John Austin Cabin

Some buildings refuse to sit still. John Austin built this log cabin in 1868 on Lehi's Bull River, and it has been on the move ever since. His son Parley hauled it into town in the 1890s to use as a granary; a grandson-in-law moved it again in the 1940s to shelter calves; when the I-15 freeway claimed the ground in the 1960s, it was moved once more — and again, still sheltering calves, through two more owners. Restored at last, the well-traveled cabin now rests as a marked pioneer relic in Lehi.

What the plaque says

This cabin was built by John Austin in 1868 on Bull River (3500 North Center). John’s son Parley married Charlotte Butt in 1884. They moved into the cabin which had been vacated by Parley’s parents. In the late 1890’s Parley built a home in Lehi and moved the cabin to his property and used it for a granary. In the late 1940’s, Hyrum Gray, who married Parley’s daughter Charlotte, moved the cabin to his property and used it to shelter calves. Perhaps the cabin was kept, for it was where Charlotte was born. The cabin next passed to Elmo Gray, Hyrum’s son, and was used to shelter calves. In the 1960’s the property was sold for the I-15 Freeway. The cabin was moved to Carrol Smith’s property and again used to shelter calves. Carrol then passed the cabin to daughter and son-in-law, Eric and Marilyn Larson, and it was still used to shelter calves. In 2012, the Lehi Chapter of the Sons of Utah Pioneers purchased the cabin and moved it to its present location.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Lehi Roller Mills — steps away
  The flour mill from the movie Footloose
• Thanksgiving Point — 5.3 mi
  A massive complex with dinosaur bones, gardens, and a curiosity museum
• Timpanogos Cave National Monument — 8.2 mi
  Three spectacularly decorated caves connected by hand-carved tunnels
• Alpine Loop Summit — 12 mi
  The 8,000-foot high point of the Alpine Loop, face to face with Mount Timpanogos

More markers nearby

• Lehi Memorial Building — steps away
• Lehi Veterans Memorial Building — steps away
• Lehi City Hutchings Museum Veterans Memorial Foyer — steps away
• Fort Wall & Lehi Pioneers (4) Markers — steps away