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The dream, death and second life of Evermore park

Utah's immersive LARPing park will be bestselling fantasy author Brandon Sanderson's new event center.

News

Fantasy author Brandon Sanderson is buying Pleasant Grove&#x27;s Evermore — and he will convert the site to corporate space rather than reopen the short-lived Old World theme park.Why it matters: Sanderson is planning to raze the site, extinguishing the last hope of success for an elaborate experimental concept once seen as a major potential innovation in themed attractions.

Wasatch County sheriff's indictment follows years of controversy

The charges cap off a tumultuous tenure for Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby since he took office in 2019.

Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby faced years of scrutiny over his conduct and leadership before being charged in connection with the prosecution of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kouri Richins&#x27; murder case" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/03/17/kouri-richins-convicted-aggravated-murder" data-vars-content-id="1dff4676-ff60-40c6-a8a5-2d30c38cee11" data-vars-headline="Wasatch County sheriff&#x27;s indictment follows years of controversy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/03/17/kouri-richins-convicted-aggravated-murder" target="_self">Kouri Richins&#x27; murder case</a>.Why it matters: The charges cap off a tumultuous tenure for Rigby since he took office in 2019, marked by allegations of retaliation against officers and interference in investigations.

Flu hits Salt Lake early this year

Salt Lake County health officials are warning residents not to put off their flu shots as the winter illness season gets off to an unusually early start this year.Why it matters: It takes patients &quot;up to two weeks to build the immunity triggered by the vaccine,&quot; county health department director Dorothy Adams said in a statement.

Salt Lake's best haunted houses and Halloween displays: Mapped

See scores of amazing haunts all around Salt Lake County.

Salt Lake&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="neighborhoods" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/10/08/map-salt-lake-free-haunted-houses-halloween-pumpkin-patch" data-vars-content-id="d49dc210-04ed-4271-8392-051d09b84743" data-vars-headline="Salt Lake&#x27;s best haunted houses and Halloween displays: Mapped" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/10/08/map-salt-lake-free-haunted-houses-halloween-pumpkin-patch" target="_self">neighborhoods</a><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/10/08/map-salt-lake-free-haunted-houses-halloween-pumpkin-patch" data-vars-content-id="d49dc210-04ed-4271-8392-051d09b84743" data-vars-headline="Salt Lake&#x27;s best haunted houses and Halloween displays: Mapped" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/10/08/map-salt-lake-free-haunted-houses-halloween-pumpkin-patch" target="_self"> </a><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="are getting spooky" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/10/08/map-salt-lake-free-haunted-houses-halloween-pumpkin-patch" data-vars-content-id="d49dc210-04ed-4271-8392-051d09b84743" data-vars-headline="Salt Lake&#x27;s best haunted houses and Halloween displays: Mapped" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/10/08/map-salt-lake-free-haunted-houses-halloween-pumpkin-patch" target="_self">are getting spooky</a> with fog machines, wiggling animatronics and eerie lighting — and we want you to relish every jump scare. The big picture: We curate a map of the county&#x27;s best-decorated houses <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="each" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/10/08/map-salt-lake-free-haunted-houses-halloween-pumpkin-patch" data-vars-content-id="d49dc210-04ed-4271-8392-051d09b84743" data-vars-headline="Salt Lake&#x27;s best haunted houses and Halloween displays: Mapped" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/10/08/map-salt-lake-free-haunted-houses-halloween-pumpkin-patch" target="_self">each</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="year" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2024/10/29/salt-lake-home-haunts-halloween-displays" data-vars-content-id="d49dc210-04ed-4271-8392-051d09b84743" data-vars-headline="Salt Lake&#x27;s best haunted houses and Halloween displays: Mapped" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2024/10/29/salt-lake-home-haunts-halloween-displays" target="_self">year</a>, with updates throughout October so you can find the biggies near you.

Phragmites creativity inspires — but with risk

Artists globally have sought uses for the invasive, water-draining weed — but it's a risky tactic.

Holidays

<figure><img alt="Tall dried palm fronds surround a thick trunk in a front yard; a brick house with a chimney sits behind under a gray sky." height="4032" id="499cc5c8-16e9-40e9-8d34-969f5da0181f" src="https://images.axios.com/oFX-EAhIOUCeFD6uuJVVImw18As=/2026/10/15/1792096395689.jpeg" width="2268"/><figcaption>A menacing haunted &quot;corn&quot; shock. Seedheads from garden plants, not phragmites. Photo: Erin Alberty/Axios</figcaption></figure>As invasive phragmites soak up water the Great Salt Lake desperately needs, I figured claiming a few stalks for my Halloween display would be a good deed.<ul><li>Turns out, I might have made things worse.</li></ul>

