Category Archives: Mountains and Outdoors

This Weekend’s Halloween Events

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Below is an list of the last remaining Halloween events going on.


Click on the titles below to find out complete details about each event. As always, verify dates and times before attending event!


If you know of one we may have missed, please email us at contact@enjoyutah.org. Thanks!


To view the complete Halloween events list, visit our Halloween page.


NOT LISTED HERE: Library Events. Make sure to check out your local library for their listing of Halloween events going on! They are NOT listed below.


Gardner Village

Salt Lake County

Utah County

Halloween River Cruise

Tooele County

Weber County

Davis County

Summit/Wasatch Counties

Washington County

    Grand County

      Cache County

      JOIN US On Good Things Utah!

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      I will be back on Good Things Utah on Monday November 14th talking about Thanksgiving ideas and activities. I would LOVE for you all to come and sit in the audience! 
      To reserve your spot, go to the Good Things Utah page and fill out the audience request form.
      See you there!
      View our Halloween segment HERE.

      Contest Coming To An End: Disney On Ice

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      If you have not yet entered to win Disney On Ice Treasure Trove tickets, make sure you do so now! The deadline to enter is 11:59pm tomorrow (Wednesday) night, so make sure you have entered. Remember, you can also go to Gines Auto Service and enter in person there, in addition to entering online here.
      Visit our contest page for complete details.
      GOOD LUCK! The winner will be announced on Thursday.

      WINNER! My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software

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      Use my code for $10 off the software:
      STMMMS64662

      Congratulations toConnie!
      (Connie, you have an email in your inbox with further instructions.)
      She is the winner of the My Memories digital scrapbooking software download!
      Thank you to all of you who entered! Remember, you can still get this software at a discount by entering code STMMMS64662 upon checkout. Go to MyMemories and download the software. 
      You can read more about MyMemories digital scrapbooking software.
      A huge thanks to MyMemories for sponsoring this contest and giveaway!

      Utah’s Mysteries and Urban Legends: Whatever Happened to Jean Baptiste, Grave Robber?

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      Perhaps one of the most mysterious cases in Utah history is that of Jean Baptiste.

      Jean Baptiste was employed as the first grave digger for the Salt Lake City Cemetery. The first mystery is who WAS Jean Baptiste? When asked, sometimes he would say he came from France, and other times he said he came from Germany. A straight answer about who he was and where he came from was never given. 
      His job was to dig the grave for the deceased person to be placed in. That is where his job description ended, but where his mysterious story begins. 
      Many young boys who used to run by the cemetery at night reported seeing lights and a man digging. It wasn’t until years later that these mysterious sightings were confirmed and explained.
      It started with the townspeople thinking they saw Jean Baptiste wearing their deceased loved ones clothes around town. Most of them shrugged it off as coincidence. 
      The death of Moroni Clawson in January 1862 set off a chain of events that would etch the name of Jean Baptiste into the pages of Utah’s Mysteries and Urban Legends forever:
      A few months before his death, Moroni was arrested for being a part of the robbery and assault of Governor John W. Dawson. On January 17th 1862, Moroni attempted an escape from jail, and was shot and killed by a Salt Lake City Police Officer. Because no relatives came forward to claim his body and pay for a proper burial, Henry Heath of the police department purchased burial clothes for him, and had him buried in a small part of the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
      After word reached Moroni’s family that he had been killed and was buried in Salt Lake, they came to town to claim his body and have him moved to a family burial site in Coalville. Upon extraction of the body, Moroni’s brother George discovered that his brother was completely naked in his coffin.
      An investigation began, and because of the already growing suspicions of Jean Baptiste, police were led to his home. There they found stacks of boxes in the corner of his room with over sixty pairs of burial clothes, including children’s and adult’s shoes, clothes, and personal belongings. Investigation led them to believe that he had robbed over 300 graves! He was immediately sent to jail.
      The townspeople were outraged, and flocked to the Salt Lake City Cemetery to check on their deceased loved ones. Accounts at that time say that the cemetery looked like a mole hill with all of the bodies and coffins being dug up. There are two different accounts as to what happened to all of the clothing found at Jean Baptiste’s home: The first account says that they were laid out for the townspeople to come and claim their loved one’s clothing; another account says that they were all placed in a large box and buried in a mass grave at the cemetery, with Brigham Young assuring them that their loved ones would rise up in the resurrection wearing the original clothes they were buried in.
      Jean Baptiste went to trial, and was immediately found guilty. He was so hated, that he would not be safe in prison with other inmates who only sought to hurt him. He was placed in a wagon late at night and banished to Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake. Because officials worried he could escape from Antelope Island, they placed him even further out on Fremont Island. Some say that he had the word “Grave Robber” or “For Robbing The Dead” branded onto his forehead.
      This is not where his story ends, but where the mystery begins. Three weeks after being banished to Fremont Island, cattle herders went out to check on their cattle. They discovered one of their heifers had been killed and its hide tanned for leather. A small ranch house had been torn apart, and some of its wood was missing. Jean Baptiste was nowhere to be found. Most believe he made a raft and escaped.
      Nobody knows what happened to Jean Baptiste after his apparent escape. 
      In March 1893 a skeleton with a ball and chain around its ankle was found on the South shores of the Great Salt Lake. Some claim this must be the skeleton of Jean Baptiste, but officers Henry Heath and Albert Dewey, who were a part of the group banishing him to the island, claim his ankles were never bound. 
      Many have claimed to see a man wandering the South shores of the Great Salt Lake with a ball and chain bound on his ankle, only to see him disappear into the night.
      If this skeleton wasn’t that of Jean Baptiste, what DID happen to him after his escape? Did he run off to a far off town and live the rest of his life under an alias? Did he drown while trying to escape, and his body is still out there? The BYU film department has recently created a movie about Jean Baptiste. You can see the trailer below. Join them on their facebook page for updates and information on where to see this movie.
      April 7, 2012 UPDATE: “Redemption: For Robbing The Dead” is now out in theaters. Read my review on it HERE. 


