WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)
DIXIE SUN BOWL
(aka ST. GEORGE SUN BOWL or SUNBOWL)
St. George, Utah
LOCATION
150 South 400 EastSt. George, UT 84770
http://www.sgcity.org/parks/cityparks/sunbowl.php
HISTORY
Around 1940, the Lions Club formed a committee to pursue the idea of a dedicated rodeo arena. That committee originally consisted of Neal Lundberg, Reid Leigh, Rulon Snow, and Ez McArthur. Later, a finance committee was formed with Dr. L. W. McGregor as chairman and Clark Blake and George Pace as members. A 49-year lease with an option of 50 more was obtained on some city property where the Four Seasons is now.World War II put the project on hold, but the committees remained active and funds were gradually being accumulated. The project started up in earnest again in 1946.
In January of 1947, construction was begun in a swampy area south of 100 South and east of 400 East. The arena was ready for use the following September after expenditures of about $35,000.
Since then, several additional phases have been completed, including concession stands, corral work, and extensive cement work.
Early in the building phase, the newspaper had announced a contest to name the new facility. Bobbie Laub, son of Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Laub of Santa Clara, won the $15 prize with the name "Dixie Sun Bowl".
PHOTOS
WCHS-00877 Aerial View of the Sun Bowl the and Surrounding Area
WCHS-03872 Newly constructed Sun Bowl and the St. George Municipal Power Plant in the background
Other WCHS photos:
WCHS-00876 Postcard photo of the Dixie Sunbowl in 1948
WCHS-00878 Postcard photo of the Dixie Sunbowl
WCHS-03871 Aerial photo of St. George including the Sun Bowl, Power Plant, and parts west
WCHS-03873 Photo of the Dixie Sun Bowl under construction
WCHS-03874 Photo of workers constructing the cement benches on the south side of the Dixie Sun Bowl
WCHS-03875 Photo of a man (LeGrand Frei?) spraying gunite on the cement benches of the new Dixie Sun Bowl
WCHS-03876 Photo of workers finishing the cement benches along the south side of the Dixie Sun Bowl
Other SUU photos: (See the source list)
SUU-0009 Photo of an unidentified group of men with horses on the stairs of the Sunbowl in St. George
SUU-0010 Photo of an unidentified young girl on a horse in the arena of the Dixie Sunbowl in St. George
SUU-0011 Photo of eight unidentified individuals and two horses on the steps of the Dixie Sunbowl in St. George
SUU-0012 Photo of eight unidentified individuals and two horses on the steps of the Dixie Sunbowl in St. George
SUU-0013 Photo of people and Horses on the Steps of the Sunbowl
SUU-0014 Photo of eight unidentified individuals and two horses on the steps of the Dixie Sunbowl in St. George
SUU-0015 Photo of the 1950 May Pole dance for Dixie High School at the Dixie Sunbowl in St. George
SUU-0016 Photo of three unidentified men standing with a horse in the Sunbowl Arena in St. George
SUU-0017 Photo of and unidentified man on horse in front of the Dixie Sunbowl in St. George
REFERENCES
Building The Sun BowlArticle in the St. George Magazine, [Date?], pp. 30, 33, and 74
William Way's blog on Building the Sun Bowl
City's plan would save Sun Bowl, Council to take first steps in tentative plan
Article by David DeMille
The Spectrum, January 20, 2015, Pages A1 and A3
Elks Field sale could preserve Sun Bowl, School site has other benefits
Article by David DeMille
The Spectrum, January 22, 2015, Pages A1 and A3
In Our View: Sun Bowl
Editorial in The Spectrum, January 25, 2015, Page A6
Proposal could salvage Sun Bowl's future
St. George Magazine, January 2015, Page 31
In Search of Community Spirit
by Lyman Hafen
St. George Magazine, April 2015, Page 46
This article provides a thoughtful discussion of the pros and cons of saving the Sun Bowl.