Journey to Delta: Historic Railroad and Mining Sites

Today you're going to start your drive south by going down the west side of Utah Lake. This avoids the busy I-15 traffic and provides stunning views of the lake during your drive. Your first stop will be a historic Sinclair gas station in Elberta.
This gas station started operations in 1917 and served those who working at the nearby gold mine. In1982, the gas station closed but is still well-preserved by the dry desert climate. This is a fun place to take photos and get a glimpse of what small town life looked like in the early 1900s.

Make your way to the Tintic Railroad Tunnel, which used to be an old passage for the Tintic Range Railway carrying silver from the mines in the area. The railway no longer exists, but the railroad tunnel remains. It is a 235-foot-long tunnel that could be driven through if you have high clearance. Do not attempt to drive through unless the roads are dry. If you are unable to drive, you can park about 0.4 miles before the start of the tunnel and hike into it.

After exploring the railroad tunnel, drive to Eureka where you'll begin your old mining town adventure. First, grab lunch at the local Cast Iron Bistro in Eureka to fuel up for the rest of the afternoon. This small town cafe features sandwiches like French dip and club with fries. They also serve sweet rolls and sourdough waffles.

Walk over to the Tintic Mining Museum where you can learn more about Eureka and its mining history from the 1800s. The Museum is inside an historic railroad depot with exhibits on the local minerals, old mining tools, historical clothing and products, and other mining relics. The museum also offers tours to the City Hall and jail. Admission is free.

Explore more of Eureka's mining past at the Centennial Eureka Mine that is above the town. It used to mine lead, silver, zinc, and copper. It was first discovered in 1870 and was part of the Main Tintic Mining District. You'll see remnants of the mining operations outside the mine entrance, which is fenced off.

Drive on to Delta where you'll stop for dinner at the Ashton Burger Barn. This establishment serves high-quality meats from their Ashton Farms. The menu includes a pulled pork sandwich, specialty burgers, bratwursts, fries, fresh salads, and desserts. They also have a retail meat market with fresh and frozen cuts of meats if you have a cooler to store it in and bring it home with you.

Wrap up your day by checking into a hotel in Delta. There are several hotel options in Delta to choose from for your convenience.