Aloha From Iosepa LbNA #50613
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Sep 26, 2009 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Iosepa |
| County: | Tooele |
| State: | Utah |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | Roamin' Romans  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | kimbest |
| Last found: | Feb 20, 2010 |
| Status: | FFF |
| Last edited: | Sep 26, 2009 |
Iosepa was founded on August 28, 1889, when 46 Polynesian converts to the LDS (Mormon) Church settled the area after finding the area near Salt Lake City to be inhospitable. The name Iosepa, a Hawaiian form of 'Joseph', was chosen in honor of Joseph F. Smith, one of the first missionaries of the Mormon Church to serve the Hawaiian people.
The population increased to a peak of 228 inhabitants in 1915, but after the announcement of a new Mormon Temple to be built in Laie, Hawaii, the residents returned to Hawaii and the town became a ghost town.
At its peak, Iosepa became know for its neat streets lined with yellow roses, and in 1911 won the state prize for the “best kept and most progressive city in the state of Utah.” Today, very little remains of the town. The main feature still in existence is the cemetery which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Since 1980, each Memorial Day weekend brings hundreds of Polynesians and others to Iosepa to celebrate.
To find the letterbox, head west on I-80 from Salt Lake City (or East on I-80 if you're coming from California or Nevada). Look for a big rock on the south side of the freeway sitting out all by itself. You'll want to take the exit just a bit east of that rock. It should be Exit #77. There are signs leading up to the exit for Iosepa.
From I-80, head south toward Dugway about 15 miles. You'll see a big rectangular sign on the east side of the road (it should be on your left). You will have passed Horseshoe Springs a few miles back (you may want to stop there first to do the 'Horseshoe Springs' letterbox. Amazingly original name for a letterbox, isn't it?)
Turn east off the main road just after the sign and follow the road to the right. Follow the gravel (but not terrible) road about 1 mile until you circle around the graveyard and come to the pavilion. Park anywhere you'd like.
If you'd like (and you probably should) walk through the cemetery and read about the history of Iosepa. It's fascinating. Sign the guest register at the south entrance to the cemetery, make a donation if you wish, then head toward the mountains. You should see a path leading up the hill that splits about halfway up. You'll also hear a voice in your head saying, “You want me to climb that?” Yes I do.
Follow the path up to the Y and take the left fork (heading slightly north). You'll know you're on the right path if you pass a pineapple and you see a giant scorpion up ahead. Just after you pass the giant pineapple, turn and look down the hill. Find the rabbit down below. Line yourself up between the pineapple and the rabbit and look further down the hill. You should see 4 trees in a row (they're the only four trees in that direction for miles).
Stand on the path in line with the trees (at least the first one and the last one; they're a little off) and turn around. You'll find the letterbox under some rocks beneath the branches on the east side of the tree.
Finding the letterbox requires a short climb up a steep hill. It may not be accessible when there's snow on the ground. There are lots of bugs, and there could be snakes. There are definitely a lot of lizards. On the plus side, there's a pretty nice restroom on site. It might be difficult to retrieve the letterbox unnoticed during the Memorial Day Weekend Luau, but there are seldom any other people there.
The population increased to a peak of 228 inhabitants in 1915, but after the announcement of a new Mormon Temple to be built in Laie, Hawaii, the residents returned to Hawaii and the town became a ghost town.
At its peak, Iosepa became know for its neat streets lined with yellow roses, and in 1911 won the state prize for the “best kept and most progressive city in the state of Utah.” Today, very little remains of the town. The main feature still in existence is the cemetery which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Since 1980, each Memorial Day weekend brings hundreds of Polynesians and others to Iosepa to celebrate.
To find the letterbox, head west on I-80 from Salt Lake City (or East on I-80 if you're coming from California or Nevada). Look for a big rock on the south side of the freeway sitting out all by itself. You'll want to take the exit just a bit east of that rock. It should be Exit #77. There are signs leading up to the exit for Iosepa.
From I-80, head south toward Dugway about 15 miles. You'll see a big rectangular sign on the east side of the road (it should be on your left). You will have passed Horseshoe Springs a few miles back (you may want to stop there first to do the 'Horseshoe Springs' letterbox. Amazingly original name for a letterbox, isn't it?)
Turn east off the main road just after the sign and follow the road to the right. Follow the gravel (but not terrible) road about 1 mile until you circle around the graveyard and come to the pavilion. Park anywhere you'd like.
If you'd like (and you probably should) walk through the cemetery and read about the history of Iosepa. It's fascinating. Sign the guest register at the south entrance to the cemetery, make a donation if you wish, then head toward the mountains. You should see a path leading up the hill that splits about halfway up. You'll also hear a voice in your head saying, “You want me to climb that?” Yes I do.
Follow the path up to the Y and take the left fork (heading slightly north). You'll know you're on the right path if you pass a pineapple and you see a giant scorpion up ahead. Just after you pass the giant pineapple, turn and look down the hill. Find the rabbit down below. Line yourself up between the pineapple and the rabbit and look further down the hill. You should see 4 trees in a row (they're the only four trees in that direction for miles).
Stand on the path in line with the trees (at least the first one and the last one; they're a little off) and turn around. You'll find the letterbox under some rocks beneath the branches on the east side of the tree.
Finding the letterbox requires a short climb up a steep hill. It may not be accessible when there's snow on the ground. There are lots of bugs, and there could be snakes. There are definitely a lot of lizards. On the plus side, there's a pretty nice restroom on site. It might be difficult to retrieve the letterbox unnoticed during the Memorial Day Weekend Luau, but there are seldom any other people there.