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Antimony
Once a booming mining town, Antimony is now a quiet ranching
and vacation community. It is located on U-22, five miles
south of Otter Creek Reservoir and 41 miles north of Bryce
Canyon.
First settled in 1873 by cattlemen, the town
was founded in 1877 and was called Coyote. In 1880, the mineral
antimony (used in making bullets and arrowheads) was discovered
by a Navajo Indian. Mines opened and settlers came.
In 1916 more than 200 people were employed by
the mines and smelter, and Coyote became a boom town. The
name was changed to Antimony in 1920. The outlaw Butch Cassidy
grew up in the area. Today you can experience the Old West
on cattle drives and high mountain trail rides through the
surrounding forests and canyons.
Services are available all year in Antimony
and include a guest ranch and campground. You can boat, picnic,
or fish for trout at nearby Otter Creek State Park (435-624-3268).
Drive south from Antimony through Black Canyon and discover
an old gristmill and creamery at the abandoned settlement
of Osiris.
Farther south along U-22 is the ghost town
of Widtsoe. First called Winder in 1910, the town grew to
more than 1100 residents in 1920. There were stores, a post
office, school and hotels, but the lack of water in the area
caused the abandonment of all the communities. The little
pioneer cemeteries at Widtsoe and Antimony are worth the stop.
Services - Antimony
Most services are available all year
Guest ranch, campground, groceries, convenience store,
cafe, gasoline
Otter Creek State Park (435-624-3268)
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