Celebrate Springdale’s Quirks

Joshua Pettit tells us, “Ever wondered about that piece of aviation history hidden in the red rocks?

Most people visit Zion National Park for the views, but history buffs know about the day the sky fell behind Zion Lodge. On July 11, 1973, an Air Force F-111 military jet crashed into the rugged cliffs of the canyon.

Here’s the wild part: The pilots survived by using the plane’s unique escape capsule—literally ejecting the entire cockpit!

Fast Facts:

The Plane: A General Dynamics F-111 from Nellis Air Force Base.

The Site: Rugged terrain right behind the Zion Lodge.

The Legend: While most of the wreckage was hauled out by helicopters, stories of the "Zion Jet" have circulated for decades, often getting mixed up with other famous Utah crashes from the 60s.

Next time you’re hiking the Emerald Pools or relaxing at the Lodge, look up at those towering sandstone walls and imagine the roar of a jet echoing through the canyon.

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Stan Smith added another fun fact, "There was live ammo that came from the plane that they had to carefully come and dispose of. It was quite a day and lots to talk about when it happened.”

Here are other quirky, fun, and interesting facts about Springdale. I think most of us know many of these:

🌄 Tiny Town, Massive Views

Springdale has fewer than ~500 year-round residents — but it welcomes millions of visitors each year because of its stunning red rock backdrop. That contrast between a sleepy population and massive crowds makes it feel like a micro-village with megawatt scenery.

🎨 A Big Little Arts Scene

Despite its size, Springdale punches above its weight in art. So many options; so little time.

✏ Chalk & Earth Fest

Every spring the town transforms into a chalk art festival hub with chalk art, live music, food, and community vibe at Zion Chalk & Earth Fest — a surprisingly creative event for such a small place.

🌌 A Certified Dark Sky Community

Springdale is officially recognized as an International Dark Sky Community, meaning the town and residents make an active effort to keep light pollution low so you can see the Milky Way and tons of stars at night.

🪓 A Historic “Town Jail” Built by the CCC

In 1935, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) — better known for building trails and park infrastructure — also built a tiny stone town jail in Springdale to keep rowdy CCC workers in check during dances and social events. It’s one of the few CCC-built jails in the state!

🏡 Pioneer Origins with an Ironic Twist

The town allegedly got its name when one of the first settlers’ wives stood beside the spring and named it “Springdale.” Ironically, for many years Springdale was just a satellite to nearby Rockville — pioneers had to trek there for mail, church, or supplies.

🪨 A One-Road Village with Monumental Views

The whole town stretches along a single main road, where at almost every turn you’re flanked by ancient sandstone formations like Mount Kinesava rising dramatically above. It feels like a movie set designed by geology.

🛣 The Town Only Really Grew After a Tunnel

For decades Springdale was isolated by the closed canyon. When the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway and Tunnel opened in 1930, it suddenly connected the town to the broader world — and started the modern tourism boom.

Some lesser-known odd natural features around Springdale

🧗 1. Many Pools Trail (When It Actually Has Pools)

After a rainstorm, this slickrock area fills with dozens of natural sandstone basins — tiny temporary “bathtubs” reflecting the sky.

When dry, it just looks like wavy rock. When wet? It becomes a surreal maze of mirrored puddles.

Quirk: Locals will check the weather just to see if the “many pools” are actually… many.

🌊 2. The Subway (Left Fork of North Creek)

The hike to The Subway feels like discovering a secret canyon lab. The rock walls curve into a smooth, tubular tunnel carved by water — so perfect it looks engineered.

Quirk: You need a permit, and flash floods can turn it from peaceful to terrifying in minutes. It’s gorgeous but moody.

🧱 3. Checkerboard Mesa’s Mystery

On the east side of Zion, Checkerboard Mesa looks like it was carved into a giant waffle pattern.

Geologists say it’s from cross-bedding and erosion — but standing below it, it looks suspiciously like alien architecture.

🌵 4. Hidden Hanging Gardens

Some cliff faces near Springdale support delicate ferns and wildflowers growing straight out of vertical rock walls. These “hanging gardens” exist because water seeps through porous sandstone layers.

Quirk: From far away they look like mossy wallpaper pasted on a cliff.

🦌 5. Bold Deer in Town

Mule deer casually stroll through Springdale like they pay property taxes. They graze on hotel lawns and wander sidewalks at dusk.

Quirk: It’s common to see tourists photographing deer with million-dollar canyon views behind them.

🌌 6. Canyon Glow at Night

Because Springdale is an International Dark Sky Community, the cliffs sometimes glow faintly under starlight. On moonlit nights, the red rock can look silver-pink.

Quirk: The canyon walls can reflect so much moonlight it feels like the sun is rising at midnight.

🏜 7. Ghost-Quiet Side Canyons

While Angels Landing and The Narrows get packed, you can step into side canyons like Clear Creek (less visited) and suddenly hear… nothing. Absolute silence except wind.

It’s oddly eerie — like the world turned off.

🪨 8. Petrified Sand Dunes

The massive rock formations around Springdale are basically ancient sand dunes turned to stone over millions of years.

You’re hiking on what used to be a Jurassic desert.

Quirk: The wavy patterns in the rock are literal frozen ripples of prehistoric wind.