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Pahvant
Butte
Millard County, Utah
After a soak in Meadow Hot Springs, our eyes were drawn to Pahvant Butte, that mysterious chocolate-kiss-shaped mountain in the middle of the valley. If you've driven Interstate 15 through Millard County and looked west, you've seen it. It is surprisingly packed with geologic wonders created by relatively recent volcanic activity. The most recent volcanic activity in this region is thought to have been about 600 years ago. The crater in Pahvant Butte was created by a massive underwater eruption during the Lake Bonneville era, about 15,000 years ago.
This formation is found on the north side of the Butte. It is called
the "Lace Curtain" because of the unusual appearance of
the hardened lava ("partially cemented volcanic tuff"
for those more geologically inclined).
Next, we spied a curious line of pillars atop the south peak of the Butte. We followed the road around the base until we found a reasonably good road (meaning our 4wd Pathfinder would probably get us up there if we were careful) leading to the top.
When we got to the top, we were even more baffled. The pillars stood in two rings, one inside the other. In the center of the circle was a submerged concrete building. Evening was fast approaching. We scouted around and speculated what the place could possibly have been until it was time to get back on the road. Below is a series of photos we shot while there.
Taken from inside the submerged concrete building.
The date on the front of this building is 1923.
Outside, looking in.
We later learned that, in 1923, a man was hired and paid by Millard County to construct a windmill site for the generation of electricity in nearby communities and farms. Unfortunately, before construction was completed, this character disappeared with the money, leaving behind the skeleton that remains today. Needless to say, the money was gone, the man was gone, so the windmills never materialized. They figured he'd headed south for Mexico to enjoy his ill-gotten fortune.
Pahvant Butte
from highway 100, looking west.
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