Things to Do in Taylorsville

At Castle of Chaos, the most fearless of participants can sign a Hands On Horror waiver, allowing ghouls to touch them as they traverse the creaky hallways of the haunted mansion. Whether opting for the add-on or not, spooks await visitors within the mansion, asylum, and dungeon at the Taylorsville location, four new attractions such as the Bedlam Institute and the Phobias Research Center greet guests at the Orem location, and the Riverdale facility coaxes guests into its creepy 3-D carnival and a haunted house modeled after the seven deadly sins. Riverdale participants can also settle into a coffin for a simulated journey from mortuary to graveyard or explore a menacing midway's games, live entertainment, and concessions. Continually rearranged rooms at both houses ensure that feng shui is maintained and repeat scare-seekers will frequently embark on new trips of terror.

A living museum of rare and important flora, Red Butte Garden covers more than 100 acres of verdant natural and display gardens, walking paths, and hiking trails. Seasonal events—from sponsored camping nights and family picnics to celebrations of the winter solstice—often take place among the flowers as well as educational programs led by amateur and expert gardeners that focus on plants such as orchids, lilies, and bonsai trees. During the warmer months, the Garden's outdoor concert series features popular musical performers, their guitar strings buzzing like the bees that water the flowers with tiny buckets one by one.

The fully renovated Gallivan Center presents visitors with year-round entertainment opportunities, including cultural events, concerts, and festivals. Come wintertime, the center opens up its outdoor skating rink—a rink twice the size of its predecessor. There, skaters glide around throughout the holiday season and, during breaks from the ice, can fuel up with snacks such as hot chocolate and nachos from the rink’s concession stand.

The Front Climbing Club has attracted a crew of passionate setters and climbers with various outdoor-climbing experience, earned while climbing around the world. The staff brings this knowledge to its route setting, filling the 10,000-square-foot space with bouldering routes and top-roping walls that will boggle the mind and body like a kiss from Albert Einstein. Instructors lead these climbing and bouldering classes as well as training sessions, either teaching the fundamentals or helping attendees of virtually any age and skill level master more advanced techniques. Also offered are yoga classes and a full array of strength and cardio equipment, which can provide year-round conditioning training. The Front runs afterschool kids’ programs and camps, helping young climbers hone skills needed for teamwork and concentration. The club's pro shop also keeps visitors prepared for climbing excursions by allowing them to stock up on specialty supplies, including rock shoes, ropes, alpine and ice gear, and training equipment.

Birdman Academy takes its name from the pseudonym of its founder, Kevin Koonce. The Birdman estimates that he has trained thousands of hang-gliding lessons, and during that time he’s taught nearly 8,000 first-timers. Currently, he nests at Point of the Mountain, a spot known for what the Academy calls, "legendary conditions." This means consistently smooth winds, which are ideal for training new hang-gliders, paragliders, and baby pterodactyls recently thawed from blocks of prehistoric ice.

Arabian horses are known for the strong bonds they form with their caretakers. Lashay Arabians’ owner, Lisa Park, can attest to that fact. Throughout her 22 years of horse training and riding, she always has cared for loving arabian steeds, and her stables house a number of arabian and arabian-mixed mounts. Flower, Lisa's 24-year-old mare, has been with her since before she began her career leading lessons of riding and jumping, and to this day still takes kids for trots around the farm while neighing about her favorite episode of Cheers.

Along with fellow trainer Leslee Pugh, Lisa leads lessons for students of all ages and skill levels that teach the art of horsemanship, from recreational riding to national-level showing to jumping and dressage. The team also assists riders in need by coaching them during events, transporting horses to and from locations, and leasing horses to those who want to ride more but are not ready to buy their own mount.