Winter Quarters

Winter Quarters is a ghost town in Carbon County, Utah, with roots in the coal industry. Coal was discovered in the area in 1875, and that same year the Pleasant Valley Coal Company launched mining operations. The town got its unusual name from an incident in 1877, when a group of miners was stranded by an early winter storm and forced to wait out the season there.

The site carries a somber chapter in American labor history. On May 1, 1900, an explosion in the Winter Quarters Number Four mine killed 200 miners — one of the deadliest mining disasters of its era. Despite that catastrophe, operations pressed on until 1922, when coal mining activity in the area finally ceased.

Today visitors come to explore what remains of a community that once bustled around a dangerous and demanding industry. The setting in Carbon County reflects the rugged character of the region. Access and road conditions can be challenging in winter months, so planning a visit in late spring through early fall is advisable.