Bunkerville & the United Order
The settlement of Bunkerville occurred out of the desire of some members of the Church in southern Utah to live the principle of the United Order, a communal system of living where ownership of property was controlled by all members of the group. The concept of the United Order began in the Kirtland, Ohio area. As the Church moved west, the concept followed. Edward Bunker Sr wanted to try with a group of families dedicated to living the Order.
The United Order in Bunkerville
Beaver Dam & Littlefield
As Thomas S. Smith was establishing the Muddy Mission in 1864, Henry W. Miller led a small group to the junction of Beaver Dam Creek and the Virgin River just a few miles downstream from the Virgin River Gorge.
Beaver Dam Lodge
Constructed in 1929, the Beaver Dam Lodge emerged as an oasis for travelers between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. At its height, the lodge attracted Hollywood stars such as Howard Hughes and John Wayne. At the end of World War II, the Beaver Dam Lodge’s popularity diminished as gambling became legal in Nevada and Casinos replaced the Oasis in Beaver Dam, Arizona.