Getting to know Sandy Draper
Draper and Sandy. Sandy and Draper. For baseball-loving
Boomers, ‘Sandy’ might bring to mind the famed star pitcher for the
Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, Sandy Koufax, while the mere mention of the word
Draper often evokes images of the 1960’s advertising heart-throb, Don Draper,
the main character of the massively popular television series ‘Mad Men’ that
ran from 2007 to 2015. However, in this instance, Sandy isn’t a beloved
baseball hero (youngster-alert: Koufax pitched from 1955–1966 and was elected
into the baseball Hall of Fame in 1972) and Draper isn’t the name of a
fictional ad executive — these are the names of two of Utah’s many flourishing
civic-minded and community-oriented towns.
Separate, but as tightly intertwined as siblings, Sandy and Draper are located at the south end of the Salt Lake Valley in a setting that is close, but not too close, to Salt Lake’s urban amenities, yet far enough way to enjoy a slightly less metropolitan ambience. Offering the proverbial best of both worlds, the sister-towns feature plenty of bustling businesses that make life comfortable and convenient — a thriving downtown business district and, of course, a terrific selection of grocery stores, banks, restaurants, theaters, schools and the like.
As with so many of Utah’s communities, housing options are quite diverse including picket-fenced bungalows, two-story/two-car-garage residences, tri-levels, townhomes and modern homes with a Victorian vibe. For those with a bit more dinero to spare, options include contemporary homes in gated communities, high-rise condos, multi-million-dollar Colonial-style mansions and grand entertainer’s luxury homes. Singles, couples, empty-nesters, families with children — all are welcome in Sandy and Draper.
Separate, but as tightly intertwined as siblings, Sandy and Draper are located at the south end of the Salt Lake Valley in a setting that is close, but not too close, to Salt Lake’s urban amenities, yet far enough way to enjoy a slightly less metropolitan ambience. Offering the proverbial best of both worlds, the sister-towns feature plenty of bustling businesses that make life comfortable and convenient — a thriving downtown business district and, of course, a terrific selection of grocery stores, banks, restaurants, theaters, schools and the like.
As with so many of Utah’s communities, housing options are quite diverse including picket-fenced bungalows, two-story/two-car-garage residences, tri-levels, townhomes and modern homes with a Victorian vibe. For those with a bit more dinero to spare, options include contemporary homes in gated communities, high-rise condos, multi-million-dollar Colonial-style mansions and grand entertainer’s luxury homes. Singles, couples, empty-nesters, families with children — all are welcome in Sandy and Draper.
The Feel
Located about 20 miles south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front, Sandy and Draper both boast quick access to a variety of alfresco recreation areas. Indeed, the weekend and aprés-work lifestyle here frequently centers around outdoor pursuits, e.g., snow-skiing, ice skating and hockey as well as boating, fishing, hiking and biking. And while it’s true that you don’t have to partake of these passions to live here, you’d most definitely be missing out on some of the magical mysteries of Mother Nature if you didn’t savor the scenic-rich environs that surround the area.
But enjoying the good life here is not all about being a powder-fanatic adrenaline junkie — the towns also host regularly scheduled events, festivals, fresh-air concerts and more. In Sandy and Draper, it’s as easy to pack up the kids, leash up the dog and head over to a park for a warm-weather picnic as it is to load up the ski gear, put the pickup in 4WD and mosey on over to the mountain for a day of snow-sports.
Did you know: Just like numerous communities in Utah, Draper owes its name to a pioneer family. To wit: William Draper III, his wife Elizabeth and their seven children settled with other mid-1800’s families in what became known as Draperville. Draper Historical Park is now located on the site of a fort that was built in the 1850s, but never completed.
But enjoying the good life here is not all about being a powder-fanatic adrenaline junkie — the towns also host regularly scheduled events, festivals, fresh-air concerts and more. In Sandy and Draper, it’s as easy to pack up the kids, leash up the dog and head over to a park for a warm-weather picnic as it is to load up the ski gear, put the pickup in 4WD and mosey on over to the mountain for a day of snow-sports.
Did you know: Just like numerous communities in Utah, Draper owes its name to a pioneer family. To wit: William Draper III, his wife Elizabeth and their seven children settled with other mid-1800’s families in what became known as Draperville. Draper Historical Park is now located on the site of a fort that was built in the 1850s, but never completed.
An Incredible Location
Sandy Draper Properties For Sale
Things To Do
Located about 20 miles south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front, Sandy and Draper both boast quick and easy access to a variety of alfresco recreation areas. Indeed, the weekend and aprés-work lifestyle here frequently centers around outdoor pursuits, e.g., snow-skiing, ice skating and hockey as well as boating, fishing, hiking and biking. But it’s not all about muscle- and mindful-sports here; both towns also host regularly scheduled events, concerts and more, plus there are plenty of indoor theaters and fun-spots as well as a terrific selection of restaurants and eateries.
