How did Eagle Mountain get its name. That has been a question that I have been asked several times, and figured I would do some digging into the subject to find the answer.
Debbie Hooge, the first mayor of Eagle Mountain, who was appointed by the County Commissioner in December of 1996, explains how the name for Eagle Mountain was selected.
Bob Lynds, who at the time was Walden’s (John Walden was one of the Eagle Mountains first developers) project manager, suggested we have a contest to name the city. We all threw in some ideas but nothing really stuck. Over the period of several weeks we would suggest one thing or another without any real inspiration. One of the beautiful things about the area that is now Eagle Mountain is that the birds of prey; eagles and hawk; were quite prevalent back then. You could sit in your car and watch and enjoy them for hours. They would usually soar down from the top of the Lake Mountain range into the valley where they hunted the rabbits and other small vermin. Anyway, it was beautiful. One day Bob dropped by our trailer at Cedar Pass and said he had a name; “Eagle Mountain”…..and somehow that stuck. When he brought it up I noted that the irony in naming it Eagle Mountain was that as the city grew; the birds of prey would slowly move away. I haven’t seen an Eagle in the valley for a while….sad that my prediction came true.
The book, “A Ride from the Past on the Road to the Future: A history of Eagle Mountain” by Marci Pernell and Leah Woodard discusses an interview with Mike Wren, an Employee of MCM Engineering and one of the primary engineering firms involved with starting Eagle Mountain, states this about the naming of the city (page 10).
Development has come to Eagle Mountain, but it has kept its name sake. There are still people who like to come to Eagle Mountain to watch the Eagles and other birds of prey.
Jeff Cooper, an avid birder and nature photographer, enjoys areas around Eagle Mountain to view birds of prey.
On the south end of Cedar Valley is what I like to refer to as a sage brush sea. There is much more animal life than meets the eye in that range of sagebrush. The desert cotton-tailed and black-tailed jackrabbits are a staple in the diets of the year-round Golden Eagles and wintering Bald Eagles that are often seen hunting during the morning hours.
Eagle Mountain has always been a great place to find birds of prey, including Golden and Bald Eagles. Eagle Mountain is also home to a large number of American Kestrels, the smallest member of the Falcon family. Eagle Mountain has a Kestrel Project that is in full swing. They currently have placed over 20 nesting boxes around the city that they monitor. This year there have been several clutches that have already hatched and the project is expected to expand over the years. The project has setup a webcam in one of the nesting boxes, you can view the feed at: http://cedarvalleysentinel.com/kestrel/webcam/ If you look, you can also find owls, hawks, and other birds among the desert landscape.
Mike Kieffer – Editor-in-Chief, Cedar Valley Sentinel
Mike Kieffer is a dynamic leader and community advocate based in Eagle Mountain, Utah. He serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Cedar Valley Sentinel, a local publication dedicated to informing, inspiring, and elevating the Cedar Valley community through honest and accurate journalism. With a passion for fostering connections, Kieffer has made it his mission to highlight local businesses, provide reliable news, and support community development.
Beyond his editorial role, Kieffer is the owner of Lake Mountain Media, LLC, a company specializing in media and communications, and the co-owner of Quail Run Farms, which focuses on sustainable farming and community engagement. He also actively contributes to the local economy and culture as a member of the Eagle Mountain Chamber of Commerce.
Kieffer’s dedication extends to preserving and promoting the history and heritage of the Cedar Valley area. He often participates in community-centered events and media, including podcasts that explore the unique aspects of life in the region. Through his varied endeavors, he remains a steadfast advocate for the growth and enrichment of the local community.
Excellent article! I’ve been wondering about how our beautiful city got its name. Thank you!