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Salt Lake City, Utah: Gilgal Garden

RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report

Address:
749 E. 500 South, Salt Lake City, UT
Directions:
On the northeast side of downtown. The entrance to the Garden is on the north side of E. 500 S., midway between S. 700 E. and S. 800 E. Between two buildings, you will see the park entrance.
Hours:
Apr-Sep 8-8, Oct-Mar 9-5. Closed Christmas, N. Years, Thanksgiving. Local health policies may affect hours and access.
RA Rates:
Major Fun
Save to My Sights

Gilgal Garden.

Gilgal Garden

Strange folk art environment features a two-ton sphinx carved with the face of Mormon church founder Joseph Smith.

Roadsideamerica.com Report... [10/05/2008]

Visitor Tips and News About Gilgal Garden

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Boulder head with sword.

Gilgal Garden

Loved this -- a lot of work went into Gilgal Garden. Small, but worth it.

[Amelia, 05/21/2022]

Sphinx at Gilgal Garden.

Gilgal Garden

After a tip came in from an SLC visitor that the Gilgal sculpture garden had been obliterated by condos, "Agility Nut" Debra Jane Seltzer asked her pal Ellie Sargent to reconnoiter. Ellie reports that Gilgal is still there -- intact and well-maintained.

[RoadsideAmerica.com Team, 07/11/2008]

Sphinx at Gilgal.

Gilgal Garden

Gilgal Garden has been revamped and is now a public park because of the great work of the "Friends of Gilgal" group as well as the LDS Church. I'm not Mormon, but I can appreciate the devotion this man had to his faith and his career, which is what the garden is all about. The sad part is that it's not the worry of a condo going in, but vandals, who have absconded with a stone heart as well as a sword and anvil. It is a strange place to say the least, yet it is beautiful and thought provoking. I'm just glad to report that it is now preserved!

[Norman Barton, 05/11/2005]

Head at Gilgal Garden.

Gilgal Garden - Folk Art Environment

From a previous tip: "Childs' died years ago and left the property to his children. They are preparing to sell the property to condo developers." While this situation is now past, I felt the need to clarify that it was not Thomas B. Child's children who were planning to sell the garden to developers! The property was eventually sold to the Fetzer family who were family friends. The burden of maintainence drove them to try and sell the property and when this happened it was Thomas B. Child's daughter-in-law who helped for the Friends of Gilgal foundation who ultimately purchased the garden and has been a crucial part of its restoration. Of note, the house that was knocked down was not Child's but another. Child's home is the one that is due east of the garden. Come see the garden -- it is incredible! I am honored to be a part of its heritage.

[Daniel Child, 04/08/2005]

July 2008 - Photo added.


Nearby Offbeat Places

Virgin Mary in a StumpVirgin Mary in a Stump, Salt Lake City, UT - < 1 mi.
Whale in a Traffic CircleWhale in a Traffic Circle, Salt Lake City, UT - < 1 mi.
Wheelchair Ascension GraveWheelchair Ascension Grave, Salt Lake City, UT - 1 mi.
In the region:
Nursing Home Stonehenge, American Fork, UT - 27 mi.

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