During construction of the St. George Temple, Brigham Young found the climate in this vicinity beneficial to his health and decided to have a winter home built in St. George. On December 15, 1873, he arrived from the north and moved into his new house, though it was still unfinished. Later he had an office built east of his home where he took care of his various duties, both here and in the North. He spent the winters that followed there until his death in 1877.