Best GHOST TOWNS 2022

As the year came to a close, my thoughts drifted back to the ghost towns I visited in 2022. How many, which was my favorite, and what exciting adventures would 2023 bring? This year I was better prepared for review; I started a spreadsheet of dates and locations. It was easier than scrolling through an entire year of Facebook posts and asking my little one to tally the ghost towns. Looking back at my trips was like a final present from 2022; there were many wonderful memories to relive.

2022 in review

I thought there was no way I would top my 160 ghost towns visited in 2021. I knew it was a great year; I took so many trips with amazing friends. However, the year started slowly with winter and my son’s surgery and rehabilitation at Shriner’s hospital. On most trips, I visited the location of a Pony Express Station, including Pleasant Grove House, but I took most of the winter off.

I had several big trips in 2022. The year kicked off with taking my mom to Death Valley on her first ghost town trip. In spring, I took two multi-day trips with Nevada Expeditions, one based in Eureka and Austin and the other in Winnemucca; we visited thirty sites in three days! Summer kicked off with a trip to Tonopah & Beyond. The year’s highlight was camping with the godfather of Nevada Ghost Towns, Stan Paher. We spent four days exploring the area around Hamilton. The final big trip was my birthday trip, where I explored the Lesser-known ghost towns of Mono County, California.

I had a lot of day trips and a few overnights, but even with all these trips, I felt like I didn’t do much this year. I knew it was a great year; I took so many trips with amazing friends, but going into 2022, I thought I wouldn’t be able to explore much.

Boy, I was surprised when I totaled them to two hundred twenty-eight! Yes, 228!

Many of the sites were smaller, including station stops, and had little remaining, but I still visited and documented each one.

Below are my favorite ghost towns, plus some favorite experiences of 2022. There is also a preview of 2023, trips, training, and a new exciting opportunity.

Park Canyon

If I had to pick one favorite ghost town from 2020, it would be Park Canyon. I spent three days with Nevada Expeditions exploring central Nevada. Park Canyon was my favorite for many reasons. The ruins of the mill were amazing, and the sky was spectacular. The photo was runner-up in the Great Nevada Photo Hunt.

The 1867 La Plata Mining Company built a large mill with locally quarried stone at Park Canyon. The mill operated for two years, then sporadically for a few years. The mill is spectacular! I could have spent all day exploring it, even after my run-in with not one but two rattlesnakes.

Vanderbilt

Nevada Expeditions and I almost dropped Vanderbilt off of our spring trip, and I’m so glad we didn’t! The town not only had terrific mill ruins, but Austin explored with his drone and found the 1870s town itself, which had multiple structures. The town was relatively large and included several stores, boarding houses, a post office, and a blacksmith.

As Eureka became the primary center for the region, Vanderbilt declined and was dissolved in 1876. However, the Geddes mine and mill operated until 1885, and the post office name was changed to Geddes.

Vanderbilt has multiple structures with the fireplace remaining. Many still have the rod they would use to hang cooking pots over the fire. Vanderbilt is not well known and has tons of ruins; I can’t believe we almost missed this treasure!

Lincoln Log Mine

Lincoln Log Mine was the highlight of my fall birthday trip to Bishop, California. It is also the final resting place of my drone, darn it.

Gold was discovered in 1890 but not claimed until Jim Simpson obtained the mineral rights in 1910. A company from Washington State purchased Simpson’s claim in the 1930s. Forty miners worked at the mine. At almost 10,000 feet in elevation, Lincoln Log Mine experiences brutal winters and could have up to twenty-five feet of snow. Over winter, supplies were brought in by snowshoe. Sadly, two miners were returning from a St. Patrick’s day celebration in town and froze to death before they could make it back to the mine.

The mine closed with WWII. Operations resumed after the war, but little gold was processed. The facility was maintained until 1968.

Lincoln Log Mine has extensive remains of a mill with a conveyor belt covered by a snow shed, an office, a boarding house, a cook house, a supervisor’s home, a workhouse for milling lumber, an assay office, an insulated meat house as no refrigeration was on site.

Sierra Stone Cabin

Nevada still has her secrets, even from long-time ghost towners. Nevada Expeditions and I explored this amazing 1800s stone ruin with a spectacular fireplace in May. Undocumented on any ghost town website or book we have come across, the cabin’s history remains a mystery.

Sierra District Stone Cabin was an incredible find. Nevada Expeditions didn’t learn of it on a ghost town website or book but another exploring format.

Hauilch Well

Hauilch Well was one of those fun finds and stops. In my notes, I nicknamed it “Funky Mine,” which Austin laughed about later. At first glance, I am finding exactly nothing about the history of Hauilch Well. However, I’m making a wild guess that there was once a well here.

