Reese River

Reese River, just outside Austin, is a fantastic place to explore. It has mining camps dating back to the early 1860s and some of Nevada’s most historic and scenic ranches.

Gold Park

Thomas Barned discovered ore in Gold Park Basin in 1864. The area was worked for only a few years due to its low value.

Three mines opened in 1878, and the district was renamed Jackson. A revival occurred in 1880, and a ten-stamp mill was constructed. This lasted only a few years before most moved on.

The Nevada Mining Company purchased claims in 1893 and added a new mill three years later. By 1898, the Gold Park Mining Company took over operations and continued until 1919.

The Star of the West company added a 50-ton mill in 1921. Once again, operations soon ceased.

The last prospector worked the area from 1939 to 1942.

Washington

The town of Washington started in 1863, three years after the discovery of ore. The New Hope Mining Company constructed a ten-stamp mill.

Mining declined within two years. Agriculture kept Washington alive, and the mill was converted to a lumber mill. A post office opened in 1870 and operated until 1872, when most residents moved onto brighter prospects.

Sporadic mining occurred, but was unsuccessful until 1918, when the Warner Mine reopened. A tramway connected the mine to a new mill. This closed in 1922. Additional mining occurred, ending in the mid-1950s with tungsten.

St. Augustine

St. Augustine is a dot on a map. It started around 1863 to 1864 and was a small camp near Washington. They had stage service, but little else.

Ullaine

This is a latecomer to mining camps, 1906. A few prospectors came to the new camp, but most left within a few years.

Hess Ranch

I have wanted to visit the Hess Ranch since I first saw the beautiful brick ranch house.

Jacob Hess started the ranch in the late 1800s. Following the death of his wife, the ranch was sold several times. The stately brick house was built in 1910, an upgrade from the original white house.

Learn more about Hess Ranch.

Dyer Ranch

Many of the ranches in the Reese River Valley are owned by corporations. The houses are all deteriorating. Not much is known about this ranch with the cool adobe building.

Big Creek & Montrose

Big Creek Canyon was home to a few small mining camps. This ore bin is at the Montrose site. Someday I want to take the road all the way over to Kington.