Two and a half years ago I had a magical trip with my son visiting the five Utah National parks in five days! Now I can add another magical adventure in Utah to my memory bank. After seeing an Instagram post on how to spend three full days in and around Provo, my twin and I embarked on a journey to do most of the itinerary. Granted they were twenty-somethings and we are 65! But we did hiking, river rafting, cuddled with cows, petted llamas, explored downtown Provo, and visited the Mormon Temple. Our adventures took us to Lindon, Orem, Pleasant Grove, Provo, SpanishFork, Springville and Salt Lake City. We had a fabulous location to use as home base at Wadley Farms in Lindon, Utah. The farm dates back to 1869 and has stayed in the family ever since. Today Alan Colledge and his family keep the farm and event center running in top-notch condition. As a grandchild working the farm Alan says, “the land became one of us. It became who we are!” In 1988 Alan purchased the farm and remodeled the original home. He started with some hay, a few cows, and a desire to use reclaimed materials. He took a barn from Orem and began renovating it. He moved an abandoned building from Topliff and turned it into a railroad house for events. Originally the farm had a Victorian feel but after a visit to Napa Valley in California he got inspired to make the farm into a more old world medieval estate. He chose to build a castle because as he puts it, “ nobody will tear down a castle!” He wanted an aboretum so he found an old building that he cut off the roof and added more glass panels underneath. In the hay barn he cut open the second floor, put in large beams and ballisters with belly rolls. He uses Douglass Fir for all the floors, doors, and furniture. What he achieved is magical! Today the castle, barn and railroad building all hold events. Future plans are to have restaurants built on the property.
I’ve always loved gates and doors so I fell in love with this property. It blows my mind that they are all engineered and crafted on site. One door was even done by a fifteen year old. Alan believes in giving chances to those who haven’t been dealt the best hand. He wants to teach them a trade.
Alan builds turrets by using steel tanks and surrounding it with rock. Then he makes the roof from slate. To achieve his vision for the farm he incorporates four key elements: lots of real stone, iron, beams, and greenery.
Some other repurposed items include outside seating made from capstones from the Salt Lake City Cathedral of the Madeline, Geneva steel from the Hill Airforce base, a chandelier from Normandy, France, drill pipe and gas pipe that turned into a grand chandelier and sconces, a fireplace salvaged from a pioneer home, and pcp pipe to create soft curves for arches. As Alan says there are no straight lines in nature.
Over 2,000 grape vines were planted to add to the ambiance.
Seven double doors were cut into the railroad building so now it feels like an extension of the garden. Alan shared this quote by William Morris that he holds dear:
Along with hosting weddings and special events the farm also has three separate spaces for rental. We stayed in the charming Rustic Loft perfect for two. There is also a Chateau which sleeps up to eight and the Hermitage Suite which is great for couples and small families.
We could have just stayed on the farm and been perfectly content. I loved sitting on the sofa looking at a gorgeous tree, the castle and snow-covered mountains while the birds loudly chirped. But we also had a blast getting out and being active. Here is our itinerary:
Day one: Arrive and walk around the beautiful grounds.
Day two: Spend time at Dreamwalk in Orem. This is an interactive art exhibit. Enjoy a strawberry shake at Taco Amigo and then explore the murals and Gumbug in downtown Provo.
Day three: Cow cuddles at Fold of Liberty Farms in Spanish Fork, llamas and peacocks at Shri Shri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, and then a hike at Fifth Water Hot Springs in Springville.
Day four: River rafting at High Country Adventure in Provo. Short hike to Battle Creek Falls Trail in Pleasant Grove.
Day five: Breakfast at Little American Hotel Coffee Shop. Mormon temple in Salt Lake City.
I will forever cherish this special trip with my twin and our own fantasy stay at Wadley Farms.
One last note about this trip is that just as the buildings were magnificent so too were the people we met in Utah.
Forever grateful,
Sylvia
Poem I wrote about Wadley Farms
Doors, turrets, sconces, more
Built by hand with family love.
Wadley Farms I simply adore.
First Victorian then Tuscan behove.
The castle is a fairytale.
The grounds truly perfect.
Multiple generations of male
Built it to last and to protect.
Salvaged materials all around.
Alan an Orthopedic surgeon past.
Now with new bones from ground.
New generations will make it last.
From belly rolls to beams
You simply can’t just walk by.
This place engulfs you in dreams
Of another time, oh my!
Watching llamas and cows graze.
Wadley Farms can’t be beat
For ambiance and location.
Stay put or move your feet.
You’ll have a lovely vacation.
