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Gardener Village is a whimsical little strip mall in West Jordan. There are a few things that set it apart from your general strip mall. First of all, they have quite a few historic buildings. Second, they really lean into the holidays and decorate to the nines and just kind of make it something much more special than a mall. They are gearing up for their fall Witch Fest so we decided to go for a walk to explore the area before it gets too crazy with the festivities. I recently posted about the more historical stuff. Today I am going to focus on the fun Halloweeny stuff.
This ended up turning into a 3 visit post… I will ty not to be too repetitive.
Quick Details:
Length: Meh we did about 7/10ths of a mile (each time). YMMV.
Trail Type: Wander. Loose loops.
Difficulty: DR2. Its paved and fairly flat.
Elevation Gain: NA
Restroom: There are several.
Dogs? Yes, but not in any buildings and they must not bother decorations or guests.
Other Info: It is free to wander around. But there are additional events, shopping, and dining that are not free.
To Get Here:
From i15 take the 7200 S exit heading west. Take the first left onto 700 West. south towards 7800 S. Turn right. You will see Gardner Village on the right, just past the Trax bridge.
If using Trax: Take the Red Line to the Historic Gardner Station.
The Adventure Day One: Pre opening
Looking towards the main old mill, which is the only original building on site. All of the others were moved here from various places or built afterwards.
One of many, many witches we found tonight.
Fun fact: The most widely accepted theory of the origin of the stereotypical green witch started with the Wizard of Oz movie.
Archibald’s.
Old cabin.
Main walkway.
The little pond with the larger, red covered bridge.
Which becomes the Witching Bridge this time of year.
It just makes my little black heart so happy.
Another witch.
Fun lights.
Another alley.
Fun window display.
More fun witches.
More spooky fun. I love that the old buildings kind of punch up the spooky factor.
Chocolate Covered Wagon. This little chocolate shop is in the old train station for the abandoned ghost town of Welby.
It really is an old train station. And it is neat!
Fun witch on a pumpkin.
More of the Chocolate Covered Wagon/Welby Train Station.
Little alley.
The main square area... which is what I just decided to call it right now hah.
Neat pumpkin cottage display.
With a witch guarding the door.
The big water tower with a giant witch hat.
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Better shot of the giant witch hat on it.
Witchfest sign.
Hulu hooping witch underneath.
Archibald's Water Works. Not part of the Halloween stuff, just a neat old water wagon.
The big tree. I swear this was green last year. But I mean, nothing says they have to decorate the same way twice.
Another witch.
The Train Shoppe. Just a neat building/shop.
With some witches playing pickleball.
The Crystal Fairy. Again, just a regular shop.
Little covered seating area that matches the ones in front of Chocolate Covered Wagon. I wonder if it was part of the original Welby Station.
Sleeping witch.
Mill Plaza with the old water wheel.
Pretty lit up trees.
Pine Needles.
Another witch.
The big tree again.
With a witch.
Another witch… with a train of something running under her dress.
Its just a fun life size spooky village.
Fun witch flag.
Another witch.
More lights.
Down to Earth, with a fun flying witch.
The Gathering Place. Which as the name suggests, is an event venue.
Golfing witch.
Chocolate Covered Wagon/Welby Train station again.
Fun lights.
The smaller east covered bridge.
Looking towards the bigger, west covered bridge with a witch in a boat.
The little covered bridge from the other side.
The cute little pond.
More witches at "the Broomery".
Fun decorated porch.
Neat old stone circle.
The bigger, west covered bridge.
Which, this time of year is called the Witching Bridge.
The smaller covered bridge.
Inside the Witching Bridge.
Diving witch and floating witch.
The stone circle again.
There is actually a pair of them.
Archibald’s.
Fun crescent moon.
Part 2: Day Time.
I’ve mentioned it before, but I like to walk along the Jordan River around here. I did this section again and decided to wander around with some light left.
Archibald’s. As far as I know, this is the only original building in the village.
Another witch. I suspect this is #8 on the scavenger hunt. Mixing up the perfect enchanted elixir.
Neat stone circles.
The Witching Bridge.
The Witching Bridge again.
With some fun witch hats.
The smaller, east covered bridge.
Floating witch.
Diving witch.
More witch hats.
Boating witch. I think this is #5: Casting a line.
The smaller, east covered bridge.
The larger, west one, or the Witching Bridge.
Rooftop witch.
The Broomery witches.
I thiiink this might be #6: Crafting a spellbinding broomstick.
The smaller covered bridge.
Inside.
Looking across towards the Witching Bridge.
The boating witch again.
Chocolate Covered Wagon/Welby Train station.
More.
One of the alleys.
Another witch in front of one of the older cabins.
The alley again.
Witches working out. The Molds Gym is a nice touch haha!
I think this is #7. “Hanging out” building her muscles.
Fun light witch.
I am not sure if this is a display rack without the product, or a particularly creepy decoration. o.O
Willow Hill Yarn Company, plus a neat old outhouse.
Flying on a bike witch giving me strong E.T. vibes.
Another fun witch flag.
Fun porch decorations on this old cabin.
Dancing witches.
