As pioneers began settling the Wild West in the mid-1800s, Cedar City played a major role in the area's development. In a matter of minutes away from Cedar City homes for sale, you can step back more than a century to those early days with a visit to Frontier Homestead State Park.

What Is Frontier Homestead State Park?

Iron is, literally and figuratively, a building block for any evolving community. Pioneers in Utah were challenged with a lack of iron ore until it was discovered in Southern Utah.

Community leaders wanted to preserve this slice of history for future generations to appreciate. As a result, Iron Mission State Park was established in 1973, and the name was updated to Frontier Homestead State Park in 2009.

What to See and Do

The Frontier Homestead Museum is the centerpiece of the park. Get a glimpse of life on the frontier in an authentic pioneer cabin. Observe printing on a 19th-century press and weaving a rug on a century-old loom.

Farming was the primary occupation of many early settlers. Museum grounds hold an extensive collection of horse-drawn wagons and farm equipment. Other tools on display include mowers, reapers, plows, hay balers, well drills, and an actual snow "tank."

Hunter House, the oldest remaining home in Cedar City, is part of the museum along with the George Wood cabin, the sixth-oldest structure remaining in Utah.

How are your prospecting skills? Self-directed activity stations let you pan for gold as well as wash laundry by hand and load a covered wagon.

One of the more recent additions to the park is the Native Heritage Exhibit, opened in 2016. Natural vegetation and replica prehistoric village mounds form the setting of this look at Native American life before the settlers arrived.

Enhance your visit with the park's audio tour, accessible via cell phone. With nearly 60 segments to guide the way, you'll learn fascinating and little-known facts about the exhibits and artifacts throughout the park. Adventurous souls can check out "Haunted Homestead," which includes Hunter House, the Nelson Wood Shop, and the jail.

Located about 20 miles west of Cedar City, Old Iron Town makes for a great side trip in conjunction with a visit to Frontier Homestead. Walk through the classic beehive-shaped oven and view relics and ruins such as a house, chimney, grinding machine, and unprocessed iron ore.
Plan Your Visit

From September through May, the park is open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. In June and August, park hours are 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily.

Daily admission is $4 per person, with no charge for kids 6 and under. There are no fees for holders of a Utah State Park Annual Pass or members of Frontier Homestead.

Picnic facilities, restrooms, and drinking water are available.
Our real estate agents are proud to be part of a community with such an important historical legacy. Contact us and let Stratum Real Estate Group help you buy or sell your Cedar City home.