Built in 1910 by The Rio Grande Western Railroad, this depot was a testament to the prosperity witnessed in Salt Lake City, Utah during the time. George Gould, the depot’s primary supporter, invested $750,000 of his own money into its construction with the hopes of breaking the railroad monopoly currently controlled by the Union Pacific Railway. Between 1910-1947, the railroad brought in many new people who were trying to escape the Great Depression in the 30s and paved the way for new industries to develop during the second world war. After the war and into the 1970’s the building was used as a center for many businesses. In desperate need of repair, The Utah State Historical Society bought the depot and repaired the Rio Grand Depot to its former glory.
The first instance of any ghostly activity began in 1940. Apparently, there have been sightings of a beautiful dark haired woman in a purple dress in the ladies’ room of the café. The story goes that long ago, she had been fighting with her fiancé when he threw her ring at the tracks. As she went to pick it up, she was hit by an oncoming train. In other instances, security guards and other living beings have felt the presence of a being walking the lobby area and balcony. There are speculations on just who the ghost might be. Could it be George Gold, keeping watch over his life’s work? Or maybe the fiancé of the woman who died on the tracks? The third occasion of a ghostly sighting is when a security guard noticed the lights flickering on and off in the cellar. Apparently, as he walked into the cellar, the lights stopped flickering and whatever ghosts had been there vanished into thin air.
Leave a Reply