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GHOST TOWNS: Yesterday & Today^TM

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Western & Eastern Treasures

Ghost Town USA Column Index for Nevada.

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LINKS

Here are a few outside links to Nevada ghost towns or sites.

Rhyolite Ghost Town

This National Park Service site features some of the better ghost towns in Death Valley, but this page features Rhyolite.

Lost City Museum

This museum features the history of the Pueblo Indian village along the Muddy River, near Overton, & the archeological camp established in the 1930s to excavate and preserve the history of that one-time Native American community.

Nevada Ghost Towns.

Includes a number of Death Valley and Mojave Desert area California GTs.  This site is sponsored by Cal-Neva.com

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Ghost Town USA.

Nevada is a unique state for ghost town chasers, as the arid climate, and generally small population of this state have prevented the deterioration so prevalent in more populous states, or states with wetter weather.  Outside the Reno and Las Vegas metropolitan areas, there are no large cities.

The mining boom began in Nevada with the discovery of a little bit of gold in the mountains south of present-day Reno.  Then in 1859, rich silver ore was discovered, and the Washoe Mines emptied California of all its “floating” prospectors. Virginia City and its suburbs became the largest city between San Francisco and Chicago, while the mighty Comstock Lode remained in the national eye for twenty years.

Prospectors swarmed over the countryside looking for a second Comstock.  Rich silver and gold mines were discovered in hundreds of places in or on isolated canyons, mountainsides and flats all over the dry, wrinkled landscape. The 2^nd Comstock never materialized, and from 1880 to 1900 Nevada’s mining industry slowly faded.

Then beginning in 1900, a succession of major silver and gold strikes livened up the state. Tonopah (1900), Goldfield (1903) and Bullfrog-Rhyolite (1904) brought the mining industry and boomtowns into the 20th Century. Towns created instantly by the mines, quickly sprouted massive concrete and rock buildings three and four stories high, and in some cases boasted 10-20,000 residents.  Like the earlier frenzy, this one lasted almost 20 years, ending with the closing of the Goldfield mines in 1918.

Mining wasn't the only ghost town creator in the Silver State. The Pony Express, stage lines and railroads crisscrossed the state, leaving scores of stations. In the first couple decades of the 1900s, homesteaders and ranchers also established communities through out the state that have since faded out.  With the advent of the automobile, the need for fuel stops created little road towns that also have faded with the modernization of transportation.

Here in the arid climate of Nevada, the remains of well over a thousand ghost towns, mining camps, and other former places of habitation remain, awaiting avid ghost towners to seek ‘em and find ‘em.  Below are only listed only a few of the thousands of sites in the state to get you started.  Stanley Paher states in his magnificent book, Nevada Ghost Towns & Mining Camps  (This book is a must for Nevada ghost town explorers)...

   
"Satisfaction gained from exploring one town will make you pack your gear and head for the next one. After a few days of exploring you too will catch ghost town fever -- and it is not easy to cure."

To that I add a hearty “AMEN brother!!!”

To the left are a few links to various other ghost town websites featuring the Silver State. 

We visited a number of Nevada’s ghost towns during the summer of 2008, and that journey is documented on a new set of pages titled On The Road Again. This specific journey was across US Highway 6. The portion we explored was from Laws, California through Price, Utah, including the full distance across Nevada.  The towns we traveled through are listed below.  Follow the links to the appropriate pages for details.

PLEASE NOTE: Where photos are linked to the vignettes thusly, please use your browser’s “BACK” button to return to the featured page. 

AURORA

Mineral Co

Rubble of this class B 1860s era gold mining lies just east of the state line, about 25 miles southwest of Hawthorne, and 12 miles east of Bodie, California, on a FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE ROAD. Until the early 1950s this was considered the best ghost town in the state.  But that was before all the brick buildings were town down.

·        SE¼ Sec 18, T5N, R28E, MDM (Mount Diablo Meridian & Base Line)

·        Latitude: 38.2871421 / 38° 17’ 14” N

·        Longitude: -118.9006963 / 118° 54’ 03” W

AUSTIN

Lander Co.

This class D, major silver-mining boomtown, was at the heart of the 1860s Reese River excitement. Austin is just east of the junction of US 50 and SH 305, in south part of the county. 70 miles west of Eureka, 110 miles east of Fallon.  The post office was established in 1863 and is still active.

·        Sec 19, T19N, R44E, MDM

·        Latitude: 39.4907589 / 39° 29’ 27” N

·        Longitude: -117.0692563 / 117° 04’ 09” W

BASALT

Mineral Co.

SEE On the Road Again - PART 2

BELMONT

Nye Co.

