Camp Floyd/Stagecoach Inn State Park and Museum

Commissary/Museum

Utah's Forgotten Frontier Outpost

Camp Floyd/Stagecoach Inn State Park and Museum is one of the Utah State Parks established to enable visitors to relive and explore history. It certainly isn’t big. It covers about 40 acres total. The park has a trio of buildings, a museum, multiple historical markers, a cemetery and some well-manicured grounds.

My wife and I visited this museum … that is essentially what it is … this past weekend. It was interesting and thought-provoking. It didn’t take long … maybe an hour … to walk through the museum and buildings. If you love history, though, you will want to spend some time looking at the artifacts and reading about why this camp was here.

My first question when we got there was “Why here?” Why did they pick this location out in the middle of nowhere to build this fort? You’ll find Camp Floyd just a block off off Highway 73 in the tiny little town of Fairfield about 20 miles west of Lehi. I understood it was built along a main east-west route which soon became part of the Pony Express route but it still seems extremely isolated.

Old Camp Floyd

A little research told me why it was built here. Camp Floyd was purposely built 50 miles southwest of Salt Lake City to “keep an eye on” the Mormon settlers without provoking an armed clash.

Its location also placed it right along major western travel routes like the Overland Trail and the future Pony Express line.

And behind the scenes? The camp was named after Secretary of War John B. Floyd who was later accused of corruption. It was probably no coincidence that the camp was so large when it was originally built.

Some historians believe the camp was oversized on purpose allowing huge government contracts to be funneled to Floyd’s political friends. This was an early scandal leading up to the Civil War.

An historical website I visited … Intermountainhistories.org … said the following about the town which sprung up around the fort, “Fairfield, a satellite town of Camp Floyd, was viewed as bringing moral decay to some Mormons. Termed “Frogtown” by the Saints and army, it became a den of gambling houses, dance halls, brothels, and saloons frequented by soldiers, teamsters, emigrants, and even some settlers. Theft, prostitution, and murder frequently filled the streets and back halls.”

Sign Commemorating the Pony Express

It stands as a tribute to a turbulent yet fascinating chapter of Utah … and American … history. Established in 1858 during the Utah War, Camp Floyd was once the largest military installations in the United States housing over 3,500 troops.

This, as mentioned above, was probably due the John B. Floyd connection. The stated goal was to put the clamps on a supposed Mormon rebellion.

Today, the park offers visitors a chance to step back in time and experience the convergence of military, pioneer and frontier life. You can see nearby the original Pony Express route which ran right through this town starting in 1860.

Learn about the hard-as-nails young men who were hired to ride the fastest horses money could buy on the Pony Express. There were 80 riders in all. They rode west out of St. Joseph, MO and headed over the Rockies to Salt Lake City.

Then they crossed the Utah and Nevada deserts. They didn’t slow down going over the Sierra Nevada and into California. The Pony Express never stopped … while it was running … and they went as fast as man and horse could go.

The Pony Express lasted only 19 months before it went bankrupt. It never earned a profit but it did earn itself a sizable chapter in the history of the Old West.

Camp Floyd Museum

More On The Historical Significance

The Utah War and Camp Floyd

In the mid-19th century, tensions between the federal government and Mormon settlers in Utah Territory had escalated. At least in the minds of federal government officials. It seems that President James Buchanan believed that the Mormons, way out there in the Utah Territory, were rebelling against the laws of the land.

It seemed like a good way to divert the nation’s attention away from slavery and states’ rights to something really heinous - like polygamy. He actually dispatched nearly 1/3 of the U.S. Army to suppress the rumored Mormon rebellion.

General Albert Sidney Johnston led the expedition and established Camp Floyd approximately 50 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. The rumored rebellion and Utah War never materialized though.

Missouri Secessionist Flag

What Is This Flag?

While strolling through the museum, I saw an unusual flag (see photo above) hanging above the display explaining where some of the many officers at Camp Floyd ended up after their duty here.