Riverton welcomes Utah's first Salt & Straw ice cream shop

Salt & Straw created a limited-time pink sugar cookie dough flavor to celebrate its Utah arrival.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Salt &amp; Straw" data-vars-click-url="https://saltandstraw.com/" data-vars-content-id="4ba6f9e1-6c2a-42d2-a0e2-6ceee2f70ed9" data-vars-headline="Riverton welcomes Utah&#x27;s first Salt &amp; Straw ice cream shop" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://saltandstraw.com/" target="_blank">Salt &amp; Straw</a> debuts its first Utah ice cream shop in Riverton on Friday, with a second location in Trolley Square set to open in the coming weeks.State of play: The Oregon-based chain is know for its inventive concoctions — like its olive oil ice cream — and rotating flavors.

Skims opens first Utah store at City Creek mall

The store specializes in bodysuits, loungewear and underwear.

A shapewear brand co-founded by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kim Kardashian" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/25/kim-kardashian-biden-criminal-justice-white-house" data-vars-content-id="7f400e0c-dbca-413b-b935-196069252559" data-vars-headline="Skims opens first Utah store at City Creek mall" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/25/kim-kardashian-biden-criminal-justice-white-house" target="_self">Kim Kardashian</a> has opened its first Utah store at City Creek mall.State of play: Skims <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="opened" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DecZL8tDHr9/" data-vars-content-id="7f400e0c-dbca-413b-b935-196069252559" data-vars-headline="Skims opens first Utah store at City Creek mall" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DecZL8tDHr9/" target="_blank">opened</a> last week at the downtown mall owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Ryan Smith reveals plans for future downtown sports district

The mixed-use development is expected to be completed ahead of the 2034 Winter Olympic Games.

Salt Lakers now have a clearer view of Smith Entertainment Group&#x27;s plans to transform a portion of downtown into a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new sports and entertainment district" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/10/08/delta-center-survey-sports-district-local-retail-restaurants" data-vars-content-id="071e4929-486a-46c4-bdc8-6d523d657247" data-vars-headline="Ryan Smith reveals plans for future downtown sports district" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/10/08/delta-center-survey-sports-district-local-retail-restaurants" target="_self">new sports and entertainment district</a>.State of play: Ryan Smith, the head of SEG, revealed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a video" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj2zoT-oGys" data-vars-content-id="071e4929-486a-46c4-bdc8-6d523d657247" data-vars-headline="Ryan Smith reveals plans for future downtown sports district" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj2zoT-oGys" target="_blank">a video</a> on social media Wednesday that shows renderings of a pedestrian plaza between the Delta Center and the Salt Palace Convention Center.

Salt Lake County GOP majority at stake in November election

Republicans currently hold a slim 5-4 majority on the Salt Lake County Council.

Republican control of the Salt Lake County Council is at risk with three GOP-held seats up for grabs this November.Why it matters: Democrats have an opening to influence major budget and policy decisions in the deep-red state&#x27;s most populous county

Glen Canyon Dam turns 70

With a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="remote-activated dynamite blast" data-vars-click-url="https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=23517033" data-vars-content-id="daaa5e11-7299-4cd1-a7b0-e0f8104fce25" data-vars-headline="Glen Canyon Dam turns 70" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/details?id=23517033" target="_blank">remote-activated dynamite blast</a> triggered from the White House, former President Eisenhower officially broke ground on the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Glen Canyon Dam" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/06/05/colorado-river-crisis-101-utah" data-vars-content-id="daaa5e11-7299-4cd1-a7b0-e0f8104fce25" data-vars-headline="Glen Canyon Dam turns 70" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/06/05/colorado-river-crisis-101-utah" target="_self">Glen Canyon Dam</a> 70 years ago this week. <ul><li>This is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Old News" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2024/07/01/utah-history-story-collection-old-news-powell-bundy-olympics" data-vars-content-id="daaa5e11-7299-4cd1-a7b0-e0f8104fce25" data-vars-headline="Glen Canyon Dam turns 70" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2024/07/01/utah-history-story-collection-old-news-powell-bundy-olympics" target="_self">Old News</a>, where we survey Utah&#x27;s shorelines as the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="waters of time" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/history" data-vars-content-id="daaa5e11-7299-4cd1-a7b0-e0f8104fce25" data-vars-headline="Glen Canyon Dam turns 70" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/history" target="_self">waters of time</a> recede.</li></ul>

News 🗞

Phragmites creativity inspires — but with risk

Riverton welcomes Utah's first Salt & Straw ice cream shop

Skims opens first Utah store at City Creek mall

The dream, death and second life of Evermore park

Ryan Smith reveals plans for future downtown sports district