Margaret Darby went ghost hunting with some practiced paranormal experts for a story recently, so she agreed to share her experience behind the story with us today.
Before writing this story, I had probably thought about The Great Saltair less than a dozen times. I knew it was a concert venue outside Salt Lake City and I’d heard vague stories about it being haunted, but my knowledge about the building ended there.
So when I spoke with Brandon Barrick, a Great Saltair employee of 15 years, and he shared first-hand paranormal experiences from Saltair, I wanted to know more. The more I dug into the building’s history, the richer it got.
The site has endured two fires, a flood and multiple rebuilds. Its most recent rebuild was in 1981, which is also when the site made the transition from amusement park to ghost-hunting hotspot.
Barrick told me that during his first decade at Saltair, he didn’t buy into the paranormal lore. He’s heard stories from other employees about seeing ghosts, but he wasn’t convinced until he experienced the paranormal activity himself.
I’ve always been a big believer in ghosts. I’ve also always been a major scaredy-cat. Because of this combination of traits, it is in my best interest to avoid all things paranormal. I buy into all the lore. And then it scares me.
So when Barrick invited me to participate in a paranormal investigation at The Great Saltair, I was cagey with him about showing up. An interaction with the paranormal is the sort of experience that would haunt me for a lifetime. But I was convinced. And I don’t regret going.
👻 Read more about how The Great Saltair became a ghost hunting hotspot.
This Utah woman wants to use her last days to warn about radon danger
As a lifetime nonsmoker, 65-year-old Kerri Robbins didn't understand her diagnosis of lung cancer.
When she called one of the doctors at Huntsman Cancer Institute, Dr. Wallace Akerley asked her a question that would give her new purpose: Have you had your house checked for radon?
She’d never even heard of it. But her home in Lehi, Utah, scored high and she’d found her future killer. Now she wants to spend the rest of her life teaching others about it.
What is radon?: Radon gas is odorless, colorless and tasteless. It’s not humanmade; it’s naturally occurring. It seeps up from the ground and dissipates, so folks are generally protected outdoors, but with well-built homes that aren’t leaky, radon gets trapped in houses, said Akerley. Because it’s inhaled, the lungs take the brunt.
Read more about how there are an estimated 20,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. per year and Robbins' message to others about radon and cancer.
More in Utah
Winter weather advisories issued ahead of next storm to impact Utah (KSL)
Run planned to honor Lauren McCluskey, spread awareness of domestic, dating violence (KSL)
Unfinished business: Sandy couple says landscapers took thousands, never finished the job (KSL-TV)
Experts stress wildlife safety after an increase in bear sightings throughout Utah (Salt Lake City Weekly)
Navajo food traditions tap into the past, and future, of farming the arid Southwest (KUER)
Reconstructed Provo River Delta opens for public recreation and wildlife admiration (Daily Herald)
'Curious and clumsy and goofy': Staff and volunteers remember Zion's Condor 1K (St. George News)
10 outstanding Salt Lake home haunts to see before Halloween is over (Axios)
Man stopped for going 10 mph over speed limit found with 80 lbs of marijuana, 4,000 pills (KUTV)
Why Everyone in Utah Should Take This Underappreciated Scenic Drive (City Cast Salt Lake)
New subscription program to help support Sugar House businesses during construction (Fox 13)
Dallas Jenkins told BYU students that in 2017, he thought he had made it. A wrestling company, a horror film company and an Illinois church came together to make “The Resurrection of Gavin Stone,” a Christian comedy drama.
Just a few hours after the film released on Jan. 20, 2017, the box-office numbers were dismal. He said the film was a failure.
"Within two hours, I went from being a director with a very bright future to being a director with no future," he said.
What next?: Uncertain of what was to come, he picked back up a project he’d put on the shelf when he thought he’d break into Hollywood.
It was a short film he co-wrote about the birth of Jesus through the eyes of the shepherds. That's what led to "The Chosen."
He said one important principle that helped him was the story of Jesus providing fish and loaves to the 5,000.
A friend reminded him, "It’s not your job to feed the 5,000. It’s only to provide the loaves and fish."
Packed with behind-the-scenes insights from players like Robbie Bosco and Kelly Smith, game-by-game highlights, and more, this collector's edition is your all-access pass to one of college football's most legendary seasons. Get your copy today and celebrate the triumphs of the 1984 BYU Cougars!
Health
How much red meat is too much? Guidelines may be changing (Deseret News)
This Familiar Gesture Might Also Be a Sign of Concussion (WebMD)
Poor Sleep In Your 40s Linked to Faster Brain Aging Later In Life (Healthline)
Faith
Hootie & the Blowfish drummer celebrates faith with new Christmas album (Deseret News)
Elder Andersen and Sister Andersen provide generational perspectives on new Tallahassee temple (Church News)
How a chance meeting with Elder Stevenson inspired a young boy to feel God’s love (Church News)
The Bible verse Taylor Hendricks shared following his major injury (Deseret News)
Politics
What’s the best way to return your Utah general election ballot? (Deseret News)
The Utah County clerk says he’s tracked how politicians cast their ballots. Here’s how a state senator responded (Deseret News)
Can democracy survive the AI disinformation surge? (Deseret News)
Harris and Trump make their closing arguments (Deseret News)
Will the next president reshape the Supreme Court? (Deseret News)
The Nation and The World
Will we say goodbye to daylight saving time in 2025? Here is what we know (Deseret News)
Paul Pelosi attacker David DePape sentenced to life term on state charges (CBS News)
An Israeli airstrike in north Gaza kills dozens of people (NPR)
Watching China's youngest-ever astronauts blast off from the Gobi Desert (BBC)
Sports
Kyle Whittingham talks QB situation, bye week, rivalry game and more (Deseret News)
What Jake Retzlaff said on the ‘The Jim Rome Show’ (Deseret News)
📺 Viewer’s guide: Who to watch for in the Runnin’ Utes exhibition game, and beyond (Deseret News)
BYU basketball’s season begins in a week. Will the Cougars make the NCAA Tournament? (Deseret News)
🎧 Podcast: Deseret News’ Dick Harmon and Lee Benson on the lasting legacy of BYU football’s 1984 season (Church News)
🗓️ Events Calendar
We put together a calendar list of events and activities going on around the state of Utah the next month. Check it out and let us know if we are missing anything!
Here are some highlights for events in Utah today:
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