Cox says chapel at old Utah State Prison site will remain

DRAPER, Utah — The old Utah State Prison is now a thing of the past. 

On Monday, Gov. Spencer Cox and former Gov. Gary Herbert walked through the facility one last time. Cox says a chapel is the only part of the facility that will remain.

However, Cox says a decision on what to do with the chapel hasn’t been made.

“We don’t know exactly what that’s going to look like yet,” he said. “That’s still ongoing. Is it still going to be used as a chapel? Is it going to be kind of a museum? Those are the types of things that we’re still working on, trying to figure out. But it will be featured prominently.”

Cox says the chapel will serve as a reminder that there is “hope even for the most fallen amongst us.”

Key to the old Utah State Prison

Additionally, the two Utah governors stood in cells where inmates lived. Cox even presented his predecessor with an original key to the prison.

“This is an actual, physical key to the Draper prison,” Cox said. “As it was in 1951 to 2022.”

The demolition of the remaining part of the facility should happen sometime in the next few months.

“It’s going to be several months before you see actually start to come down,” Cox said. “So that’s what we’re looking at.”

The old state prison will be replaced by a massive new development called The Point. Construction is expected to begin in 2026.

The new Utah State Correctional facility opened earlier this year. It is located roughly nine miles north of the Salt Lake City International Airport. 

Mark Jones contributed to this article. 

Read more:

• State leaders cut the ribbon on new Utah State Correctional Facility
• 2,464 incarcerated individuals moved to new Utah State Correctional Facility