Okay so I really never had any interest in polygamy until I read the book Stolen Innocence. This is the book written by Elissa Wall about her escape from the FLDS church. I seriously could not put it down. It was crazy, insane and captivating all in one. Anyway, that's a whole other blog post.
This Labor Day weekend we were down in St. George with Brad's family. My sis-in-law Lori and niece McCall had read the book also and we decided we'd take a drive up to Colorado City about 45 min from St. George to take a look around. We packed up and headed out to what I thought would be just a Sunday drive around a small town but it turned into a lot more.
We pulled into Colorado City and turned off the main road. We started driving around and seeing all the houses. I guess for tax reasons they don't finish their houses so they don't have to pay property tax or something like that. Well, it seriously just looks like a run down town. We didn't see anyone around which was surprising so we kept driving. We finally turned down a road and saw a bunch of cars. We kept going and realized that we had come upon their church. There was hundreds of nice cars in the parking lot (Escalades, Odysseys, Trucks) and their church was HUGE. It looked like their church had just gotten out because everyone was in the parking lot. Well, of course Brad had to get closer so he pulled right in. We got a few glares from ladies in vans. I guess our bright red car wasn't too inconspicuous. Then I turned and looked out the back of the car. I see this guy hop out of a truck and start talking into his coat pocket. I was thinking there's no way they are all hooked up like that and then I looked ahead of me and saw another guy jump out of his car by the other entrance. Uh-Oh. I told Brad to get the heck out of there. The guy started walking toward us and we quickly pulled around him and left the parking lot. By now I was telling Brad let's just get out of here because it just freaked me out. (Especially after reading the book). Anyway, Lori and Brad wanted to go back and McCall and I were DONE but guess who was driving?? Yup...Brad. So we got down the road and Brad pulls to the side and turns around. Great. Well we look behind us and realize that there is a white car doing the same. They weren't following us were they?? Yup...we were being followed now. Now anyone that knows me knows that I'm such a baby and just wanted to get out of there. Brad was loving it. We were pulling into parking lots and they were following us. After a good five minutes of driving around Brad decided to just pull over and they pulled up right next to us. They rolled down their window and this is how the conversation went:
Guy: So, are you looking for something?
Brad: No, just driving around....
Guy: Ya just curious?
Brad: Yup, pretty much.
Guy: Well, are you leaving?
Brad: I guess unless there's something else we should see.
Guy: Well, have you been to the narrows...blah blah..goes on to explain how to get there.
Anyway, I guess they felt like we were no longer a threat because they drove off after that. They really weren't mean but they definitely wanted us to be uncomfortable. I didn't even dare look at them. I am such a BABY! Anyway, we headed up the canyon and drove around a little more. In hindsight I'm SO mad that I didn't ask them all the questions I was wondering...like if they still consider Warren Jeffs their prophet...but I didn't think of it at the time. It don't know why I was so nervous...it's not like they were going to do anything to us. Anyway....
I don't blame them for getting sick of people coming and checking things out but it was the weirdest thing. I thought it would just be like driving through some random town but it is like they have their own little community that has nothing to do with anyone else. It's seriously like they govern and answer to only themselves. Their houses look run-down but they have way nice cars. There are occasional houses that are nice but they are behind huge privacy fences. There was one grocery store, a little cafe and schools..I'm pretty sure they don't use the schools anymore though...
Well, when we decided we were done we headed out and a silver truck started following us. We pulled onto the highway toward Hurricane and the truck just stayed there for a while until we were a ways away then turned on the highway. We all thought that they were making sure we were out of there but who knows. Maybe we were just paranoid.
We were glad we made the trip. It definitely satisfied my curiosity of Colorado City. It is everything you've heard of and probably a little bit more. I was mad I didn't take pictures...If you want a good read check out the book. It's a good one. If you decide to venture down to Hildale and Colorado City, plan on feeling like an outsider and possibly being followed. They KNOW you are there even if you don't think they do. They are watching you and that's a weird feeling...
