flammable Secret

We stumbled into something totally unexpected — gilsonite.

This brittle, shiny black mineral looks like obsidian but is actually a natural form of asphalt made entirely of hydrocarbon. And it’s highly flammable. We'd never even heard of it before, but it turns out it’s been mined in this region for over a century.

What Is Gilsonite Used For?

Gilsonite is incredibly versatile:

• 🛣️ Asphalt and road construction

• 🛢️ Drilling mud in the oil and gas industry

• 🖨️ Printer ink and paint

• 🏭 Foundry molds

It’s found almost exclusively in eastern Utah, especially near a place called Bonanza. Gilsonite forms in narrow vertical veins deep underground, which is why it’s mined using tunnel systems rather than open-pit mines. Controlled blasting and careful excavation are used to extract it without causing fires or collapses, since it's so brittle and flammable.

🚧 Rolling into Bonanza, Utah

Our drive led us into Bonanza, an unincorporated community built to support the mining and energy industries. There’s no town square or stoplight — just work camps, industrial facilities, and the people who keep things running.

Right after crossing a newer bridge, we took a rough side road that led us down to an older, arched structure — the old Rainbow Bridge. We’re big fans of bridge architecture, so seeing the old alongside the new was a real treat. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find much history on them — if you know more, leave a comment or send us a message!

🏞️ Pull-Offs, Rivers, and a Map Nerd’s Dream

Not far up the road, we found a pull-off with an amazing view of the White River. The Hubs is a total map guy (thank goodness, because I’m always directionally confused). We’ve been using an app that shows road names and land ownership — super helpful, especially since some roads change names multiple times without actually turning!

Most of the traffic we saw were industrial trucks, but the roads were in great condition, probably because they're maintained for heavy equipment. That worked in our favor as we kept heading deeper into mining country.

🏚️ Ghost Town Hunting: Dragon, Utah

We were on the hunt for a real piece of forgotten history: the ghost town of Dragon.

Funny thing — the sign pointing to Dragon measured distances in kilometers, which caught us off guard. The skies were starting to darken, and then it started to rain. But we were determined to see what was left of this mining town, especially the old cemetery.

Sadly, the weather had other plans. The road to the cemetery had turned into a river, and with the threat of washouts, we made the tough call to turn around. We did get to see the historical sign that told the story of Dragon:

• 🐉 Founded in 1888 as a gilsonite mining camp

• 🛤️ Reached by the Uintah Railway in 1904

• 🏫 Had a school, boarding houses, and blacksmith shops

• 🔥 Known for extreme heat — sometimes reaching 110°F

• 🤠 Had a reputation for being wild and rough

The town got its name from Dragon Rock, a large gilsonite vein that looked like a dragon’s back rising out of the earth. Pretty epic!

🧭 Final Thoughts

Exploring forgotten places like this is one of the most meaningful parts of our travels. There’s something powerful about standing where history happened — even if the buildings are gone, the stories linger in the land.

If you’ve ever visited Dragon or Bonanza, or have any stories about the gilsonite mines, let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!

📍 Next Stop: Dinosaurs, Lakes, and Fairy Gardens

Next week we’re continuing our Utah adventures into a world of prehistoric fossils, stunning lakes, and yes — fairy gardens. Don’t miss it!

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