The stark, beautiful landscape of Death Valley holds more than just extreme temperatures and unique geological formations; it is also home to a captivating history of human endeavor and the remains of numerous Death Valley ghost towns. For over 140 years, this challenging California region experienced cycles of mining boom and bust, leaving behind a legacy of forgotten settlements and intriguing ruins that tell tales of prospectors, fortune-seekers, and resilient communities.
A History of Mining in Death Valley
Since the 1848 discovery of gold in California, Death Valley has been a focal point for mineral extraction. However, early mining efforts from the 1880s to the early 1900s faced significant hurdles. Primitive and inefficient technology, the scarcity of water and fuel, and extreme transportation difficulties made it economically unfeasible to mine anything but the highest-grade ores. As a result, many early settlements such as Kasson, Rhodes Spring, Old Tecopa, Old Stovepipe Wells, and Panamint City quickly became ghost towns.
One of the earliest and most famous successful operations was the Harmony Borax Works, active from 1883 to 1888. Though its output was significant, it gained enduring fame not for its ore deposits but for the iconic Twenty Mule Team wagons used to transport partially refined borax across the desert. These wagons became a symbol of Death Valley’s rugged mining past.
The early 1900s brought a renewed interest in gold and silver, leading to a new wave of mines and settlements. Towns like Skidoo, Rhyolite, and the Keane Wonder Mine flourished into large-scale operations. These boom towns thrived during the first decade of the 20th century, but their prosperity was short-lived, slowing significantly after the Panic of 1907. By approximately 1915, large-scale metal mining in Death Valley had largely ceased.
In February 1933, President Herbert Hoover established Death Valley National Monument, initially leading to a temporary closure of monument lands to new prospecting and mining claims. However, congressional action later that year quickly reopened the area to mining, reflecting the persistent economic interest in its resources.
As mining technology advanced, allowing for the processing of lower-grade ores and the movement of vast amounts of rock with new heavy equipment, mining in Death Valley saw a resurgence. Open-pit and strip mines for borax and talc began to alter the landscape, often in highly visible areas of the national monument. Public outcry over environmental impacts eventually led to greater protections, culminating in the Mining in the Parks Act of 1976. This act closed Death Valley National Monument to new mining claims, banned open-pit mining, and mandated a review of thousands of existing pre-1976 claims. Limited mining was permitted to continue from 1980 under stricter environmental regulations.
When Death Valley was redesignated as a National Park in 1994, it took jurisdiction over hundreds of additional unpatented mining claims. The Billie Mine, an underground borax mine near Dante’s View, was the last active mine within the park. Its closure in 2005 marked the end of commercial mining operations in Death Valley National Park.
Exploring Death Valley’s Enduring Ghost Towns and Mining Camps
The legacy of mining in Death Valley is etched into its vast landscape, having created more than 100 ghost towns and mining camps. These sites, though rapidly decaying due to natural elements, vandalism, and neglect, offer fascinating glimpses into a bygone era. The ruins of mills, stone and metal buildings, mine openings, and a few remarkably intact towns are scattered across the valley and surrounding areas in both California and Nevada. Below is a detailed list of these historical sites, noting their locations and what remains for visitors to discover:
- Amargosa, Nevada: East of Amargosa Valley, only railroad foundations remain. The townsites of Original, Nevada, and Death Valley Junction, California, were also known as Amargosa, and Bullfrog, Nevada, was briefly called Amargosa City.
- Amargosa Borax Works, California: Near Shoshone, California, featuring foundation remains and low adobe walls.
- Arrastre Spring, California: On the eastern slope of the Panamint Mountains, it overlooks the Death Valley salt flats and features an old, deteriorating arrastre and numerous petroglyphs.
- Ashford Mine and Mill, California: Located west of Shoshone, this site includes several standing buildings and various mining remains.
- Ashton, Nevada: Situated southwest of Beatty, Nevada, no significant remains are visible today.
- Ballarat, California: Northeast of Trona, California, this semi-ghost town still has a few residents, miners’ cabins, other tumbling shacks, crumbling walls, and several foundations.
- Barker Ranch, California: Within Death Valley National Park, visitors can find the ruins of a cabin and a small guest house.
- Beatty, Nevada: While not a ghost town itself, Beatty in Nye County was a vital hub during the peak of Death Valley’s mining days.
- Bend City, California: Near Kearsarge, there are no discernible remains.
- Beveridge, California: On the east side of the Inyo Mountain Range, this site features mining remains and rock walls, recommended only for experienced backpackers.
- Bonnie Claire, Nevada: Northeast of Scotty’s Castle, offering significant ruins and mining remains.
- Bowlerville, Nevada: A few miles south of the Johnnie Mine in Nye County, Nevada, no remains are present.
- Browne’s Camp, Nevada: In Nye County, Nevada, no remains can be found.
- Bullfrog, Nevada: Near Rhyolite, Nevada, this site contains an icehouse, a jail, some small ruins, and a nearby cemetery.
- Bullfrog Mines, Nevada: Near Rhyolite, Nevada, some ruins exist.
- Bullfrog Mining District, Nevada: Located in Nye County, near Beatty, it encompasses numerous mining remains and several ghost towns, including the notable Queen City of the district, Rhyolite.
