Pioneer Village

Stagecoach
1987 PV Logo

QUICK FACTS

  • Pioneer Village is a collection of authentic pioneer buildings and artifacts from around Utah
  • Originally started in 1938 in Salt Lake City by Horace & Ethel Sorenson
  • Most of the collection was purchased by Lagoon and opened in its current location in 1976

CURRENT RIDES & ATTRACTIONS

RIDES
AreaDescription
Rattlesnake RapidsRattlesnake Rapids PlazaRiver rapids ride
Rivets & RotorsThe DistrictChildren’s ride
SteamworxThe DistrictFamily ride
Time TinkerThe DistrictFamily ride
HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS, ETC.
AreaDescription
Barber Shop / MillineryMain StreetHistoric Artifacts
Bigler CabinBrigham StreetHistoric Building
Bingham CabinBrigham StreetHistoric Building & Artifacts
Blacksmith ShopMain StreetHistoric Artifacts
Carriage HallMain StreetHistoric Artifacts
China ShopMain StreetHistoric Artifacts
Clock ShopMain StreetHistoric Artifacts
Coalville ChapelBrigham StreetHistoric Building & Artifacts
Cobbler ShopMain StreetHistoric Artifacts
Dentist’s OfficeMain StreetHistoric Artifacts
Drug Store / Ice Cream ParlourMain StreetHistoric Artifacts
Gingerbread HouseBrigham StreetHistoric Building & Artifacts
Governor Dern Livery Stable / Telephone MuseumMain StreetHistoric Building & Artifacts
Gun CollectionBrigham StreetHistoric Artifacts
Humane Alliance FountainBrigham StreetHistoric Fountain
JailBrigham StreetHistoric Building
Kellersberger Meat CompanyMain StreetHistoric Artifacts
Main Street ClockMain StreetHistoric Clock
Miniature Circus / Toy & Doll MuseumMain StreetHistoric Artifacts
Model Train Museum / Kaysville Train StationMain StreetHistoric Building & Artifacts
Mormon Craftsmanship DisplayBrigham StreetHistoric Artifacts
Mormon Furniture ExhibitMain StreetHistoric Building & Artifacts
Music HallMain StreetHistoric Artifacts
Pioneer Kitchen & Hardware MuseumMain StreetHistoric Artifacts
Pioneer Perk / BakeryMain StreetFood / Historic Artifacts
Pony Express CabinMain StreetHistoric Artifacts
Pony Express Centennial MonumentMain StreetHistoric Monument
Post OfficeMain StreetHistoric Artifacts
Print ShopMain StreetHistoric Artifacts
Rattlesnake Rapids Railroad DisplayRattlesnake Rapids PlazaFormer Ride
Rockport Co-OpMain StreetHistoric Artifacts
Rockport SchoolhouseBrigham StreetHistoric Building & Artifacts
Salt Lake Temple Builders MemorialBrigham StreetHistoric Monument
SmokehouseBrigham StreetHistoric Building
Token, Currency & Silver CollectionBrigham StreetHistoric Artifacts
Town HallBrigham StreetHistoric Artifacts
Village GreenMain StreetPicnic Lawn
Wanship CabinBrigham StreetHistoric Building & Artifacts
Food & Shops
AreaDescription
Arby’sMain StreetFood
Drug Store / Ice Cream ParlourMain StreetFood / Historic Artifacts
FiizMain StreetFood
Grandma Cristie’sMain StreetFood
The Old MillBrigham StreetFood
Peddler’s PlaceRattlesnake Rapids PlazaGift Shop
Pioneer Photo GalleryMain StreetPhoto Studio
Pioneer Perk / BakeryMain StreetFood / Historic Artifacts
Rattlesnake GrubRattlesnake Rapids PlazaFood
Snakebite SaloonThe DistrictFood