This must be #3: Dancing the night away.
Flying witch.
Possibly #4: Taking a quick ride on her broom. Hrm... it looks like I have 2 contenders for #4.
The big tree. Which is green now. Alright, I guess it switches between green and purple. o.O
Another witch.
Possibly #8 Mixing up the perfect enchanted elixir. Well, that would put 2 possibilities for #8 as well.
The water tower with the giant witch hat. I wonder how and where they store that thing!
Hula hooping witch.
The water tower again.
Fun pumpkin hut.
With a witch.
Water tower and water truck.
Fun village.
Racing witch.
Witchy poo. Snort.
Archibald’s.
Windmill with a fun witch on a crescent moon.
Fun witch on a bench.
The water wheel.
Fun trees.
Another small covered bridge over the North Jordan Canal. Obviously, I love me a good pedestrian covered bridge.
Again.
Downstream.
Upstream.
Fun Fact, Archibald Gardner and his brother carved this canal from just a little ways south to here to provide water for the mill. It was eventually expanded further north.
Old mill stone monument.
South side.
The monument.
The mill/Archibald's.
Water feature.
The water wheel again.
Close up.
Windmill again.
Archibald’s. I love the giant witch splat.
Another witch next to an old looking cabin.
This must be #2: Weeding her pumpkin patch.
Again.
Fun outhouse witch.
The Witching Bridge and the diving witch.
Stone circle.
Fish coming up for food.
Little waterfall that feeds the pond.
Both stone circles.
Back of this one.
Apothecary witch.
Fun pumpkin lined street.
Day 3.
We had a relative from out of town that was planning to come here so… we’re back for a third time haha. But hey, I got to explore a little bit more than what I have seen yet so I call it a win!
Fridays and Saturdays they have a parking service that costs $10 bucks. Which totally makes sense considering how popular it has become over the years. They do discourage parking on 78th south, but I mean, if there is room without a sign saying otherwise, go for it and save a buck (but maybe not if you have little ones).
The small covered pedestrian bridge over the North Jordan Canal.
Inside.
Looking back on it.
Mill Plaza with the water wheel.
Witch on the windmill.
I love the witch splat on the grain silo.
The historic marker is inside. Which after what we saw at the Fisher Mansion might be a wise choice. Anyway, the mill was built in 1877. Wow.
Witchy poo. Snort.
No Siesta in this Fiesta. LOL.
Artificial creek.
With little falls.
The mill wheel again.
Closer.
After we met up with our relative we decided to have dinner at Archibald’s. We have lived not far from here for 5 years and have not had dinner here yet. However, we did try once, just too close to Halloween and the wait was wayyy too long for how hungry we were. Today was an entirely different story and we got seated immediately.
I was pleasantly surprised with my meal. It was quite tasty, in fact we all enjoyed our meals. We will definitely be back.
Lots of witch hats in the restaurant.
West Jordan Milling Co.
The old silo. There are tables inside and you can actually dine in there! I wanted to take a picture, but I didn’t wanna be a weirdo and take a picture of randos having dinner. Maybe one day I will get a chance to dine in there.
Old cabin.
After dinner we decided to explore a bit. We, rightly, assumed our relative would enjoy the Crystal Fairy, so we started with that little store.
Fun racecar witch.
Witchypoo again.
The water tower.
The pickleball witches.
The big tree again.
We were right, our relative loved The Crystal Fairy. We spent so long in there we lost all the daylight.
The water tower.
Hula hooping witch.
Fancy witch.
Old bell. Landis decided to see if it works… it does and it is freaking LOUD.
Down to Earth and a flying witch.
One of 2 contenders for #4
Pumpkin witch.
This must be #9: Showing off her monster-size jack-o-lantern..
Neat old cabin turned shop.
With on a flying bike.
Neat brewing witch.
The Witching Bridge.
Diving witch.
Also be sure to check out Forget Me Not Finds. One of my friends made the witch hats they are selling, which I may be biased but I think they are super cute! I also have another friend who sells her earrings there. Which again, probably biased, but I think they are super cute as well.
Another brewing witch.
The Witching Bridge again.
The big tree with another brewing witch.
Racing witches.
Pumpkin patch witch.
Fun porch.
The Witching Bridge.
The smaller bridge.
The Broomery.
Chocolate Covered Wagon.
The smaller bridge.
Pretty lights.
The pumpkin hut.
Fun little train ride.
Well that was fun! Even if we did it 3 times in 1 week haha. I just really love how much they absolutely lean into the holiday. Not a lot of places really go all out and make it fun. Plus with it being free to attend? Heck yeah. Of course there are additional events that cost money, and of course dining and shopping too. That’s how they get you haha. We didn’t really do the scavenger hunt, I just took pictures of all the witches, and scavenged as I put this together I think I found all of them except for the bonus 6 fingered one. Anyway, its cute and fun and I enjoyed it much better than last year when we waited until much closer to Halloween to do it and it was crazy busy. 10 out of 10 squirrels today.
As for difficulty, it is paved, and flat. DR2.
Dogs are allowed on the property, but not in the buildings and they ask to ensure they don’t mess with the decorations.
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