This class D 1860s era silver-mining town slumbers in the sage along a graded dirt road 14 miles east of Manhattan, and 27 miles north of its junction with SH 376. That junction is 13 miles north of US 6, at a point five miles east of Tonopah.  

See our BELMONT page for additional details.

This is one of the towns featured in my newest book, GHOST TOWNS: Yesterday & Today^TM.

BLACK ROCK

Esmeralda Co.

SEE On the Road Again - PART 2

BLAIR JUNCTION

Esmeralda Co.

SEE On the Road Again - PART 2

BULLFROG

Nye Co.

This class B, 1900’s era gold-mining town is located west of Beatty, and a mile north of SH 374, just east of the northeast corner of Death Valley National Park. A suburb of Rhyolite, it is located west of the entrance road to that magnificent ghost. All that remain are a few rock walls.

CARRARA

Nye Co.

Only a few concrete mill foundations and rubble mark the site of this class B, early 1900s marble-mining town along the east side of US 95, nine miles south of Beatty.

COALDALE

Esmeralda Co.

SEE On the Road Again - PART 2

DIXIE VALLEY

Churchill Co.

Located seven miles east of SH 121 at the end of pavement, which is 27 miles north of US 50, at a point seven miles west of Middlegate. It was an early 1900s ranching center.

EUREKA

Eureka Co.

This class D 1870s era silver-mining town is located on US 50, 77 miles west of Ely, 70 miles east of Austin. In 1878 had 9000 people and 100 saloons.

·       SW¼ Sec 13, SE¼ Sec 14, NE¼ Sec 23, NW¼ Sec 24, T19N, R53E, MDM

·       Latitude: 39.5127066 / 39° 30’ 46” N

·       Longitude: -115.9606129 / 115° 57’ 38” W

GOLD HILL

Storey Co.

This is where the Nevada mining excitement began, with the discovery of gold in 1859.  Five months later, rich silver was discovered, and Virginia City began. The two towns were bitter rivals, and today, Virginia City and Gold Hill are the only two towns remaining in the county.  It is on SH 341 a mile south of Virginia City.

Gold Point

Esmeralda Co.

This three-time/three-mineral mining town is at south end of SH 774, seven miles south of SH 266, at a point seven miles west of US 95, in the southern part of the county.  It was active 1868 - 1942.

This neat little town has its own website: Goldpointghosttown.com.

This is one of the towns featured in my newest book, GHOST TOWNS: Yesterday & Today^TM.

See our Gold Point page for additional details.

GOLDFIELD

Esmeralda Co.

A major gold-mining town and still functioning class D county seat. Is located on US 95, 27 miles south of Tonopah. In 1908 the city had a population of 20,000. Many empty buildings remain despite the plagues of fire and flood.   

See our GOLDFIELD page for additional details.

HAMILTON

White Pine Co.

This 1870s era silver-mining town was at the heart of the White Pine mining excitement. It is located in the southern part of the county, ten miles south of US 50, at a point midway between Ely & Eureka.  It is NOT shown on current roadmaps.

JARBIDGE

Elko Co.

This class D, 1910s era gold-mining camp miles south of the Idaho border, north of Elko.  It is a popular destination for hunters.  Go 52 miles north of Elko on SH 225, then east on gravel road for 20 miles. Take north (left) fork for 26 miles.

LOGAN CITY

Lincoln Co.

This class B 1860s silver-mining town is located a dozen miles northwest of the junction of US 93 and SH 318 and SH 375 south of Hiko.  FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE ROAD.

MANHATTAN

Nye Co.

Located at east end of SH 377, seven miles east of its junction with SH 376, which is 37 miles north of US 6, at a point five miles east of Tonopah.  In the 1860s, Manhattan was a minor silver-mining camp during the Belmont excitement.  In 1905 rich ore cause a second boom that jumped the population to 1000.

McLEANS

Esmeralda Co.

SEE On the Road Again - PART 2

MIDAS

Elko Co.

This 1907-1908 gold-mining town once had 2000 people. It enjoyed several rebirths until 1942 when the mines closed for the war. Its remains are 40 miles west of Tuscarora, 46 miles northeast of Golconda, which is on I-80, 16 miles east of Winnemucca.

MILLERS

Esmeralda Co.

SEE On the Road Again - PART 2

MOUNT MONTGOMERY

Mineral Co.

SEE On the Road Again - PART 2

QUEEN

Mineral Co.

SEE On the Road Again - PART 2

PIOCHE

Lincoln Co.

This once WILD, class E, 1870s silver-mining boomtown is still the Lincoln County seat.  Much remains in this wonderful old town.  It is on US 93, about 180 miles north-northeast of Las Vegas.

See our PIOCHE page for additional details.

RHYOLITE

Nye Co.

