Wasatch Mountain State Park’s miraculous apple orchard


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MIDWAY, Wasatch County — When most people hear Wasatch Mountain State Park, they probably think of golfing.

Stu Nelson, the golf pro at Wasatch Mountain State Park, said there’s nothing quite like golfing at the park. “There’s no housing, there’s no road traffic,” Nelson said. “There’s animals: turkey, deer, moose, wildlife. The setting is as unique as I’ve found in the state of Utah.”

It’s an exceptional 36 holes, especially for out-of-towners, Nelson said.

“When people come from out of state and they visit, that’s what they say. It’s a unique place.”

Wasatch Mountain State Park is not only a respite for golfers, but is a great getaway for those looking to hike, bike or use ATVs. Most of those activities take visitors right by the park, missing out on one particular hidden gem:

A century-old apple orchard.

The orchard has been around for a long time, the seeds of which were shipped from out of state in 1890. Johannes Huber, an early Utah settler in the area, raised his family in the area and put all 10 of his children to work in the orchard. He helped create the orchard that stands in the park today, even purchasing 22,000 seeds for the cause. The Huber family made all kinds of products from the orchard: applesauce, apple butter, apple pies, etc.

There’s something strange about the park apple trees, though, something that no one can quite figure out. Apple trees typically live 35 years and produce apples for even less time than that. But these trees, according to park naturalist Kathy Donnell, “are over 120 years [old] and they’re still producing apples.”

Donnell can’t seem to figure out why, but she does acknowledge that these trees are special. In order to keep the orchard going, in fact, Donnell’s team has spent years grafting new trees from the old.

The hope is that the new trees will be just as hardy as their ancestors.

“Look at this place, it’s just gorgeous,” Donnell said. “[It’s important] to take these trees and preserve them and have them sustainable over another 100 years … so that our kids and grandkids and great-grandkids can learn.”

It’s a history that can be enjoyed by golfers and non-golfers alike at Wasatch Mountain State Park.

Contributing: Angie H. Treasure

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