Nestled in the quaint town of Santaquin, Utah, Wild Thistle Cafe serves more than just artisan coffee and pastries; it offers a rich tapestry of history and a tantalizing glimpse into the supernatural. Known for its cozy atmosphere filled with lush plants and crystals, this charming cafe harbors a history dating back to Utah’s early settlement days. Formerly known as Leslie’s Family Tree Restaurant, what truly sets it apart is its reputation as one of the most haunted places in the state. For decades, patrons and paranormal enthusiasts alike have been drawn to this location, eager to uncover the secrets that still linger.
The History
The Pioneering Days of Santaquin
Santaquin was founded in late 1851 by Mormon pioneers led by Benjamin F. Johnson, who were helping to settle the region around Payson to the north. Originally called Summit City due to its location at the summit dividing line between Utah and Juab valleys, the area offered abundant water, fertile farmland, and plentiful timber—ideal conditions for establishing a new community.
A friendship developed between local Ute chief Guffich and Benjamin F. Johnson, enabling the settlers to establish their community peacefully. When the town’s founders wished to name the settlement after Chief Guffich, he declined the honor and asked that it be named “Santaquin” after his son instead.
However, peace was short-lived. The Walker War broke out in 1853, a violent conflict between Mormon settlers and Ute bands led by chief Walkara (Walker). During the fall of 1853, Utes attacked several settlements including Santaquin, killing and mutilating settlers who were working in isolated groups outside the protective forts. The conflict forced Santaquin’s residents to abandon their homes and relocate to Payson for safety, where they remained until 1855. The war arose from growing tensions over land use, the slave trade, and the rapid expansion of Mormon settlements into traditional Ute hunting and gathering grounds. This dark chapter in Santaquin’s history left deep scars—and spirits that some claim still linger today.
The Building’s History
The building was originally constructed in 1905, making it one of Santaquin’s historic Main Street structures. Over the course of more than a century, it served multiple purposes as the town evolved, functioning as the town’s post office, a Greyhound bus station, a mechanic shop, and a flower store.
According to former owner Leslie Broadhead, the basement holds its own colorful history. The west side basement was once used as a place for townsmen to play cards, gamble, and hold illegal boxing matches. The upper floor of the west room served as a billiard parlor for many years, becoming a social center for generations of Santaquin residents.
In 1974, Wayne Smith and his wife Nan purchased the building and transformed it into a sporting goods store with an attached gas station and, later, a bar. Following Wayne’s death in 1986, the family converted the property into the Family Tree Restaurant, with Wayne’s widow Nan and other family members operating the establishment. The restaurant quickly became known for its hearty, home-cooked meals and traditional American fare. In 2000, Wayne and Nan’s daughter Leslie Broadhead—who had worked there since its opening—officially purchased the business and renamed it Leslie’s Family Tree Restaurant.
For the next two decades, Leslie’s Family Tree became a beloved Santaquin institution, famous for its enormous homemade scones (some measuring up to 14 inches long), warm atmosphere, and live music performances on Friday and Saturday evenings. However, the restaurant also gained another reputation—as one of Utah’s most haunted locations—drawing paranormal investigators and ghost hunters alongside hungry diners.
Leslie’s Family Tree Restaurant permanently closed its doors on Friday, November 13, 2020, after 34 years of operation, becoming one of many victims of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Haunt
A Restaurant Alive with the Dead
For over three decades, Leslie’s Family Tree Restaurant earned its reputation as one of Utah’s most haunted locations. Owner Leslie Broadhead openly acknowledged the supernatural activity, saying that many spirits inhabited the building. The activity was so pervasive and well-documented that it attracted major paranormal television programs, cementing the restaurant’s status as a genuine hotspot for unexplained phenomena.
Television Investigations
The restaurant’s paranormal reputation reached national prominence when it was featured on Travel Channel’s “The Dead Files” on May 4, 2012. Psychic medium Amy Allan’s walk-through revealed approximately 60 ghosts on site, most of them dominated by two male spirits who drew energy from the rest. The investigation also uncovered what Allan described as a Native American curse placed on the land by local tribes angered by white settlers’ encroachment—a finding that correlated with the area’s violent history during the Walker War.
Four years later, the Ghost Adventures crew investigated Leslie’s Family Tree for an episode that aired on March 12, 2016. The investigation focused on the restaurant’s connection to the war between Native Americans and Mormons, and during the overnight lockdown, lead investigator Zak Bagans experienced a confrontation with an aggressive spirit that left him with a large scratch on his back.
The Spirits and Their Stories
The Dead Files investigation identified two primary male spirits who appeared to control or influence the other ghosts present. One of the most frequently mentioned spirits was a Native American man, believed to be connected to the Walker War violence that occurred in the Santaquin area during the 1850s. This spirit, along with others tied to the area’s traumatic past, was thought to be bound to the location by the curse identified during Amy Allan’s investigation.
Witnesses also reported encounters with spirits from different time periods. Leslie’s daughter Bobbie described seeing a little boy in the West room, while visitors and staff frequently reported seeing apparitions in period clothing throughout the building. The basement, which had served as a boxing venue during the building’s days as a bar, was particularly active, harboring intense, sometimes violent energy.
Daily Paranormal Activity
The supernatural occurrences at Leslie’s Family Tree were not limited to formal investigations—they were a daily reality for staff and patrons. Chairs would stack themselves overnight in the dining room, a phenomenon documented by so many witnesses that it became one of the restaurant’s signature hauntings. Kitchen equipment would turn on and off by itself, with employees reporting blenders activating on their own and lights flickering without explanation. Disembodied voices were so common that Leslie Broadhead stated, “You hear them talking plain all the time – just as plain as day.”
Visitors frequently reported feeling watched, experiencing sudden cold spots, and witnessing objects move on their own. Some guests captured anomalies in photographs, including shadowy figures and unexplained mists. The paranormal activity occurred throughout the building, from the front dining rooms to the kitchen, basement, and back rooms.
The Curse and Its Legacy
Central to understanding the haunting is the Native American curse reportedly placed on the land. According to The Dead Files investigation, the curse was laid by a local tribe angry at white settlers, and while blessings on the building had temporarily quieted the ghosts, the only way to truly remove them would be for a chief to lift the curse. However, Leslie Broadhead showed no interest in removing the spirits, acknowledging that the paranormal activity had actually helped business, with people traveling from across the country to experience the haunting for themselves.
Beyond Closure: The Spirits Remain
When Leslie’s Family Tree Restaurant closed on November 13, 2020, questions arose about whether the spirits would remain. The answer appears to be yes. Even after the building was sold and remodeled to become the Wild Thistle Cafe, paranormal activity continued. Since reopening in 2025, several investigations have taken place, some confirming the identities of spirits previously revealed.
The haunting of Leslie’s Family Tree Restaurant stands as one of Utah’s most thoroughly documented paranormal cases, validated by multiple television investigations, countless witness accounts, and decades of consistent activity. Whether tied to the Walker War’s violence, the Native American curse, or the accumulated energy of over 150 years of human activity on the site, the spirits continue to make their presence known to those brave enough to visit.