Published April 11, 2026

The St. George Nobody Talks About Anymore

Written by Jeremy Larkin

Black-and-white thumbnail graphic featuring author and historian Lyman Hafen beside bold text reading “When a Town Remembers,” with a historic crowd scene in the background and subtitle text referencing the Not Forgotten podcast.

What does it mean to truly belong to a place?

And what happens when that place changes faster than memory can keep up?

In this episode, we sit down with Lyman Hafen — local author, historian, and host of the Not Forgotten Podcast — to talk about the version of St. George that longtime locals still carry in their heads and hearts.

From childhood adventures near the Virgin River trestle bridge to the founding of St. George Magazine, Lyman has spent a lifetime preserving the stories that make Southern Utah feel like more than just a place on a map.

The Stories That Built St. George

Long before St. George became one of the country’s fastest-growing destinations, it felt smaller, slower, and deeply connected.

Lyman shares memories of:

Exploring Brooks Pond and the Red Hill
Small-town traditions and local pride
Growing up in a place where everyone seemed connected
Watching the city transform over time

It’s a conversation about nostalgia—but also about identity, memory, and why certain places stay rooted inside people long after they change.

What Is the “Dixie Spirit”?

One of the biggest themes in this conversation is the “Dixie Spirit.”

Not just the word itself, but what it represents to many Southern Utah families and longtime residents.

We discuss:

Why “Dixie” still carries emotional meaning for many locals
The tension between preserving heritage and embracing change
What the Utah Tech renaming debate revealed about the community
Why Southern Utah’s identity feels uniquely strong compared to many growing cities

The conversation avoids easy answers and instead explores the emotional complexity behind heritage, progress, and belonging.

Growth, Housing, and the Affordability Squeeze

Of course, it’s impossible to talk about modern St. George without talking about growth.

As more people move to Southern Utah, longtime locals are wrestling with:

Rising home prices
Housing affordability concerns
Increased traffic and development
A changing cultural landscape

And yet, despite the pressure, people continue fighting to stay here.

Why?

Because even as the city changes, there’s still something about St. George that feels deeply personal and difficult to replace.

Hyperlocal Stories With Universal Meaning

One of the most powerful parts of this episode is realizing how local stories often become universal ones.

Even listeners who have never been to Southern Utah tend to connect with the deeper themes:

Community
Nostalgia
Rapid change
Pride in place
Wanting to preserve what matters

The details may belong to St. George.

The emotions belong to everyone.

Episode Timestamps

00:00:00 — Welcome and Why Place Matters
00:03:10 — Disneyland Year and Hometown Change
00:09:55 — Brooks Pond Adventures and the Red Hill
00:15:30 — St. George Magazine and Local Pride
00:19:20 — How Not Forgotten Gets Started
00:23:28 — The Meaning of the Dixie Spirit
00:26:30 — Preserving Dixie Heritage After Renaming
00:32:52 — Books Built From St. George Lives
00:39:25 — Hyperlocal Stories With Universal Pull
00:43:17 — Home Prices and the Affordability Squeeze
00:50:30 — “These Are the Good Old Days”

Have questions about living in, moving to, or investing in Southern Utah? Reach out anytime.

P: 435-291-5443
E: sales@gostgeorge.com

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