I had more fun playing with this cool old truck. After Humboldt City, I wasn’t going to miss another photo opportunity. Some say it is the 1947-1949 International KB series “light line.”

Cabin Under the Boulder

“Cabin Under the Boulder” is a popular excursion for off-road explorers. The cabin is a Nevada original, shoved under a massive rock that appears ready to crush the structure. Beyond the 100-year-old cabin itself, many know little about the history of the couple who called “the little cabin” their home. The road is notorious and known for washouts and shelf roads, “sketchy” at best, making the journey as exciting as the cabin.

Jumbo

What can I say but wow! Jumbo was the highlight my spring trip based in Winnemucca. It was still super cold and crazy windy, so sadly, we couldn’t fly the drones. Thank you, Hubby, for the parka I keep in the Jeep; it made Jumbo semi-tolerable without turning me into a frozen popsicle.

The interior of the cabins was interesting, especially the wallpaper and the progression over time. One house had a wallpaper of elephants and flower-filled vases; why not? It was replaced with blue plaid cherries.

Jumbo revived the area after Awakening declined. Deposits were discovered in 1935, and soon the mine had a 30-ton mill. Following development and lawsuits, ownership changed hands. Jumbo was active until 1941, when mines were closed to help the war effort. Unlike many Nevada mines, Jumbo was revived following the war and worked until 1951.

Santa Clara

When friends Jared, Austin, and I discussed heading to Pershing County and the Unionville area, Santa Clara was my top priority. Last summer, Santa Clara was planned for my trip with Stan Paher, but we ran out of time.

It was a gorgeous day, and the 1860s ghost town was worth it. We had beautiful views along the way, and the weather alternated between sunny and warm and feeling like it would snow. We had some not-as-nice views, too; the Mormon Crickets had already hatched. Thankfully they were small, but it looked like the earth was moving. They had a disturbing crunch when stepped on, which you couldn’t avoid. I needed to clean my boots and Honey Badger when I got home; they smelled worse than they looked.

Daney mill

Daney mill is a mystery; I have never seen a mill like it. I have twenty projects going on, but not knowing drives me crazy!

Daney Mill only has one reference I found online, Nevada Expeditions, which took me to this little treasure. He found the mine dated to 1859, and milling started in 1862. The primary commodity was gold.

Work supposedly ended in 1890. The mill is stamped with the name Brinkley, I can’t find it right now, but I think the company didn’t exist until the early 1900s. 

Nevada Cinnabar

The Mercury Mining Company built a mill in 1911 to process mercury outside of Ione. The mill produced eight flasks per day. The mill was active until 1918, then again during WWII.

After a long day of ghost towning outsid Gabbs with Austin, we finished our day at Nevada Cinnabar. We packed up, ready to head home. We were below the Nevada Cinnabar mill, the most remote spot of our day. I jumped into the Jeep to start the engine, only to find Honey Badger was dead. Nothing, nada, zip.

No cell service, of course, but I had my Garmin, which I can message via satellite. I was debating who was within several hours of help and who had a vehicle that could navigate the narrow and rocky road. In the background, my mind was thinking of what emergency supplies we would need to get through a night camping out. I had a tent, a sleeping pad, one sleeping bag, and blankets. In addition, three Mountain House freeze-dried meals and five gallons of water on the tailgate.

Thankfully Austin figured out the battery connector came loose. However, once it was running, we didn’t want to stop. We made it with some issues to Middlegate, where we tightened the cables more.

Camping with Stan the Man

When the godfather of Nevada ghost towns, Stanley Paher, author of Nevada Ghost Towns & Mining Camps, invited me on a four-day camping ghost town trip in White Pine County, I jumped at the chance. Who could resist four days with a walking encyclopedia of ghost towns which is also one of the nicest people you will meet?

The first night, there were three of us camping: Stan, Steve, and I. Scott joined us the next morning. We each had our own campsites with a group firepit in the middle. It was a great setup as we each had our own space yet were together. There are benefits to being the only girl; I got the most private site.

On the final night, it was just Stan and me. That night was my favorite and a great way to unwind at the end of the trip. After dinner, Stan and I relaxed at the firepit. We talked about my journey with ghost towns and following Stan’s book for over twenty years.

Favorite Girl Trip

On my birthday, I lead a Ghost Towns & Treats trip, having treats along our journey. We visited some of my favorite ghost towns Chemung, Masonic, and Jordon. It was one of the best birthdays I have had!

