There is a good chance that you’ve never heard of Spring City, but this small Utah town off the beaten path just may be the cutest town in the state!
Spring City is located in Sanpete County near Manti and Ephraim. There is so much history and charm packed into this tiny town that it definitely deserves to be on your Utah itinerary.
Keep reading to discover the best things to do in Spring City, Utah!
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10 Best Things to Do in Spring City, Utah
Table of Contents
- 1. Go on a historic home tour
- 2. Eat at Das Cafe
- 3. Visit the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum
- 4. Drink from the city’s natural spring
- 5. Visit an art gallery
- 6. See historic community buildings
- 7. Stay at a Bed & Breakfast
- 8. Eat at Roots 89 Grill & Soda Fountain
- 9. Stop at the Spring City Cemetery
- 10. Attend a local event
1. Go on a historic home tour
You will be completely smitten with Spring City! In fact, in 2010 Forbes magazine listed Spring City as one of the prettiest towns in America.
Spring City is also one of the best-preserved examples of a 19th-century rural pioneer farm village with over 50 historic homes.
It is only one of two towns in the US where the entire city is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The second is Colonial Williamsburg, VA.
When you visit Spring City, you will discover a town frozen in time.
This once vibrant pioneer community still maintains the same timeless warmth and charm, with many of the homes preserving the original pioneer architecture.
This pastoral valley was also once nicknamed “Little Copenhagen” and “Little Denmark” due to the influx of Danish pioneers immigrating to Utah.
They were skilled craftsmen whose architecture has withstood the test of time and whose history is woven in the details of this community.
In fact, one-third of all of Spring City’s homes are the original pioneer homes built between 1865-1890.
Many of the outbuildings have also been preserved, such as summer kitchens, barns, root cellars, and granaries.
One of the best ways to experience these refurbished pioneer homes is through a historic home tour held during Heritage Days each year.
If you aren’t able to make it to the Heritage Days celebration, you can still do a self-guided walking or driving tour and see the exterior of these historic pioneer homes.
For an easy self-guided walking tour, click on the map for each of the locations in this guide.
Listed below are a few of my favorite homes, for a complete listing visit Friends of Historic Spring City.
Orson and Mary Ann Hyde House
Address: 209 South Main Street
This home was built in 1868 for Orson Hyde, an early pioneer of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who served as the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
He shared this home with Mary Ann, one of his six wives. Polygamy was a common practice among the early pioneers but is no longer practiced by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints today.
Orson died from a severe stroke in his home on Thanksgiving day in 1878.
The original home underwent a thorough restoration in 2004. Two original limestone outbuildings and a barn can also be found on the property.
Niels H. Borresen House
Address: 197 South Main Street
This home was built in 1864 using two-foot thick rubble stone and is one of the oldest stone houses in town.
Niels Borresen was born in Denmark and immigrated to Utah in the late 1850s after converting to the LDS church.
He was a wood miller and horticulturist, and also served in the Black Hawk War. He was convicted of practicing polygamy and served time in the Territorial Prison. The original home was restored in 1994.
John Frantzen House
Address: 73 South Main Street
This home was built in 1873 by John Frantzen, a convert to the LDS church that came to Utah from Norway in 1857.
This home is one of the few remaining adobe houses in Spring City.
Frantzen served in the Spring City bishopric for 15 years and also served a two-year mission in Denmark.
It is believed that the first store in Spring City was run out of one of the rooms in his home.
More recently, the home has been opened as a bed and breakfast as part of Spring City Farms.
Crisp-Allred House
Address: 59 North Main Street
James Crisp was a farmer from England that immigrated to Utah in 1866. He ran a successful business transporting produce to the mining camps on the Nevada-Utah border and subsequently built this home in the 1880s.
Crisp loved hosting dances and social events on the second floor of the home until he tragically died in a farming accident about 10 years later.
The Allred’s purchased the home after his death. After some remodeling, they turned the home into the Allred Hotel which ran for 25 years.
It was later restored and operated as the Spring City Inn and Antiques, a bed & breakfast and antiques store.
Jens Petersen House
Address: 147 N 100 E
Jens Petersen was a weaver that immigrated to Utah from Denmark in 1874.
