Allen Park in Salt Lake City opens its gates to visitors for the first time in a half-century

Visitors look at a historic wooden house while walking through Allen Park in Salt Lake City on Sunday. The park, which was purchased by the city for $7.5 million in spring 2020, reopened to the public Sunday after being closed more than a half-century. Allen Park, located on 1300 East between 1700 South and 2100 South, was purchased in 1931 by Dr. George Allen, an Illinois-trained physician, and his wife, Ruth, an artist and fashion illustrator. The couple lived in a lodge on the property with their children and an exotic bird collection. Old homes were put on new foundations and rented out over the decades. Also known as “Hobbitville” because the small houses and log cabins found on the land look like homes for hobbits, the park will be open during daylight hours seven days a week, although the specific hours may change this winter. There is no on-site parking, and visitors are encouraged to use public transportation — Utah Transit Authority’s route 220 runs nearby — or park at Sugar House Park.

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