The Cottonwood Paper Mill is an old abandoned stone structure located at the mouth of the Big Cottonwood Canyon in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. It is located at the intersection of Wasatch and Fort Union Boulevard. (6900 Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd) and is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It is also known as the Granite Paper Mill.
The Cottonwood Paper Mill was built in 1883 by the Deseret News. Workers used paper making equipment brought in from the old Sugar House Paper Mill to grind logs from nearby canyons into pulp. Rags that were gathered from old clothes were also used to produce the pulp, which was then placed into molds and dried. When it was still in operation, the Cottonwood Paper Mill could produce up to five tons of paper per day.
The Old Cottonwood Paper Mill was in operation for about 10 years. The completion of the railroad made paper much cheaper to obtain, though, and in 1892, the mill was sold to Granite Paper Mills Company. On April 1, 1893, a fire broke out inside the building. There was a huge stockpile of paper that fed the fire and, many who heard the alarm though it to be an April Fool’s Day joke and so did not respond appropriately. The Old Mill was thus destroyed, leaving only a stone skeleton.
In 1927, the building was partially rebuilt for use as an open-air dance hall, known as The Old Mill Club. It remained until the 1940′s. In the 1970′s and 1980′s, the structure was used as a haunted house as well as a craft boutique. In 1966, it was declared an historic site by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. It was officially condemned by the city of Cottonwood Heights in 2005. In 2006, a newspaper interview indicated that there were no future plans for development for the old structure.
Ghosts and the Paranormal at The Old Mill | Cottonwood Paper Mill in Salt Lake City, Utah:
According to one report, two squatters and their dog were killed in a fire at The Old Mill in Salt Lake City. The ghosts of these entities is said to thus, haunt the premises.
Visitors to the Cottonwood Paper Mill have reported cold spots, strange growling sounds, and strong feelings of uneasiness. Some have reported seeing light coming from inside the building, even though there is no electricity to The Old Mill. Electrical equipment failures and battery draining have allegedly been seen.
I spent about a half hour at the site. There are very visibly posted No Trespassing signs and two layers of fences to get to the structure. Unfortunately I was unable to get past the second fence. I think it is important to go in and photograph the building before it totally crumbles to the ground so am reaching out for that request. Until then, these photos of the grand structure will have to suffice.
Scenes From the Lily Pad 