He built the front two rooms of this modest stone house. He only lived in the home for 8 years before it was sold to another pioneer family.
A fire damaged the home and it underwent renovations in 1981, including an addition to the original structure. The original log barn has also been restored.
Peter Jensen House
Address: 151 W 200 N
This wood cabin was actually transported to Spring City from Central, Utah.
It is believed that the cabin was originally built in Richfield in the 1870s by Norwegian immigrants before being moved to Central then settling in Spring City.
This home is unique as it is one of the few remaining Norwegian log houses that can be found in Utah.
You will notice the traditional “key” or tongued notch joints at the corners. The cuts and placement are so precise that chinking, or the process of sealing the joints of the logs, was not necessary.
*Related post: for another one of Utah’s best kept secrets, check out our guide to visiting Utah’s Pink Lake!
2. Eat at Das Cafe
This small brick building was once home to Baxter Confectionery, also known as “John’s Candy Store”, from 1915-1973. It was a favorite spot among the Spring City children.
Today the building houses Das Cafe, a small German cafe that sees visitors from around the world. The cafe is run by the Schroeder sisters whose parents immigrated from Germany.
The dishes they serve are their own favorite family recipes that their parents and grandparents would cook.
The homecooked meals are made from scratch and include traditional German dishes such as Bratwurst and Sauerkraut on a Pretzel Bun, the Reuben sandwich, Opa’s Omelet, the legendary Big Max German breakfast, and a variety of other dishes.
Some of our personal favorites include the loaded Belgian Waffle, Mashed Potatoes with Mustard & Dill Gravy, and the seasonal Lemon Cream Cake.
The Asparagus Soup is also the best you’ll ever have, but it is seasonal as well.
But the star of the show is their carrot cake which has been voted the best in Sanpete County and just may be the best in the whole state!
Another fun thing to try on their menu is the Mormon Mocha. Only in Utah can you find a coffee-flavored drink without the coffee!
The drink is even served in a coffee mug that was handmade from Horseshoe Mountain Pottery just down the road.
The dining room extends into the neighboring building that once served as the Lyceum Theater, later known as Victory Hall.
This building was also built in 1915 by John Baxter and featured silent films. In the late 1920s, it began showing the popular “talkie” films with recorded dialogue playing in sync with the moving picture.
It later served as the LDS recreational center and even hosted a live radio show called, Life Under the Horseshoe. It was written, directed, and performed by the local residents of Spring City.
The original stage can still be seen in the dining room of Das Cafe.
Sandstrom’s Pool and Dance Hall is located adjacent to the old theater.
This building was constructed in 1911 and featured a pool hall on the bottom floor with a dance hall on the second floor. It later served as a grocery store, post office, bicycle shop, and library.
3. Visit the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum
The Daughters of Utah Pioneers (DUP) Museum is housed in the old schoolhouse and city hall just across the street from Das Cafe.
This building is one of the few remaining functioning civic buildings in all of Sanpete County.
It was built in 1893 using limestone from the same quarry that was used to build the LDS Manti Temple.
Today visitors can stop in at the small museum to see some original artifacts on display, tour the old jailhouse, and learn some interesting history from the knowledgeable docents.
If the building is closed, just call the number posted on the window for a tour.
You can also purchase a booklet with a map and information about the historic houses and buildings in town.
Be sure to pop into the old firehouse located next to the museum as well.
In the early 1900s, this wood-frame false front building displayed goods from traveling salesmen. It later served as the Spring City Fire Station and currently houses a historical collection from the Friends of Historic Spring City.
4. Drink from the city’s natural spring
The name ‘Spring City’ derives from the natural spring that flows underground from the mountains east of town.
The spring was crucial for irrigation and allowed the pioneer village to thrive in the early days. The town’s children also loved to cool off in the spring on hot summer days.
The LDS church even built a cabin at this site with a large tin tub filled with the spring water that was used to baptize church members.
Many of the town’s residents today still rely on the spring for everyday use.
The Daughters of Utah Pioneers have built a monument on Main Street where the water continuously flows.
Stop by and have a drink or fill up a water bottle to take with you! You can find the fountain next to the gas station on 100 North and Main Street.
