From Deseret News archives:
Boulder: zen and now
Different cultures share a love of the land
A growing Buddhist "sangha" the Sanskrit word for "association" or "community" is now interwoven with generations of longtime Boulder residents deeply rooted in ranching, farming and Mormon pioneer history.
Though Boulder could be seen as the old Mormon pioneers vs. the "new agers," there is a shared underlying philosophy of living quietly and simply in concert with the land and the landscape, says Lisa Vargas, a Boulder business owner.
"That's why the original settlers stay and why the new people come," Vargas said. "There are a lot easier places to live, but none quite as beautiful."
Boulder, Utah not to be confused with Boulder, Colo. was named after the spectacular mountain nearby of the same name and rests at an elevation of nearly 7,000 feet at the top of Garfield County in south-central Utah. Drive down state Routes 28 and 24 through Salina, Loa and Torrey toward Capitol Reef National Park, turn right on S.R. 12 and an hour later, you'll hit Boulder at its intersection with the Burr Trail.
Ranchers first brought cattle to graze here in 1879, and the area was formally settled 10 years later. It remained isolated until 1935, when the federal Civilian Conservation Corps built a road from Escalante. Still, Boulder did not get electric power until 1947.
The community is built on farming and ranching, but many residents say the heart of the place has evolved in the past several years since Blake Spalding, her business partner Jen Castle and Spalding's sister Lavinia opened the Hell's Backbone Grill in the center of town.
The business has become renowned for its wholesome food and lovely setting and has drawn workers and tourists to the town.
The three women are also committed practitioners of Buddhism and are strongly networked into the national Buddhist community. Monks make regular visits to the area, and many of the area homes fly the colorful prayer flags traditional to the culture.
With dozens of employees, Hell's Backbone Grill is one of the area's largest employers, and many workers are members of the Buddhist community.
As of the last census, the town population was 180, an increase over the 1990 figure of 126.
Recent comments
Was this article about Boulder the Town, or Blake Spalding and the...
Anonymous | Oct. 27, 2007 at 10:01 a.m.
It seem your article is slanted. Niether Blake or her friends own the...
Anonymous | Oct. 17, 2007 at 10:01 a.m.
Between this article and the other (Boulder, solitude, kinship) you...
mythsRus | Oct. 16, 2007 at 3:08 p.m.
- New designation for Clinton Museum 5:54 p.m.
- Eisenhower home oozes charm 5:54 p.m.
- RDP brings family-oriented 'Joyride II' 5:54 p.m.
- Sculptor turns scrap metal into art 5:54 p.m.
- Art canvas 5:54 p.m.
- Galleries 5:54 p.m.
- BYU exhibit evokes identity questions 5:54 p.m.
- Literary footnotes 5:54 p.m.
- Bookmarks 5:54 p.m.
- Town struggles with 'In Cold Blood' 5:54 p.m.
- Apostle's wife felt comfort in attack
- Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
- Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers
- D-Will home for daughter
- Bench proves fruitful for Y.
- Utes excited for 'dream' game
- Born of water and the spirit
- Snowstorm hits Utah; 1 dead in crash
- GameDay in Fort Worth
- Woods Cross refinery to shut down
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
354 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
199 - Senators want food tax restored
164 - Will state consider gay rights law?
148 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
124 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
113 - No. 22 BYU holds off pesky Lobos
108 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
105
If you are looking for a bird on the cheap, the following specials from...
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
The idea that anybody else but you is capable of interpreting the...
I miss the days with Malone, Stockton and Hornacek, those guys were injured,...
Not a pretty win, but way to and yet another win BYU. I love this team....
My prayers go to this family for the loss of their fine young son. God bless...
Seriously if you want to hear the arguments of Progressives it won't be on...
Don't go out of your way or anything on reporting here. Four sentences is all...
re: So Sweet The REAL joy has returned. Utah has just tied it with TCU,...
AF, WYO, and CSU are all ranked higher than the pathetic NM.
Even at the time of the Colonies, White Christian men who owned property were...
BYU will most likely drop out of the the top 25 with this Junior high school...

