NEVADA GHOST TOWNS & BEYOND

The historic Tioga Lodge overlooks the mystical-looking Mono Lake. Many do not realize this was once a town by the same name. Starting as a toll gate, Mono Lake grew into a store and community hub with one of the only telephone lines in the basin. Ironically, while its history pre-dates nearby Bodie, owners relocated many structures from the famous ghost towns. While the beauty of Mono Lake ... VIEW POST

Oh, the dreaded drive between northern and southern Nevada on Highway 95. For years, I hated the drive and only focused on getting through the boring trip as painlessly as possible. Depending on how long it took to refuel, grab food, and use the facilities, I considered it a torturous seven to eight-hour necessity. Over the last few years of visiting and documenting ghost towns and historical ... VIEW POST

Instead of heading up 95, we detoured through Silver Peak. We had to make a quick stop at one of my favorite ghost towns, Nivloc. Somehow, I missed Blair on a previous trip; it has been high on my list to visit since. Nivloc Pittsburgh Silver Peak Gold M. Company, owned by Mr. Colvin of Chicago, a millionaire broker, purchased multiple claims around Silver Peak in 1906. The following year ... VIEW POST

On the second day, we explored the borax plants in Death Valley, the Rhodes Spring cabin and the grave of the famous "Shorty" Harris. Armagosa Borax Works During the heat of the summer at Harmony where temps could reach, workers and operations moved to Armagosa on the east side of Death Valley. Twenty mule teams transported borax to the railroad. It operated for 4 years, closing in ... VIEW POST

Piano tuner George Wedekind spent his weekends prospecting the hills outside of Sparks. In 1896, he discovered "yellow rock" near James Sullivan Ranch. He did not want to invest money, so he sent the sample to Cortez, where they would assay it for free. The assay reported the silver valued at $600 to $1200 per ton. By 1901, prospectors sunk 50 shafts around his claim. A small camp named ... VIEW POST