I asked the woman who was at the front desk about it. She was the only staff person on duty. Nice lady but not really interested and not very knowledgeable. She had no idea what it was. Probably a volunteer.

I did an online search for this flag. It was identified as a Missouri Secessionist Flag. It was used by pro-Confederate forces in Missouri early in the Civil War. The 12 small stars and 1 large star represent the Confederate states plus Missouri and Kentucky.

This would make sense as many Camp Floyd officers later resigned and fought for the Confederacy. My research said that such an authentic flag is a rare specimen. If anyone reading this can verify this flag, please do so below.

Building It Up and Tearing It Down

The troops settled into routine garrison duties and remained at Camp Floyd for three years to “monitor the Mormons”, explore the western frontier and provide a semblance of safety for settlers moving on to California, Oregon and Washington. The lively town of Fairfield was built nearby.

It was during this time … a three year period … that the local population exploded to 7,000. Fairfield became the third largest city in the Utah Territory. At its high point, Camp Floyd was the largest military installation in the United States!

As the quote above explains, it was a lively, bawdy town. Nonetheless, many Mormons were happy to benefit economically from the commerce which developed in the town.   

When the Civil War broke out in 1861, the troops were recalled eastward. It is fascinating to note that soldiers from Camp Floyd joined both sides of the war. There is a large display in the museum explain where various officers ended up.

As noted, there is also the Missouri Secessionist flag on display. Yes, they did end up fighting on both sides and many became quite well-known during the Civil War.

When the army left, they destroyed or dismantled almost all of the buildings they had built. The only remaining military building is the Commissary which still exists and houses the Commissary and Museum. They obviously also left the cemetery which is still well maintained and in a peaceful setting less than a mile from the park.

Camp Floyd Commissary/Museum

Camp Floyd State Park Museum Park Features and Attractions

The Commissary Building

Constructed in 1858 by Johnston’s Army, the Commissary Building served as a storehouse for military equipment and provisions. After the army's departure, the building was sold at the Army’s auction and relocated to its current site to be used as a family home.

Today, it houses the Camp Floyd State Park Museum displaying artifacts and exhibits that detail the camp's history and its role in the chronicle of the American West. I highly recommend a visit to this small museum if you love history and are … like I am … always interested in what came before us.

The Camp Floyd Stagecoach Inn

Directly across from the museum stands the Camp Floyd Stagecoach Inn. It is a fully restored two-story adobe and frame hotel built by John Carson in 1858. Serving as a stop on the Overland Stage Route and the Pony Express, the inn provided lodging and a breather for travelers crossing the rugged frontier.

It was the first Overland Stage Station west of Salt Lake City. It was actually operated as a hotel until 1947 by the Carson family. In 1958, the Carsons gave the property to Utah State Parks.

By no means was it elegant but has been restored to its former … let’s say comfortable for the era … condition giving visitors a glimpse into 19th-century travel and hospitality.

Yes, the beds are incredibly small. In fact, everything seems small. It shows just how much smaller in stature the average person was back then. I was a little concerned that my foot was going to go right through the steps leading to the second level.

The lady at the museum told us that the only really original furniture piece was the black rocking chair on the ground floor. Even so, everything else looked authentic to us and she assured us that the furnishings were apropos for that era.

Fairfield District Schoolhouse

A short walk from the main park area leads to the Fairfield District Schoolhouse. Constructed in 1898, this one-room schoolhouse offers a glimpse into early education in rural Utah and is utilized for educational programs and events.

It was built almost four decades after the town’s hey-days. The school was closed in 1937 and students were bused to Cedar Fort and Lehi.

Camp Floyd Cemetary

Camp Floyd Cemetery

The Camp Floyd Cemetery is the final resting place for soldiers who died while serving at the camp. The plaque also say it housed civilian employees but all the gravestones are the small white ones usually reserved for the military.

One interesting note as we learned on our visit explains why all the markers are the same. In 2009, ground penetrating radar determined the actual resting place of all those buried here.

