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City & Community Park

Panguitch Quilt Walk Park

Seven benches, seven stories, one remarkable winter

(12)
Panguitch, UT

About

Quilt Walk Park is a small memorial park on Center Street in downtown Panguitch, about 24 miles northwest of Bryce Canyon. It commemorates a specific piece of local history — the winter of 1864–65, when a group of seven men from the struggling Mormon colony walked quilts across deep snow to reach Parowan and bring back flour. The act is credited with saving the settlement.

The Quilt Walk Story

The winter of 1864–65 hit the Panguitch colony hard: early snow killed the wheat crop before it matured, and the nearest supplies were either 115 miles north or 40 miles west over a mountain pass. Seven men — including Alexander Matheson, William Talbot, and Thomas Richards — set out on foot after their oxen and wagon became stuck in deep snow. According to local tradition, they discovered they could walk on quilts laid across the drifts without sinking, and completed the round trip by leapfrogging the quilts forward. The story is now celebrated each June with a Quilt Walk Festival in Panguitch.

The Park

The park is a well-kept pocket green on the south side of Center Street. It contains a memorial statue, mature plantings, and seven benches — one dedicated to each man who made the journey, each with an inscription of his life story. It's a short, easy stop: plan 15–20 minutes to read all seven benches and take in the monument. Parking is available on Center Street. The park pairs naturally with a walk through Panguitch's historic brick commercial district nearby.

What to See at Panguitch Quilt Walk Park

The centerpiece of this small downtown park is a memorial statue honoring the seven men who saved the Panguitch colony during the brutal winter of 1864–65. When deep snow trapped the settlement and destroyed the wheat crop, Alexander Matheson, William Talbot, Thomas Richards, and four companions set out on foot after their wagon became stuck. Seven benches encircle the monument, one for each man, each bearing an inscription of his individual life story. The park also features mature plantings and is well maintained as a pocket green on Center Street.

Visitor Tips

  • Read the bench inscriptions in order — each one is a distinct life story, and together they give a fuller sense of who these seven men were beyond the single act they are remembered for.
  • The park is small and can be crowded during the June Quilt Walk Festival — visit in the morning if you prefer a quieter experience during festival weekend.

Planning Your Visit

The park sits on the south side of Center Street in downtown Panguitch, with street parking available directly in front. No advance planning is needed — it is an open, walk-in memorial space. Budget about 15 to 20 minutes to read all seven bench inscriptions and take in the monument at a comfortable pace. If you are timing a trip around the history, the annual Quilt Walk Festival takes place each June in Panguitch and turns the story commemorated here into a community event. The park is about 24 miles northwest of Bryce Canyon, making it a natural stop on the drive to or from the canyon.

Reviews (12)

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4.3

12 reviews

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Stephanie Harris
Stephanie Harris

in the last week

Beautiful Park, It has a great story of the pioneers saving their community If with quilts. We sat in the shade and ate our lunch on the benches. But there is no restroom.

Mark Kemper
Mark Kemper

a year ago

This small, in-town park represents a very cool story about a few brave men who answered the call to service when they were needed. It represents and relates the story of seven men who braved harsh winter conditions to retrieve food in Parowan for their starving families and fellow townsmen. The park has memorials for each of the members of that expedition. It is a fitting commemoration for that noteworthy event and explains the intimate connection between Panguitch and quilts.

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