FORMER RIDES & ATTRACTIONS

AreaDescription
Alma Warr General StoreMain StreetGift Shop / Historic Artifacts
BonanzaBrigham StreetGame / Gift Shop
D&RGW Railroad CarsMain StreetHistoric Artifacts
Fort Bell TowerMain StreetReplica
Lagoon Miniature RailroadBrigham StreetMiniature Train Ride
Log FlumeBrigham StreetRide
Old Fishin’ HoleBrigham StreetFishing Attraction
Ox-Drawn WagonMain StreetRide
Pioneer PizzeriaMain StreetFood
Pioneer Village RailroadMain StreetTrain Ride
Pony ExpressMain StreetFood
Pony Express MuseumMain StreetHistoric Artifacts
StagecoachMain StreetRide
Ute Indian MuseumMain StreetHistoric Artifacts
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26 replies on “Pioneer Village”

I am trying to confirm whether the Little Rock Chapel in the Pioneer Village was the one built by Ira N. Hinckley in 1863 in Coalville, Utah. Please contact me if you have information.

Yes, the Rock Chapel in Pioneer Village is the same one built in Coalville in 1863. I have emailed you with more information.

I have sent a response to the email you provided. Let me know if you have further questions.

I have a flyer from Utah Pioneer Village from when I attended in 1963 when it was on Connor Street in SL. Are there any aerial or panorama photos of Pioneer Village from that era? The cover drawing done in 1961 by Roy Olsen is nice but a photo would be better for jogging out memories.

I think I have the same brochure with the drawing. The photo I have on the Ox-Drawn Wagon page isn’t an aerial view, but it shows a lot of the original Pioneer Village. There’s also a photo on flickr that has a better view, but it was after the buildings had been moved to Lagoon. I hope to be updating this page with photos and history soon.

I had read that the Gingerbread House (Alma Gibbons) in Pioneer Village had originated in Rockport, Summit County (as did the School House and Co-op). Can you please tell me its origin?

I understand that the Wanship Cabin came from Rockport. I am wondering why it would be named thus if this is the case.

Thank you,

Alison Pack

The sign Lagoon has in front of the house says it “was built by Alma Gibbons for his bride, Cora Melissa Judd, in 1904. He cut the trees from his property, hauled them to his saw mill, and built the home and gingerbread trim with his own hands.” The last residents of this home were Ted & Lorea Brown. Ted (Thomas Edward) Brown was a grandson of Thomas Gibbons and a nephew to Alma Gibbons.

The schoolhouse was built in 1870. It was constructed of rough-hewn pine logs with a floor made of flat rock and measured 18 feet wide and 28 feet long. It was Rockport’s first public building and was also used for church services and community events until 1892 when a new church and social hall was built in its place. At some point, a new brick schoolhouse was built in Rockport and the old log school became the Relief Society Building.

The Rockport Co-Op operated from 1885 until the 1930s.

The Wanship Cabin was given that name because it was originally built in or near Wanship, a town just a short distance north of Rockport.

Before the Wanship Dam was completed, these buildings were relocated to the original Pioneer Village in Salt Lake City and were on display there for many years before coming to Lagoon. I will have more details and photos about these and other Pioneer Village attractions throughout the coming months.

Thank you for that information. I look forward to seeing more on these buildings.

We are planning a reunion and I was wondering if now you might have any more photos or information on the Rockport buildings and Wanship Cabin. Thank you.

I am interested in the origins of the old post office. Years ago, when I first went to the Pioneer Village in Salt Lake, my father told me it was the Post Office where his grandparents got their mail. He even remembered which box was theirs. But now he is too old to remember which one it was. Do you have any information to back up his story about where the post office originally came from?

That’s interesting. It’s very possible your father was correct. I’ll look into it and let you know what I find out!

According to information about the post office from the Sons Of Utah Pioneers, the post office originally came from Charleston, Utah. It could’ve been very similar to the one your father remembers.

I love the Rock Chapel, as well as all of Pioneer Village, and would like any additional information that you may have about it! Thank you

I am interested in talking to Allison Pack. I have just today seen these queries. I actually lived in that “Gingerbread House” when I was a small child. My family and the family of my aunt and uncle rented the house from Ted and Leora Brown. I would like to talk to Allison Pack to understand her interest in the home.
Dr. Ron Mano, Ph.D.
Draper, Utah

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