While Brian Head serves as a premier destination for adventure and relaxation, it has a rich history of various cultures and industries. The region was first discovered by the Fremont tribe of Native Americans and then later settled in 1851 by European shepherds and cattlemen who used it as a camp for summer grazing. Sawmills and a cheese factory later became the primary sources of the industry until the early 1900s. The pure mountain water and cool summer nights made the Brian Head region a desirable place for these early settlers and business people.