5. Visit an art gallery
The once-thriving town of Spring City slowly began to decline post-WWII. However, restoration projects began in the mid-1970s which attracted new residents, including many talented bohemians.
Over the years, this small farming community has become an enclave for artists and craftsmen with local art studios and galleries being housed in the historic homes and buildings.
One such gallery is located in the old Baxter General Store, later known as the Schofield Mercantile. This building was constructed with stone and a wood frame facade in 1895.
If you notice, on the side of the building below the writing, you’ll see several metal ‘x’s’ attached to the building.
These served as a joint of sorts and was a common building technique used by the pioneers that originated in Nauvoo. You’ll see this in several other buildings around the town.
Today the building houses an art gallery owned by Shirley Britsch.
Another studio and shop that is worth visiting is the Horseshoe Mountain Pottery. This is where the world-renowned potter, Joe Bennion, makes the mugs for Das Cafe. He also makes a variety of other stunning handmade pieces that you can purchase and take home with you.
Joe runs his business based on the honor code, the door is never locked and customers just leave money for their purchases in a lockbox.
Jock Jones is also another talented resident of Spring City, Utah. He is known for handcrafting some of the finest Windsor chairs in all of the US. Stop by his Jock’s Windsor Chairs shop at 125 South Main Street to see his work and perhaps purchase some of his affordable quality wood furniture.
Stop in at Sophie’s Black Sheep Gallery to see Sophie Soprano’s whimsical artwork portraying scenes from the Spring City farmlands.
The Spring City Arts Gallery is also a co-op run gallery located in the old Strate’s Garage and features the work of local artists.
6. See historic community buildings
Along with the numerous historic homes scattered throughout Spring City, there are also several notable historic buildings that were central to the pioneer community.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints original chapel
The Spring City, Utah LDS chapel was built between 1897-1911 and is listed as one of the church’s top 15 historic buildings.
It was the beating heart of the deeply religious pioneer community and still remains as the crowning jewel of the town.
The stately chapel was built using the same oolitic limestone from the nearby quarry as the LDS Manti Temple and city hall.
The original building cost $40,000 to build, which was quite a large chunk of change during that time!
Remodeling of the chapel first took place in 1939. New additions were also constructed in the 1970s, including a cultural hall that hosted religious and community events.
Spring City Public School
The elegant Spring City Public school was built in 1899 using locally fired bricks and boasted some of the finest craftsmanship of its time.
The old Victorian school was designed by the same architect that designed the LDS chapel.
The schoolhouse was in use through the mid-1900s until it was replaced by a newer school.
After almost 40 years of ongoing restoration projects, the Old Spring City School is now open to the public and serves as the Spring City Community Center and city offices.
Bishop’s Storehouse
The Bishop’s Storehouse was a common addition to pioneer communities in the early 1900s. The purpose of the Bishop’s Storehouse was to help those in the community who were in need.
The red brick storehouse was stocked with food and supplies that were distributed at the discretion of the bishop to members of the church and community that may not be able to afford them.
Tithing money from the members of the church helped to keep the storehouse stocked which was run by volunteers.
The property also held a granary, canning room, cellar, and barn that were used to benefit the community.
The Bishop’s Storehouse was also used to store church records and later became the Relief Society Hall and then the DUP Museum.
In the late 1990s, the Osmond family purchased the property and converted it to a private residence.
7. Stay at a Bed & Breakfast
the Osborne Inn is a charming bed and breakfast housed in a historic Victorian brick home with shingled gables and corbelled arches.
The home was originally built in 1894 by William Osborne, a local merchant that owned a meat shop and a candy shop.
In addition to feeding the prisoners at the Spring City Jail, his wife also ran a hotel out of this house. It continues to serve as an inn to this day.
The Osborne Inn features four unique guest rooms with private baths. Three of the rooms have jetted tubs and fireplaces.
The Inn serves a homemade breakfast each morning upon request and offers complimentary bicycles for guests to explore Spring City.
For an intimate rustic stay, Coopers Cabin is also available and serviced by Osborne Inn.
The Three Cedars Cottage is a slightly larger holiday home perfect for families looking to explore Spring City.
Another favorite is the Spring City Farm. It has cozy accommodations available in its farmhouse, stone cottage, and Hollyhock pioneer home.
