Garden City is located at the top of the Rocky Mountain Rendezvous Country, Land of the “Caribbean of the Rockies”. High mountains mirrored in the turquoise waters of Bear Lake provide a striking physical setting for a historical heritage boasting of Cowboys, Indians, Mountain Men and hearty pioneers who endured long cold winters and cool summers.

Garden City was established in 1877 and was probably named by Wright A. Moore who said, “We live in a city of beautiful gardens.”

The early day amusements were entered into whole-heartedly by the settlers. They enjoyed summer picnics, Fourth of July and Twenty-fourth of July celebrations. During the winter months there were dances, skating parties, sleigh riding, and home talent theaters. The women held quilting bees and rag bees.

Garden City got its first telephone in 1900. Prior to then, messages of importance had to be relayed by horseback.

In 1879, the Town of Pickelville was established on the southern edge of Garden City. It was the recreational hub of the valley with the creation of the Ideal Beach Amusement Company in 1916 whose legacy continues today. The two communities were combined into one municipality in 1980.

Garden City today is best known for Bear Lake, summer recreation and raspberries. With its ever-changing colors, miles of beaches and unique ecology, Bear Lake is visited by thousands of people annually, especially during the annual Raspberry Days Festival, which begins two days prior to the first Saturday in August.

The area has a climate perfect for growing raspberries. They were first grown in 1910 and their size and flavor are renowned. Few visitors can pass through Garden City without enjoying a raspberry shake.