This majestic class C gold-mining town established in 1905, three miles southwest of Beatty, and just east of Death Valley National Park, CA. The ruins of a dozen major buildings remain, along with several still roofed structures, including the train depot. Easy to visit, and well worth the stop. 

See our RHYOLITE page for additional details.

This is one of the towns featured in my newest book, GHOST TOWNS: Yesterday & Today^TM.

ROCHESTER

Pershing Co.

This was a 2000-person gold-mining camp from the 1910s. It had both an “Upper” and “Lower” camp. It is located about seven or eight miles southeast of Oreana, which is on I-80, about 15 miles northeast of Lovelock.

SAND MOUNTAIN PONY EXPRESS STATION

Churchill Co.

An unnamed Pony Express Station is shown on the 1995 edition of the Official roadmap.  It is shown to be just off US 50, about five miles southwest of Cold Springs, which is 47 miles west of Austin. Sand Mountain is shown north of US 50, about 30 miles west of that, and 27 miles southeast of Fallon.    Can anyone clarify if these are indeed the same location?

SEVEN TROUGHS

Pershing Co.

This is an early 1900s gold-mining camp 30 miles northwest of Lovelock (Inquire in Lovelock for specific directions). A cluster of old mining camps dot the area. Mazuma, Farrell, Vernon and Tunnel are all within a five-mile radius. None are shown on the current official roadmap.

TEMPIUTE

Lincoln Co.

This post WWII tungsten-mining camp is located nine miles north of SH 375, at a point 25 miles west of Crystal Springs, which is at the junction of US 93/SH 318 and 375 south of Hiko and just east of Rachel.  Rachel is shown on the 1995-6 Official roadmap.

TONOPAH

Nye Co.

This mining town is one of a handful of boomtowns that erupted across southern Nevada in the early years of the 20^th Century.  Today, it is a class E relic, still active and still serving as county seat.  It sits at the eastern junction of US 6/95.

See our TONOPAH page for additional details.

TONOPAH ARMY AIRFIELD

Nye Co.

SEE On the Road Again - PART 3

TUSCARORA

Elko Co.

This is an 1870s-1880s gold-mining town with a peak population that may have reached 4000.  Is located seven miles west of SH 226, at a point 18 miles west of the junction of SH 225, which is 27 miles north of Elko.

UNIONVILLE

Pershing Co.

This is an 1860s era silver-mining camp that once had 1000 people. Located three miles west of the south end of SH 400, at a point 17 miles south of I-80, the junction of which is 28 miles southwest of Winnemucca.

VIRGINIA CITY

Storey Co.

This is Nevada's premier mining town, the one to which all other mining camps tried to compare themselves.  Many books have been written about this magnificent silver mining town squatting on top of one of the world's richest silver lodes, the famed Comstock Lode. Beginning in 1859, this town boomed to a population of some 25,000 people by the mid-1870s. It still is home to 1000 or so. Located on SH 341, southeast of Reno.   Don't miss this one!

See our VIRGINIA CITY page for additional details.

WARM SPRINGS

Nye Co.

SEE On the Road Again - PART 3

Historians estimate that there may be as many as 50,000 ghost towns scattered across the United States of America.

Gary B. Speck Publications is in process of publishing unique state, regional, and county guides called

The Ghost Town Guru's Guide to the Ghost Towns of “STATE”™

These original guides are designed for anybody interested in ghost towns. Whether you are a casual tourist looking for a new and different place to visit, or a hard-core ghost town researcher, these guides will be just right for you. With over 30 years of research behind them, they will be a welcome addition to any ghost towner's library.

Thank you, and we'll see you out on the Ghost Town Trail!

For more information on the ghost towns of NEVADA, contact us at

Ghost Town USA.

E-mailers, PLEASE NOTE:

Due to the tremendous amount of viruses, worms and “spam,” out there, I no longer open or respond to e-mails with unsolicited attachments, OR messages on the subject lines with “Hey”, “Hi”, “Need help”, “Help Please”, “???”, or blank subject lines, etc.  If you do send E-mail asking for information, or sharing information, PLEASE indicate the appropriate location AND state name, or other topic on the “subject” line. THANK YOU!  :o)

IMPORTANT

These listings and historical vignettes of ghost towns, near-ghost towns and other historical sites in NEVADA above are for informational purposes only, and should NOT be construed to grant permission to trespass, metal detect, relic or treasure hunt at any of the listed sites.

If the reader of this guide is a metal detector user and plans to use this guide to locate sites for metal detecting or relic hunting, it is the READER'S responsibility to obtain written permission from the legal property owners. Please be advised, that any state or nationally owned sites will probably be off-limits to metal detector use. Also be aware of any federal, state or local laws restricting the same.

When you are exploring the ghost towns of NEVADA, please abide by the

Ghost Towner's Code of Ethics.