New headstones were placed in 2011 to show the burial locations. All headstones read “Unknown” since even though there are names on the plaque at the entrance, their actual burial location is … of course … unknown.       

It was a calm, peaceful setting on a sunny April day when we visited. Even so, it seems to me that the wind never stops blowing out here. You’ll know what I mean if you visit this park.   

Events and Programs

Camp Floyd State Park Museum hosts a variety of events throughout the year that helps bring history to life for visitors of all ages. My wife and I have experienced a lot of crowds, excitement, noise and lines throughout our life so it was nice to be out here with maybe six other visitors. We were told to self-guide our own tour and that’s the way we like it.

Camp Floyd Days

Held annually on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, Camp Floyd Days features a Civil War encampment, reenactments, military drills, period games, stagecoach rides and living history demonstrations.

Visitors can interact with costumed interpreters, participate in activities and get a small glimpse of 19th-century army camp life.

View From Camp Floyd

History Camp for Kids

This educational program offers children the opportunity to experience life as an 1861 soldier and other aspects of frontier life through hands-on activities. These include setting up a soldier's camp, drilling, marching and crafting period-appropriate items. The camp is for children aged 8 – 11. Reservations and a fee are required.

Full-Size Lincoln Logs

Right across the street from the Stagecoach Inn and adjacent to the Commissary/Museum is a pile … actually someone had turned them into a little cabin … of full-size Lincoln logs. A father and his son (I’m assuming the relationship) were all over this.

While we were there, they completely disassembled and restacked the logs into a whole new structure. They were placed there for whoever comes along and wants to design their own building. Seemed liked a fun father-son activity.

Artisan Day

Artisan Day showcases traditional crafts and skills with artisans demonstrating blacksmithing, weaving and other trades essential to 19th-century life. Even learn about the history of the sheep industry in Utah and the importance of the wool industry in Utah history.

Inside Stagecoach Inn

Ghosts of Camp Floyd

For those intrigued by the paranormal, it is noteworthy to note that visitors and staff  have reported various paranormal occurrences at Camp Floyd through the years.

The Ghosts of Camp Floyd event invites visitors to explore the park after dark while delving into the legends and stories that haunt the historic grounds. No thanks from my perspective.

It’s a good thing I hadn’t already read about this particular phenomenon when my wife and I walked through the Stagecoach Inn by ourselves.

Our self-guided tour seemed a little creepy anyway and then I read about some of the stories that have been told through the years. Doesn’t surprise me at all after walking through this building.

As we walked from room to room, I was almost expecting someone to be sitting in one of the chairs rocking away. To read more on this subject, click on this link to read my post about the Ghosts of Camp Floyd.

Hours and Fees

• Hours:  Monday–Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sunday (Memorial Day–Labor Day): 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day

• Admission Fees: You pay at the Commissary/Museum unless you already have a pass - $3 per person;$10 per family
• Always remember the best deal in the state. It is the Senior Pass which gets you into all Utah State Parks for a full year for $65. My wife and I have been all over this one.
• Group rates and pavilion rentals are available upon request

Memorial at the Cemetery

Final Thoughts

Camp Floyd/Stagecoach Inn State Park and Museum (yeah, it’s a long name) offers a unique window into a lesser-known yet pivotal period of American history.

I knew nothing about this place until our visit and we were happy we made the drive. In fact, I had never heard of the Mormon War (pretty much a misnomer).

Whether you're a history enthusiast, educator, a traveler or a parent looking for new educational opportunities for your kids, this park provides a rewarding and immersive experience.

When you are driving through Fairfield on Highway 73, don’t blink or you’ll miss the turn-off. There are signs pointing to the park on the main highway.

From the original structures and artifacts to engaging events and programs, Camp Floyd stands as a tribute to the fascinating stories that shaped the American West.

Camp Floyd/Stagecoach Inn State Park and Museum
69 West Main Street, Fairfield, Utah 84013
Phone: (801) 768-8932
Website: https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/camp-floyd/

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