ST. GEORGE — Continuing a more than 110-year tradition, seniors from Dixie High School were hanging by ropes over the edge of Sugarloaf, also known as Dixie Rock, Friday morning with white paint and white knuckles.
A student repaints the fourth letter “I” in “Dixie on the Sugarloaf, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
With dozens of students pulling and releasing a rope atop the Sugarloaf, students rappelled down to repaint the Dixie letters. Adults supervised from above and from lawn chairs below.
There was a brief scare as one student slipped and descended around 18 feet down to a ledge. Despite the screams of onlookers, she quickly signaled she was fine with an embarrassed smile.
The “Bucket Run,” as it’s called, began in 1913. According to the Washington County Historical Society, the senior class of 1913 painted “1913” on the Sugarloaf. At first, the numerals were painted over several times by lower classes – 1914 and 1915 – in what became a less-than-friendly battle.
A summit of teachers and students sometime in 1914 resulted in a solution. The word “Dixie” was painted instead.
Last year, the Sugarloaf and the Dixie Rock sign were added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Look below for a photo gallery of the Bucket Run above as well as a video accompanying this article.
Photo Gallery
Students rappel down the Sugarloaf repainting “Dixie” as part of the annual Bucket Run, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Students rappel down the Sugarloaf repainting “Dixie” as part of the annual Bucket Run, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Students repaint “Dixie” on the Sugarloaf, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Students repaint “Dixie” on the Sugarloaf, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Students repaint “Dixie” on the Sugarloaf, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Students rappel down the Sugarloaf repainting “Dixie” as part of the annual Bucket Run, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Students rappel down the Sugarloaf repainting “Dixie” as part of the annual Bucket Run, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Students rappel down the Sugarloaf repainting “Dixie Rock” as part of the annual Bucket Run, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Students rappel down the Sugarloaf repainting “Dixie Rock” as part of the annual Bucket Run, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
A student repaints the fourth letter “I” in “Dixie on the Sugarloaf, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Students rappel down the Sugarloaf repainting “Dixie” as part of the annual Bucket Run, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
A student repaints the fourth letter
“I” in “Dixie on the Sugarloaf, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
A student repaints the fourth letter
“I” in “Dixie on the Sugarloaf, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
A student repaints the second letter
“I” in “Dixie on the Sugarloaf, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
A student looks at onlookers below as she repaints the second letter “I” in “Dixie” on the Sugarloaf, St. George, Utah, April 26, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
In a picture taken sometime in 1914, people pose on the Sugarloaf just after it was decided to paint “Dixie” as opposed to the year of a graduating class. The faded numbers starting with “19” can still be seen, St. George, Utah | Photo courtesy Washington County Historical Society, St. George News
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