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The Utah State Capitol Lions were replaced in 2007 with marble lions sculpted by Nick Fairplay. The original cement lions were auctioned off. 3 of them went to Lagoon and the 4th was purchased by Ron Case. It seemed to disappear from the public eyes for a while, all while hiding in plain sight. After some digging the fourth was finally found outside Ron Case Roofing at about 440 South Redwood Road. Seeing how I do not foresee me going to Lagoon anytime soon, I jumped at the opportunity to see this one.
Quick Details:
Length: How ever far away you park.
Trail Type: Get out and see.
Difficulty: Get out and see DR1.
Elevation Gain: NA
Restroom: No. There is a 7/11 across the street though.
Dogs? Dogs are allowed on city sidewalks, leashed.
Other Info: It is on private property, but can be seen from the sidewalk and the street.
To Get Here:
Take i80 to Redwood Road head south about a block and a half to 440 south. You will see a large billboard for Ron Case Roofing on the west side of the road, it is right underneath it.
Ron Case Roofing has a small driveway before a gate. Since they were closed, I figured it would be okay to park there for 2 minutes while I looked at his acquisition. Otherwise you will need to find street parking.
Gross stormy weather (Passenger Seat Photography(PSP)).
The Trail:
There it is, under the billboard.
The sign says roofing supplies, but he also has quite the junkyard with some interesting old pieces. I bet American Pickers could have a field day in here.
The back of the lion. It is quite a bit bigger than I anticipated!
When the restoration work began on the State Capitol in 1999 the state of the deteriorating lions were reevaluated and it was decided they should be replaced, so new marble lions were commissioned when the work began on the steps in 2007.
The old lions went up for auction back in 2009. Lagoon purchased 3 of them for $1600. Local business owner Ron Case won that last and largest one for about $8k. When interviewed Ron Case said he didn’t want the lion to leave SLC and that Salt Lake’s Westside was worthy of a “lion size portion of pride.”
The Front.
Lagoon restored the other 3 lions and have them on display outside of Cannibal now. Ron Case however stated: he does not intend to restore the lion as it is art and history just as it is.
Source Fox13’s Uniquely Utah (outside link)
Even in his diminished state, he is quite fantastic. I agree with Ron, it does deserve to stay in our city. And I appreciate that thanks to him, I don’t have to pay Lagoon to see at least 1 of the old historic lions! I think it is a little bit of a fuck you to us to have to pay to see the other 3. But, I get that they did pay to restore them, but still.
With the sign above.
Handsome fella. I mentioned they were restored in 1976, oddly enough that was done by Ralphael Plescia of Ralphael Plescia’s Christian School. I have been on the hunt for these lions since I went there 2 years ago and I finally found them, and eventually made my way out to this one.
The original 4 lions were sculpted out of cement in 1917 by artist Gavin Jack.
From the back.
Yes he’s crumbling, but come on he is more than 100 years old! Plus, I think it gives him a little character.
Continuing around to the other side.
The front again.
Neat old Pepsi sign in the junkyard. We couldn’t make out any markings to indicate where it might have come from.
The front side again.
The face again. This is super neat!
With the sign.
Neat old tractors.
The gate we parked in front of.
Bonus: The other 3 lions. These will not be my images. Like I said I don’t foresee me going to Lagoon anytime soon, so here are a few images from the web.
Closer to one of them.
Closeup. Previous 3 images from the Uniquely Utah Facebook page.
Also from Uniquely Utah FB, but it shows one of the original lions in its original spot at the State Capitol.
At Lagoon.
Before restoration. Previous 2 images from the Utah State Capitol Facebook.
More bonus content The new lions that were installed in 2009. From our trip last year.
The west side:
Patience.
Honor.
The east side:
Fortitude
Integrity
Well, that was fun! I am glad we finally located, and eventually visited it! It is super neat and worth the little side adventure to go so it 10 out of 10 squirrels.
As for difficulty, it really is just off the road so drive up and see. DR1.
Dogs are allowed on city sidewalks. Be sure to clean up after your furry friends.
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