On my latest trip to Mesquite with Nevada Expeditions, the big focus was exploring Gold Butte, led by my friend Doug, and visiting the site of the Lost City. Along the way, we visited historic ranches, ghost towns, miner’s cabins and long-forgotten graves.
Tassi Ranch, Arizona
Native Americans first used the multiple springs and later pioneers. While owned by the government, various families used the ranch for cattle, sheep ranching, and even bootlegging! The National Park Service controls the ranch and has a historical marker.
I have no idea what the flying insects were, but they were everywhere! I don’t think they were mosquitoes, but they left red dots over any exposed skin.
Slats Jacobs Ranch
Famed cowboy and rodeo promoter Charles R. “Slats” Jacobs raised Brahma cattle on this ranch in the Arizona Strip. He created a home for his family along the spring, which some call the “Pool House.”
Riverside
Riverside was a service station in the mid-1920s and closed in the 1950s with the rerouting of I15. I first visited Riverside in the fall of 2023, but the site creeped me out. I found out later that there was a 50/50 chance that you would be met by the wrong end of a shotgun. I went back with Austin in the spring of 2024.
Coming out of Gold Butte, we were shocked to see most of Riverside was gone. We checked on it later that day, and the bulldozer was in the process of demolishing the site. Some of the landscaping walls remained, but the buildings and cactus garden were all gone.
Gold Butte Stone Cabin/Cabin Spring
We ran out of daylight, so we had to settle for drone pictures of the stone cabin. I will allow time to hike to the cabin on the next visit.
Nay Ranch Cemetery
The Nay family has a long history in Gold Butte ranching. We stopped by the cemetery to pay our respects.
Huntsman Ranch Graves
After we visited Huntsman Cabin, we learned of three graves near the railroad. I recently finished an article on Emeline Huntsman, the Lady of the Lantern. I wanted the graves before I shared the article. Rumor says the graves are 2 outlaws and a railroad worker. The Nevada Historical Society says the graves are three unidentified railroad workers from Mexico. I wonder if they sought medical care from Emeline?
St. Joseph
Mormons settled in St.Joseph in 1865 with a Fort on the Muddy River. In 1868, besides this adobe structure, most of the town was lost to a fire set by boys. The settlers relocated the town several miles but abandoned it when a survey discovered Moapa Valley was in Nevada, not Utah. Pioneers resettled the second abandoned St.Joseph, which became known as Logan, then Logandale.
A special thank you to Dr. Peterson for allowing us access to the old adobe house, the oldest structure in Moapa Valley.
Huntsman Family Grave
I look forward to digging into the history of St. Joseph. The Huntsman family is prominent and settled in Huntsman Cabin, which I just finished documenting. I paid my respects to Emeline Huntsman, The Lady of the Lantern’s grave.
Lost City
The big stop on this trip was Lost City, not the museum but the actual site of the Lost City. It is a bucket list item. I wasn’t sure if the site was accessible.
In 300 A.D., natives settled the Moapa Valley and the confluence of the Virgin and Muddy Rivers. Several cultures built a Puebloan city across the river from the ghost town of St. Thomas.
(photo credit: UNLV)
To limit flooding of the Colorado River, in 1928, President Calvin Coolidge signed a bill creating Hoover Dam. The dam would also provide irrigation water and hydroelectric power. The construction of the Hoover Dam would form Lake Mead. Unfortunately, the new lake would submerge Lost City and the surrounding ancestral homes.
(Photo credit: UNLV)
Harrington worked in conjunction with the Civilian Conservation Corps and National Park Service to document and preserve what they could of the Lost City before it was submerged under Lake Mead. Crews worked until waters lapped at the site, preventing further study.
The site of Lost City is now above the water line. You can find almost 2000-year-old ruins if you know where to search. Visit it correctly by parking in an appropriate place and hiking in. Don’t be like the ATVs who cut fences and drive in non-ATV and vehicle areas.
Thunderbird Petroglphys
Instead of driving back to the freeway, we headed to Vegas through Valley of Fire State Park. It was getting late, but we stopped for Thunderbird Petroglyph.
Mouse’s Tank/Petroglyph Canyon
I came across the story of Mouse while researching Huntsman’s Cabin. Some stories have incorrect information on where he died so I look forward to diving into his story. Mouse evaded posses by hiding at this natural tank in Valley of Fire.
The canyon to the tank is covered in petroglyphs.
Armagosa Grave
Alongside the old railroad bed is a lone grave. I haven’t found any information other than lightly etched initials.
Chloride City, California
August J. Franklin discovered the Chloride Cliff Mine in 1871. The mine was so remote that pack mule delivered supplies train every three months. While the mine was productive, the cost of transportation was prohibitive. With the Bull Frog boom and Rhyolite becoming a supply center, August’s son George again worked the claims.
The settlement of Chloride City grew to supply the local mines. It included bunkhouses, superintendents’ homes, assay offices, and a cookhouse. Chloride City was never big enough for a post office.
A single grave is at Chloride City. Nothing is known about James, other than assuming he was a miner.
Torrance Ranch Preserve
I have noticed the stone cabin north of Beatty but have never stopped. The Torrance Ranch is located along Highway 95 and was once on a spring. The Nature Conservancy purchased the property to protect the spring habitat of the Armagosa Toad. On the north side of the property is what is described as a miner’s cabin.
Tonopah Cribs
It may be a funny way to end the trip, but we swung past the old Tonopah cribs and jail. On previous visits, construction material was in front of the building. I have been working on an article about prostitution, so I was glad to get a better photo. Cribs are a step down from brothels. Guess how many men a working girl could “entertain” in a night?
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