Nearby ski resorts
Within 15 minutes:
Within 30 minutes:
Hale Centre Theatre (Sandy)
Featuring two state-of-the-art theaters under one roof, the Hale Centre Theatre at the Mountain America Performing Arts Centre offers award-winning productions in a variety of genres including Broadway-caliber musicals, mysteries and more:
Mountain America Exposition Center (Sandy)
The Mountain America Exposition Center features five exhibit halls and numerous meeting rooms. It is used for consumer shows, community-based expos, conferences, regional and local meetings, banquets and additional events.
Rio Tinto Stadium (Sandy)
Sandy is home to the Real Salt Lake (RSL) club of Major League Soccer (MLS). In 2008, the soccer-specific Rio Tinto Stadium was completed and has housed the club since that time. This state-of-the-art stadium hosts RSL’s 17 home MLS regular-season matches as well as matches in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The stadium also features concerts and non-soccer sporting events including football, rugby, lacrosse and a variety of motorsports.
Draper City Park (Draper)
Located in the heart of the Draper Town Center, Draper City Park offers numerous amenities as well as easy access to the Porter Rockwell Trail and the Willow Creek Trail.
The Tree of Life (Draper)
Located in Draper City Park, the Tree of Life is lit with tens of thousands of lights during the holiday season. The brilliantly lit tree is inspired by a scene from the Book of Mormon in which Lehi has a dream about a tree called the tree of life.
Draper Days (Draper)
Held each July, Draper Days is a large community event featuring a festival, parade, 5K race, sports tournaments and more.
Cowabunga Bay Waterpark (Draper)
Top local eateries
Tiburon Fine Dining
Tin Roof Grill
Joy Luck Restaurant
La Caille
Nearby ski resorts
Within 15 minutes:
- Alta Ski Area
- Snowbird
Within 30 minutes:
- Brighton
- Solitude
Hale Centre Theatre (Sandy)
Featuring two state-of-the-art theaters under one roof, the Hale Centre Theatre at the Mountain America Performing Arts Centre offers award-winning productions in a variety of genres including Broadway-caliber musicals, mysteries and more:
- Young Living Centre Stage (seats 911)
- Sorensen Legacy Jewel Box Stage (seats 467)
- Plush theater seats
- Luxurious gathering rooms
- Innovative stage, lighting and lift effects
- Stunning aerial theatrics
Mountain America Exposition Center (Sandy)
The Mountain America Exposition Center features five exhibit halls and numerous meeting rooms. It is used for consumer shows, community-based expos, conferences, regional and local meetings, banquets and additional events.
- TRAX light rail stop (Sandy Expo station on the blue line) is directly across the street
Rio Tinto Stadium (Sandy)
Sandy is home to the Real Salt Lake (RSL) club of Major League Soccer (MLS). In 2008, the soccer-specific Rio Tinto Stadium was completed and has housed the club since that time. This state-of-the-art stadium hosts RSL’s 17 home MLS regular-season matches as well as matches in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The stadium also features concerts and non-soccer sporting events including football, rugby, lacrosse and a variety of motorsports.
- Seats 20,000 for Major League Soccer and other sports events
- Seats 25,000 for concerts
- 32 luxury suites
- 60-foot video board
- Two 200-foot ribbon LED boards
- Beautiful views of both the Oquirrh and the Wasatch mountains
Draper City Park (Draper)
Located in the heart of the Draper Town Center, Draper City Park offers numerous amenities as well as easy access to the Porter Rockwell Trail and the Willow Creek Trail.
- Playgrounds
- Four baseball/softball fields
- Two large picnic pavilions
- Volleyball court/pit
- Basketball hoops
- Mature trees
The Tree of Life (Draper)
Located in Draper City Park, the Tree of Life is lit with tens of thousands of lights during the holiday season. The brilliantly lit tree is inspired by a scene from the Book of Mormon in which Lehi has a dream about a tree called the tree of life.
- In Mormon art, the tree is seen as glowing brightly with pure white fruit which is represented by the flashing lights on the tree
Draper Days (Draper)
Held each July, Draper Days is a large community event featuring a festival, parade, 5K race, sports tournaments and more.
- Also includes free outdoor concerts and movie-nights in Draper City Park
Cowabunga Bay Waterpark (Draper)
- Slides
- Beach
- River
- Kids’ cove
- Cabanas
- Grill and café
Top local eateries
Tiburon Fine Dining
- Contemporary American cuisine
- Impeccable service
- Beautiful seasonal patio beneath lush shady trees
Tin Roof Grill
- Bills itself as having a “city bistro atmosphere combined with local restaurant mentality”
- Has been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on the Food Network
Joy Luck Restaurant
- Contemporary Chinese cuisine served with superb customer service
- Prides itself on using only the freshest ingredients
La Caille
- Contemporary French cuisine
- Situated on 20 acres at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon
- Four view-rich patios