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ST. GEORGE — It's back to the drawing board for the Springdale History and Visitor Center, as the historic home that was going to house the new center is no longer a viable option.
"Once we got down to the slab, there was a tremendous amount of structural damage," Springdale Town Clerk Darci Carlson said. "We knew there wasn't anything that could be fixed, so it was heartbreaking when we came to that decision that it had to be razed, because it had so much history."
There was also damage due to termites. Ultimately, it was too costly to restore the home, she said. The Clarence and Hildred Olsen residence was built in 1928 at 680 Zion Park Boulevard, and the 1 ½-story house was a period revival cottage.
The Springdale Historic Preservation Commission has been working on the project for a few years, Carlson said. The architectural design firm has not completed the plans; however, the current scheme includes a basement, ground level and partial second story totaling approximately 3,800 square feet.
The new center's location is in the heart of town and next to the Best Western Plus Zion Canyon Inn Suites. The house was initially associated with a motel court on 2 acres with frontage on Zion Park Boulevard. The house served as the owner/manager's residence and the Olsen's Cabins motel court office, later called Canyon Ranch Motel.
The house was located at the southern tip of the property, with frontage along Zion Park Boulevard. The motel court was situated to the east and extended north from the street, with mature trees and a large green space in the center.
