Dutch John was built to house construction workers from the Flaming Gorge Dam. Today, employees of the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area reside there.
In the early 1860's a horse trader and miner named "Dutch" John Hanselena prospected the area while living in the Red Canyon Bottoms. Dutch John was a German native. He raised horses and had a summer camp and cabin near Summit Springs Guard Station. He used winter range on the east side of the Green River in what was known as "Joe's Pasture" His headquarters was along the river in Red Canyon. His range spilled over into the area now called Dutch John Flat or Dutch John Bench.
Honselena was given the name "Dutch John" because he talked with a German accent and was a little hard to understand and the people of the time said he sounded like a "Dutchman'.
UtahReach! 2010