- Carrara, Nevada: South of Beatty, Nevada, with a few foundations still visible, including those of an old cement plant.
- Cartago, California: Approximately three miles northwest of Olancha, California, this is considered a semi-ghost town with about 100 current residents.
- Cerro Gordo, California: Near Keeler, California, this site boasts numerous remains, though visitors are advised to check in with the caretaker.
- Charleston City, Nevada: In Nye County, Nevada, only rubble from the water tank remains.
- Chloride City, Nevada: Southwest of Beatty, Nye County, Nevada, where mining remains can still be found.
- Chrysopolis, California: South of Aberdeen, California, featuring loose stone walls and mine tunnels.
- Claire Camp, California: About six miles east of Ballarat in Pleasant Canyon, this site contains a mill site, living quarters for the Radcliffe Mine, tram towers, and cables.
- Coso Junction, California: Approximately 3.5 miles northeast of Ridgecrest, California, it is located within the United States Naval Weapons Center at China Lake, with probably no remains.
- Cottonwood Charcoal Kilns, California: 14.4 miles south of Lone Pine on U.S. Highway 395, these two charcoal kilns were historically used by the Cerro Gordo mines.
- Currie Well, Nevada: North of Rhyolite, Nevada, featuring debris, a low stone wall, and the ruins of a small beehive furnace.
- Darwin, California: About 24 miles southeast of Keeler, California, Darwin still has many buildings and mining remains, with approximately 50 people currently residing there.
- Death Valley Junction, California: At the intersection of SR 190 and SR 127, just east of Death Valley National Park, this town still boasts many historic buildings, including the Amargosa Hotel.
- Dolomite, California: Located on California State Route 136 between Lone Pine and Keeler, California, it features some old buildings and a working mine, but is on private property with no public access.
- Dublin Gulch, California: In Shoshone, California, this site is known for its distinctive dugouts carved into the side of clay cliffs.
- Dunmovin, California: South of Olancha, California, with several old buildings still standing.
- Eagle Borax Works, California: South of Bennett’s Well, California, only low foundations remain.
- Echo, California: About four miles southwest of Lee, California, no remains are visible, and access requires a 4-wheel drive vehicle.
- Emigrant Springs, California: Approximately seven miles northwest of Harrisburg, California, where a few mining remnants can be found.
- Furnace, California: 6.5 miles northwest of Funeral Peak, with no remaining structures.
- Furnace Creek Inn, California: Located in Furnace Creek, California, this is now an operating resort that also houses a borax museum.
- Furnace Creek Ranch, California: Also in Furnace Creek, California, this is another operating resort.
- Gladstone Mine, California (Kasson): Very little remains at this site.
- Gold Bar, Nevada: Near Rhyolite, Nevada, featuring mining remains and large mill foundations.
- Gold Center, Nevada: Near Tonopah, Nevada, where foundations of a stamp mill and brewery can still be seen.
- Gold Hill Mining District, California: A historically significant mining area.
- Goldbelt Spring, California: Once located southeast of Teakettle Junction, very little remains today, with an old dump truck marking the actual spring.
- Gold Valley, California: About ten miles south of Greenwater, California, with very little tailings and leveled tent sites.
- Grant, California: 1½ miles south of Olancha, featuring a few old buildings.
- Greenwater, California: About 27 miles southeast of Furnace Creek, California. No remains at the new Greenwater site, but a few can be found at the original site of Kunze.
- Greenwater Mining District, California: About 27 miles southeast of Furnace Creek, California, with very little remaining.
- Harmony Borax Works, California: About a mile north of the Furnace Creek Visitor Center along Highway 190, featuring significant ruins of the refinery, outbuildings, and the iconic 20-mule team wagon.
- Harrisburg, California: About two miles down the dirt road to Aguereberry Point off Highway 178. Nothing of the townsite remains, but Aguereberry’s camp and mine are still present.
- Ibex Springs, California: About two miles south of Ibex Pass, this site includes buildings, mining ruins, a stamp mill, and a smelter.
- Inyo Mine, California: A notable historical mining location.
- Johnnie, Nevada: 16 miles north of Pahrump, Nevada, with many remains, though located on private property allowing no visitors.
- Kasson, California: About 12 miles northwest of the old town of Tecopa, California, featuring a few stone buildings.
- Keane Springs, California: East of Furnace Creek, California, where a few mining ruins can be found.
- Keane Wonder Mine, California: A prominent, large-scale mining operation in Death Valley National Park. Significant equipment and structural remains are still visible, including an aerial tramway system that once transported ore.
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Death Valley’s Past
The ghost towns and mining camps of Death Valley are more than just ruins; they are tangible links to a vibrant and often challenging period of American history. From the arduous efforts of the Twenty Mule Team to the booms and busts of gold and silver rushes, these sites tell a story of human ambition, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of fortune in one of the most extreme environments on Earth. Visiting these desolate yet evocative places offers a unique opportunity to step back in time and appreciate the enduring spirit of those who shaped this remarkable landscape. As weather and time continue their work, these reminders of a storied past are slowly fading, making their preservation and recognition all the more important for future generations.