Favorite Mom time: Death Valley

In January, I had planned a girls ghost town trip to Dealth Valley. Unfortunatley, everyone had to cancel at the last minute. Instead of canceling my trip, I asked my mom to join. It was her first every ghost town trip! We had a great time exploring Rhyolite, Bullfrog, Ballart, and multiple ghost towns withing Death Valley.

Favorite Duluth

What, two Duluths? Yes, I visited two in the same week: Duluth, Nevada, and Duluth, Minnesota. After a Turn & Burn to Duluth, Minnesota, I returned to Nevada and took a trip with Nevada Expeditions to explore the area around Berlin. We were so close to Duluth, Nevada, that Austin decided I needed to visit the dueling Duluth’s.

Favorite Accommodation

As soon as I planned to visit Eureka, I knew the Colonnade was the one place I wanted to stay. We were fortunate and secured the room. Wow, that is all I can say! Mike and Denice thought of everything. Our suite was an open concept two-story. It had a super comfortable bed (a futon for Boy Wonder, with the young pain-free back). The office area all the high-tech goodies, and a gorgeous bathroom. The hi-light was the original hotel neon sign over the bed.

They even provided a selection of yummy goodies, water and juice, and a coffee station, including Keurig, French press, teas, hot cider, and oatmeal. The accommodations are exceptional, with a balance of history and modern conveniences.

Most Unique Experience

I had a unique opportunity; I was invited to be one of the few people to observe human remains detection dogs identifying graves on the Carson River Route. Oregon California Trails Association (OCTA) worked with Institute for Canine Forensics (ICF) to identify 170-year-old grave sites.

The volunteers for ICF and their dogs are amazing. Each dog is trained to identify human bones or cremains from an early age. Search-and-rescue dogs look for live people while cadaver dogs look for the recently deceased. Instead, human remains dogs search for historical remains, human bones, and even cremated remains.

History is often not static. New information comes to light, which can cause ripple effects affecting many stories. As technology improves and emigrant diaries are transcribed, we may continue to learn more about Tragedy Springs, The Real Maiden’s Grave, and the grave of Allen Melton. But, for now, the dog’s search left more answers than questions.

Favorite Stories

Sometimes I remember ghost towns, not by the site itself but by the stories I uncovered during research. To me, investigation can be just as fun as exploring.

McKinney Tanks and the case of the vanishing Christmas Turkey

Driving between Tonopah and Tybo, my travel companion noticed a cottonwood tree and campsite off the road, then spotted the stone ruins and turned around. I have driven this section of the road several times but never noticed the ruins, mostly hidden by a small hill and the green tree.

Little is known about the beginning of McKinney Tanks other than it may have been a stage and water stop. However, historic newspapers provide a wealth of information about the lives of residents in the early 1900s. Humor abounds and includes sled dogs who believe “mush” is something to eat and a turkey whose jailbreak freed him on Christmas Eve.

Deadman’s Creek

One evening while watching old episodes of Wild Nevada, I learned about Deadman’s Creek trail at Washoe State Park. The park ranger revealed the creek name’s origin and the graves at the bottom of the trailhead. I paused the episode and started researching. Unfortunately, little information was available. Nevertheless, I knew I had to stop at the graves on my next trip to Reno and document the little-known story.

As with many sites of the old west, we will likely never know the truth of what occurred. Ghost towning is sometimes like living in a detective novel, but on a grand scale with thousands of characters, hundreds of places, and more than a few unsolved homicides.

Dayton Lime Works

Dayton Lime Works are little-known lime kilns in Lyon County. The trio of 150-year-old kilns are a one-of-a-kind piece of Nevada history. The lime they produced helped rebuild Virginia City after the Great Fire of 1875.

The few references to the kils said basically nothing is known about the history. Research on the kilns took time. My large collection of Nevada mining books drew a blank. Few tidbits of information were available online, creating a mystery. Writing about the kilns sat on the back burner as I worked on other projects. I would plug in a new search term for the kiln on my computer in between searches on ghost towns. Finally, I expanded my search and was amazed when I pulled up information and a historical photograph of the kilns.

Sutro Tunnel Mules: No horsing around

Mules, rather than horses, assisted in the construction of the famous Sutro Tunnel. They were more agreeable to working underground and avoided injury. In addition, mules provided comic relief to the miners and enjoyed sharing their lunch. Sutro built a unique barn to care for the mules, which Friends of Sutro is preserving.

Nevada Magazine

I sold my second article,A Portal Through Time, about Sutro the Tunnel to Nevada Magazine.

It is in the Winter 2022-2023 issue. In the same article was the Great Nevada Photo Hunt 2022. I was runner up for ghost towns and wildlife.

Favorite Training

Aside from exploring ghost towns, I spent much time in 2022 training.

