76 Years Later: Amazing Old Photos Of Dixie Sun Bowl Construction!
This month, the Dixie Sun Bowl celebrates it's 76th birthday! SEVENTY SIX YEARS and still around. There was a time, a few years ago where the city wanted to demolish the Dixie Sun Bowl, and move the rodeo to the Fair Grounds in Hurricane! Luckily, that NEVER happened. The story behind how the Dixie Sun Bowl was created is AWESOME!
In the 1940's before World War II, the rodeo was happening down the street, but the venue wasn't permanent. They started searching for the perfect spot. However, the war hit, the men left and the idea was put on hold. Finally, the war was over, and the men returned home! One day, Neal Lundberg and Ez McArthur were out riding their horses, when they ran into St. George Mayor, Eric Snow. Snow pointed out a location that the city owned and encouraged Lundberg and McArthur to talk to the city council about the land. That land is now... THE DIXIE SUN BOWL!
Lions Club members were asked to each donate $100 to the cause. That $100 is the equivalent of $1,300 now! That's a big ask. 42 Lions pulled out their wallets and donated the $100, while 130 non-members donated AT LEAST $100 to the cause. The Lions Club got creative with fundraising and even started selling raffle tickets to win CARS! One car was a new 1947 Plymouth. That Plymouth was won by Sheriff Antone Prince.
Local people started donating their time, their work, even their equipment to bring this venue together. It was a true community effort. In January of 1947, construction began, and by September it was complete and ready for the Dixie Round-Up Rodeo! Now, the venue needed a name. The Newspaper put out a contest to name the new venue. Bobby Laub of Santa Clara submitted "The Dixie Sunbowl" and won the cash prize: $15. The project cost around $35,000, which would now cost around $10,000,000!
WHOA: 40 Images Of St. George That Will Make You Feel SO OLD!
THEN (3000 East):
NOW (Lin's - 3000 East):
THEN (Little Valley):
NOW (Little Valley):
THEN (Red Hills Parkway):
NOW (Red Hills Parkway To Red Cliffs Mall):
THEN (Red Cliffs Drive):
NOW (Underpass to Red Cliffs Mall - Red Cliffs Drive):
THEN 100 South):
NOW (100 South):
THEN (Riverside Drive):
NOW (Culver's - Riverside Drive):
THEN (George Washington Boulevard):
NOW (Red Cliffs Temple - George Washington Boulevard):
THEN (Hansen Stadium - University Ave.):
NOW (Trailblazer Stadium - University Ave.):
THEN (Hansen Stadium - 800 East):
NOW (Trailblazer Stadium - 800 East):
THEN (Trailblazer BLVD):
NOW (Trailblazer Boulevard):
THEN (Elk's Field - 100 South):
NOW (Legacy Elementary - 100 East):
THEN (River Road & 1450 South):
NOW (Maverik - River Road & 1450 South):
THEN (Mall Drive):
NOW (Smith's Marketplace at Dino Crossing, Mall Drive):
THEN (Pioneer Parkway):
NOW (Cafe Rio & Harmon's on Pioneer Parkway):
THEN (Tech Ridge Drive):
NOW (Dixie Tech, Tech Ridge Drive):
THEN (Black Ridge Drive):
NOW (Chick-Fil-A Black Ridge Drive):
THEN (Main Street & St. George BLVD):
NOW (Main Street & St. George BLVD):
THEN (Red Rock Commons):
NOW (Red Rock Commons):
THEN (Red Rock Commons):
NOW (Red Rock Commons):
THEN (Sullivan Park):
NOW (Sullivan Park):
THEN (Godfather's Pizza):
NOW (Cafe Sabor):
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