Rhyolite - Nevada

Ghost TownsAbandonedNevadaMojave DesertExploratography

Apr 19

Rhyolite, Nevada is one of my favorite ghost towns, so much so that when I'm even remotely in the area, I'll stop by to visit and take more pictures for my collection. There is something intangible about the place that lures visitors in from all over the world. Ghosts? Yes, there are ghosts in Rhyolite.

circa 1905

The town got its start back in 1904, when gold was discovered in the Bullfrog hills. Claims were staked, folks rushed in to get their share of the gold and several settlements sprang into existence. Rhyolite was the largest and longest lived. A lot of money was invested in the mines in the hills and in the property in town. Concrete sidewalks lined the streets, electric lights shone through the night. The town had everything. A fire department, police station, hospitals, schools, fraternal associations, good and bad sides of the tracks. Speculators speculated. Swindlers swindled. And all the other things one can imagine happening in a wild gold town happened.

circa 1909

Montgomery Shoshone Mill Work, circa 1906

And faster than a miner's pickax, once the gold played out and the frenzies calmed down, Rhyolite was a ghost. By 1910 only 675 residents remained. That same year, the last three banks in town closed. The post office kept posting until 1913; the last train left the station the following year. The power company turned off the electricity in 1916. By 1920, the census reported only 14 folks left in town. Buildings began to crumble, or were torn down for their materials to be used in other towns. The desert slowly reclaimed its property.

And while most of the original town is gone, there's still enough history left along the old dusty streets to make visiting Rhyolite a rewarding experience. It's generally still and quiet here in the desert, and walking amongst the ruins, you can't help but wonder what it was like back when the town was alive. It really must have been something amazing. Just look at that photo taken in 1909. All those buildings, businesses, homes. Pretty much all gone now, it amazes me how quickly things can change.

I’ve visited Rhyolite several times over the years (the pictures in this post are from various explorations) and there are easily two structures that always draw me to them. The ruin of the Cook Bank Building, and the old Rhyolite Train Station.

The Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad appears to have been responsible for the construction (at a cost of $130,000) of this Spanish-style building which still remains today. Believe it or not, at one time several different railroad companies ran through the town. Once all the hoopla of the mining was done, the building continued to serve in various capacities, such as a casino and bar, a museum and a souvenir shop. Definitely a must-see if you visit.

An old Union Pacific Caboose sits behind the train station. At one time, it had been converted into a home. It’s been abandoned for a long time since then.

One of my favorite ruins anywhere, what was once the three-story Cook Bank Building. Completed in 1908 at a mere cost of over $90,000, it was the largest building in town. It had two vaults. At one time the post office operated in the basement of the building. It’s fascinating to think of all the gold from the mines that went through this building, all the commerce. It must have been one of the busiest places in town. It’s visible in the circa 1909 picture above, up in the right top corner.

As you can see, I really like this old ruin.

The town jail is a great looking ruin, what? Yup, a ruin. From this viewpoint, it looks like it could still hold prisoners. But on the opposite end, the back wall is missing, as is my photo of it. I guess I missed that angle. Built in 1907. My favorite parts are the door and the two bent bars in that window.

This is the end of the jail that is still intact. It looks like the front portion may have been added on after the jail was completed, perhaps used as a storefront.

Lots of bits and pieces like this scattered all over the ghost town. Here is what’s left of a chimney and stone walls. Probably once someone’s home.

This photo of the Rhyolite Mercantile was taken in late 2013 and I’m glad I was able to take it. Less than a year later, lightning struck the building and it went up in flames. A caretaker who lived nearby attempted to put out the fire with an extinguisher, but wasn’t able to do so. By the time the Beatty Volunteer Fire Department arrived, the entire structure was in flames. The Mercantile which had been a general merchandise store for many years was gone.

The Porter Brothers store at one time had huge, plate glass windows...perfect for window shopping! Built in 1906, the brothers ran a thriving store, selling mining supplies, home goods and food until the town died. They sold all their remaining merchandise in 1910 and closed their doors for good. H.D. Porter later became the town’s postmaster and stuck around for a few more years.

Another fireplace without a home.

Completed in 1909 at a cost of $20,000, this two-story school was the last major building to be constructed in Rhyolite. The walls are made of concrete, and when the roof was present, it was made of galvanized iron, Spanish-style tiles. There was even a cupola and bell, to call the 200 or so local kids to school. Each floor had a large assembly room and three classrooms. Due to its design, in case of fire, the building could be emptied in two minutes.

Another view of the train station.

The legend has it that Mona Belle was a "sporting" girl who was trying to leave her line of work. But her "boyfriend" Fred Skinner had other ideas and murdered her in January of 1908. She was only 21 years of age. This memorial is located a bit east of what was once a busy red-light district. It’s also near the jail which held her killer.

Checkout this article from the Pahrump Valley Times for more of the intriguing story and legend of Mona Belle and her murderer.

One of the many mines in the area.

So many interesting things to see in the ghost town and the surrounding area.

Room with a view and a great cross-breeze!

And one of the most unique things to see while you’re visiting Rhyolite, is the Goldwell Open Air Museum. It’s located along the road just before you get to Rhyolite. There are some very unique sculptures and other artwork there. It's generally open, so stop by and take a look. Here are some of my favorite pieces.

This piece is entitled “The Last Supper,” and is perhaps the most famous sculpture at the museum. Created by Albert Szukalski in 1984, the piece was only intended to last for two years but has somehow managed to survive almost forty years now. If you do a search on it, you’ll see some amazing photos. Highly worth a visit.

“Ghost Rider,” also by Albert Szukalski.

The mosaic couch: Sit Here! by Sofie Steigmann.

The giant miner and yes, the penguin. Why? Well, the miner is a tribute to a famous miner who once prospected in Death Valley and the surrounding areas, Shorty Harris. Ok, that makes sense. Created by Belgian artist Fred Bervoets, he reportedly wanted to include something with his portrait that would express how “alien” he felt in the Nevada desert. So, he added a penguin, as out of place in the desert as he may have felt.

Thanks for coming along on this adventure with me, and for reading to the end. Click on any of the images to view them slightly larger. If any happen to really catch your fancy, feel free to right click on them and download them for your personal use. Would love to hear from you in the comments below.

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