      Read more about Utah’s Mysteries and Urband Legends HERE.



      Utah’s Haunted Houses

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      With Halloween a week away, what better time to check out a haunted house or two?! Below is a list of haunted houses and attractions for the teenager and older crowd.
      If we have missed one, please email us at contact@enjoyutah.org. 
      View more Halloween events HERE.

      Salt Lake County

      Utah County

      Davis County

      Weber County
      Tooele County
      Cache County
      Washington County
      • COMING SOON!

      Cornbelly’s

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      If you have not been to Cornbelly’s at Thanksgiving Point yet, you are missing out! Besides a corn maze, there is so much to do there! This year they have a space theme, and while strolling through the corn maze you can hear actual audio from the men landing on the moon. Opening weekend they had a real astronaut for the kids to meet and get autographs from. Last weekend they had their Pumpkin Princess Festival.  At night the corn maze is haunted. If you have been there in past years but haven’t made it down there yet this year, you are missing out on all of the new things they have added.

        
       

      Citygro

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      A few weeks ago I got a Citygro membership, and ever since then I have noticed places all over town that have the Citygro logo in their windows! I was able to use it twice in one day without even trying!
      We went to Shivers for lunch, and noticed they accepted Citygro. We purchased a deluxe burger, fries, and a drink, a got a deluxe burger for free.
      Next for dinner we went to Francesco’s. We noticed again that they accepted Citygro, so after buying an entree we got our second entree half off.
      It’s great being able to get discounts at places we already go to! 
      Read more about the Citygro card.

      Orchard Bowling Lanes

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      We did the Kids Bowl Free summer program at Orchard Lanes, and had a blast! They always have so many fun things going on, so I thought I would share them with you!

      Orchard Lanes is a fun filled 18 lane bowling center that also has billiard tables, arcade with redemption center, full service snack bar and a lounge. Orchard Lanes delivers the best bowling experience around with its state of the art technology, professional and attentive staff. Want “Glow” bowling? Just ask! We offer glow bowling at the price of regular bowling and anytime a league is not on the floor. We offer open bowling lanes 7 days a week and look forward to accommodating you, your family, your group or event anytime.

      For more information contact us here or call 801-936-8700. Orchard Lanes Family Fun Center is the perfect place to throw a party! Bowling parties are a fun and inexpensive way to celebrate your special occasion. No matter what the weather may be outside, your party can go off without complications at Orchard Lanes. Whether you choose a package we have available or just bowl, your party will be a hit with guests of all ages. See the packages available in the parties tab or call us today and let’s build a package suitable for your event. 

      Orchard Lanes Family Fun Center is a great place to host large or small group events. Scouting, Company get togethers, Retirement parties, Weddings, School Groups, and Church activities are just a few of the events our experienced staff has successfully executed. We look forward to working with you to make your event a success. From invitations to menu planning, let us help make your event a fun and memorable experience. 

       

      Do you know we do Corporate Parties, Weddings, Church Outings, Birthday parties, Family Reunions and whatever events you can plan? Check out the fun photos and call us and let us make your event the most FUN and unique event ever 801-936-8700!

      Hours of Operation

      Monday through Thursday 11 am – 11 pm
      Friday and Saturday 11 am – 1 am
      Sunday 11 am – 10 pm

      Orchard Lanes
      30 South 130 East
      North Salt Lake, Utah 84054
      (801) 936-8700

      www.orchardlanes.com