They also host events in their barn and open their lavender fields for a u-pick event each summer.
The Scott Farm is another bed and breakfast farm stay. The cheerful yellow country home is set on 10 serene acres with a charming wrap-around porch and white picket fence.
8. Eat at Roots 89 Grill & Soda Fountain
Roots 89 Grill is a cute cafe housed in an old 1930s drug store and soda fountain.
Isaac Allred once owned and operated the drug store which later became the Horseshoe Grocery Store.
The original building was constructed of lumber and was damaged after a fire broke out at the neighboring Johnson Mercantile in 1929.
The current brick building was subsequently constructed in 1930 where it is now operating as Roots 89 Grill & Soda Fountain. The name reflects the pioneer heritage that can be found in the small towns dotting US Route 89 in Utah.
You’ll find a traditional menu of burgers, fries, and shakes at Roots 89 along with a few other specialty dishes.
Their fountain drinks are also the best around. They say the secret is that they use the city’s natural spring water for their ice.
Our favorite sides were the fried cheese curds, garlic fries, and the loaded sweet potato bites drizzled with caramel and marshmallow sauce. Delicious!
*Related post: for another underrated place to visit in Southern Utah, check out our guide A Weekend Getaway in Bluff Utah!
9. Stop at the Spring City Cemetery
This pioneer cemetery was the main burial ground until 1869 when a new cemetery was designated just west of town.
The earliest gravesite is of Newton Allred in 1857 and the last burial was in 1910. This cemetery is unique as it is laid out in the shape of the state of Utah.
Many of the early grave markers were made of wood and did not withstand the weather and grazing sheep.
Later, headstones were made of local sandstone but the natural elements have eroded some of the names and dates as well. As a result, many of the early gravesites remain unknown and some are marked with only a pile of stones.
There are 63 known gravesites located in the cemetery. One of the most well-known graves is that of Orson Hyde, a prominent figure in the LDS Church who served as the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
You’ll also find the graves of several men who died during the Black Hawk War, a bloody conflict with the United States and Native Americans over land resources.
10. Attend a local event
Each year the town of Spring City hosts a variety of events.
A few of the most popular include the Heritage Days celebration that is held the Saturday before Labor Day.
During this event, visitors can tour historic homes, attend a silent auction, shop at the antique fair, eat a BBQ turkey lunch, and go on a wagon ride.
Every Labor Day Weekend, Spring City hosts the Arts Plein Air & Studio Tours.
This painting competition attracts artists from all over Utah to compete. Many of the paintings are put up for sale and the studios and galleries open their doors for tours.
The Bluegrass Festival is a popular summer event featuring folk music and local food.
Pioneer Day is observed every 24th of July across the state of Utah. It commemorates the arrival of the first Mormon Pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley.
There is no better place to celebrate Pioneer Day than the state’s best-preserved pioneer town!
The activities include a fireman’s breakfast, pioneer parade, BBQ lunch, pioneer games, softball tournament, and a fireworks show to round out the celebration.
I hope you get a chance to visit this historic pioneer town, there is so much history and so many things to do in Spring City, Utah!
If you’re looking for more things to do in the area, be sure to check out our Sanpete County Guide! And if you’re heading up north, we have plenty of things to do in Utah County as well!
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Das Café looks amazing! Such a small shop. Also, love the VW bus! All of those old houses look like a lot of fun, too. It seems like a fantastic spot to stay!
Thanks Justin! It really is such a cute town and Das Cafe is delicious!
You have mis-identified several of the homes shown. Also John Frantzen’s name is spelled wrong. Really should correct the errors.
Thanks for the spelling correction! As for the homes, I used the information directly from the “Friends of Historic Spring City” (as cited) to identify the homes so I am curious which ones are incorrect?
lovely photos! I had just opened up the Mercantile, I took photos of the lovely VW bus too! ♥
So cool! We will definitely be back to visit Spring City, we’ll have to pop into the Mercantile and say hi!
This is a fabulous and thorough guide to Spring City! Thank you!
I’m so glad it was helpful, thank you for the kind comment!
Thanks for highlighting Spring City. Love every bit of it!
Thanks for taking the time to leave a kind comment! It’s such a beautiful city, I’m glad you enjoyed it!