The Converted 1903 Piute County Courthouse In Utah

Wouldn’t it be fun to own a historic courthouse that has been converted into a family home?

Well, not all of us can afford such a thing, but there’s always the option of renting this place.

The Piute County Courthouse was built in 1903 and has been remodeled and converted into a nightly rental, family gathering hub, or corporate retreat. It is prominently located in the center of the town of Junction, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

It is currently for sale for $1,250,000. The former courthouse now features 8 bedrooms and 4 full bathrooms in 5,983 heated square feet.

The stately historic structure rises two full stories with small false towers on three corners and a major tower in the southeast. It was built in Edwardian architectural style with arched windows and archways on both levels. The exterior of the building is unaltered and interestingly, the building’s red bricks were formed on site.

Located at 21 North Main Street, this building served as the town center and courthouse until 1996.

By the mid-1990s, the historic courthouse could no longer comply with new government regulations, so it was decided that building a new courthouse would be more economical than renovating the old one. The old courthouse was sold in 1996 and remodeled on the inside for a private family residence. The current owners purchased the courthouse in the spring of 2022 and have been using it as a rental for special events and short-term vacations.

The interior, even before remodeling to accommodate bedrooms and bathrooms, had undergone some modifications due to a fire in 1943. The jail cell in the southwest corner of the first floor had also been remodeled into a lounge area for employees.

The stairs of the main staircase were widened when they were replaced. However, most of the spaces on the main floor remain in their original state.

The second floor had seven offices used for county and town government purposes. These offices are now bedroom suites. The courtroom remains, with its judge’s stand and jury box as it was constructed. The wood trim on the interior was hand-turned on-site.

We’ll get to the second floor in a minute. First, let’s have a look at the fully equipped kitchen on the main floor.

You can see how this place now lends itself to corporate retreats, large gatherings, and special events.

Adjacent to the kitchen is a large dining area.

Now let’s have a look at the actual courtroom dating back to 1903.

You can see the original judge’s stand and witness seat – looking a little out of place at present-day next to an air hockey table and surrounded by plush brown carpeting.

The rest of the former courtroom has been transformed into a game room / TV lounge.

The guest rooms that now occupy the former offices are large and spacious with high ceilings and hardwood floors.

Some fun facts about this historic building:

It was built for $7,670 in 1902-03
The courtroom has seen its share of outlaw cases – due to being located in a western ranching/mining region.
The building was originally heated with multiple pot-bellied stoves, now replaced with central heating.
The courthouse – and the community – did not have electricity until the year 1930.
The building is set in a grove of trees, which were originally planted to provide a shaded camping area for travelers.

Below the back staircase is a library room, now stocked with books on local and regional history.

One of the main floor bedrooms houses the original walk-in safe.

Another bedroom still sports the “ASSESSOR” plaque on the door.

Outside, the grounds have been made into an outdoor eating area and playground.

There’s even a fire pit!

It is a creative re-imagining of a historic building that was once the town’s centerpiece.

Hopefully, new owners are found for this historic gem, so that it can live on into the future preserving the history of the place while also providing a space for community events.