775-Off Road Recovery training

 In November, 5 of my Jeep ladies and I attended the basic recovery class through 775 Off-Road & Recovery Group. The group are all volunteers and donate their time to training and recovering vehicles off-road. If you are stuck off-road, you can contact them by phone or text at 775-238-3793. I have entered their information into my phone and Garmin InReach, so I can reach them if needed. They are expanding areas of coverage through Northern Nevada.

We worked on multiple scenarios. After a course on safety and recovery gear, we took a break before heading to our stations. The three stations focused on different activities: recovery with kinetic rope, recovery from a ditch using a snatch block with two vehicles, and overturning vehicles.

Thunder Ranch

In December, I headed to Lakeview, Oregon, to train with world-renowned firearms instructor Clint Smith at Thunder Ranch. A three-day defensive handgun class was available, and I jumped at the chance to train at the finest facility of its kind in the world. Leave it to me to have a one-in-a-million malfunction during a malfunction drill.

Of course, I had to visit historical sites along the way, many relating to Nevada history. Ghost Towns, Peter Lassen’s Grave, emigrant trails, and my favorite, the Willow Ranch Lumber Company.

I traced the route of the Nevada, California, and Oregon Railway, which connected Reno to Lakeview. The company was notorious for issues including infighting and a shootout at a stockholders meeting and was referred to as the “Narrow, Crooked & Ornery Railway.”

Favorite Recovery: Tami’s Tow Truck

During Five Ducking Days with no power, water or central heat, I had my first solo recovery. Hubby and the Grand Cherokee.

I thought I would use recovery skills off-road, not on our ranch. Hubby was driving, and the Grand Cherokee got stuck on the ice and snow. Before, I would have left it to the men to figure out what to do—this time, I took control.

I hiked in the dark out to our house and grabbed the truck and recovery gear. I was the one know knew how to safely use the kinetic rope and soft shackels. My daughter thought it was funny that the girls rescued the guys… twice.

What will 2023 bring?

I am taking time off over the winter to help my mom, who is having surgery. I will have a weekly featured ghost town newsletter and Facebook post, but I might not have many travel updates. If things go well, I will I work behind the scenes, updating articles and my map.

Ghost Town Trips

I am planning several big trips: heading south over the winter, summer camping, visiting some farther-out counties, and revisiting favorite ghost towns. Top of my list ti visit are Clark, Lincoln, and Elko counties.

The highlights will be my big 5-0 birthday trip! Or should I say trips? I see a revival of my 49th Ghost Towns & Treats girl jeepers trip and my Old Farts Birthday Trip.

Thunder Ranch

I am returning to Lakeview for more training at Thunder Ranch in February. I told Hubby I wished I could wait a few months, practice, and return for a second session of a defensive handgun. A spot opened in Defensive Revolver. We decided it would be a great refresher on my December training but familiarize me with a different platform. I don’t have more classes scheduled but I hope to take one more in 2023.

Training

I will complete my wilderness first aid and take survival classes through Survival Med. Also planned it trainign through Stop the Bleed. I will enroll as new classes are added through 775 Off Road Recovery.

Honey Badger

Honey Badger has been at the shop since November. She needs a new engine, and the warranty company has been dragging it out; I think hoping we would go away. However, Nate’s Performance was amazing and persistent. A new and improved Jaspar engine is on the way. The stupid warranty company won’t cover everything, but they are paying for a significant part of the repair.

We are waiting on a delivery date. The new engine is a major upgrade and comes with a 3 year, 100,000 mile warranty. I can’t wait to get Honey Badger back!

Radio Goldfield

I was shocked, and very pleasantly surprised, that Radio Goldfield contacted me. Radio Goldfield, KGFN, is a Nevada original. They cover the central Nevada region with local news, events, and history. They broadcast throughout central rural Nevada.

Nevada Magazine features Radio Goldfield in The Real Sound of Rural Nevada. In the same issue was some crazy lady talking about ghost towns in Ghostly Social Distancing: Nevada Style 😉

Radio Goldfield will be interviewing me on their live broadcast. They have asked me to host a weekly spot featuring local history and my travels. This will be a new thing for me, I speak publically but have photos to rely on.

The weather might not cooperate with exploring ghost towns, but I will be visiting easily accessible ghost towns and museums like the Tonopah Mining Park, Central Nevada Museum and the Hawthorne Ordanance Museum.

Book

It hasn’t been a secret, but I haven’t officially put it out. I am officially working on a book. I met with an editor who lives in Idaho, not far from where I grew up. She is a Nevada girl and grew up in the Silver State. Tentatively, it will have five or six ghost towns per county.

I wanted the book to be history and photos, the editor thinks it should be more about my travles. Let me know what great ideas you have!

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