Rhyolite Ghost Town
Abandoned Ghost Town in Amargosa Valley, Nevada, United States
Jan 26 2022
| Recent status | Abandoned |
| Location # | 18301 |
History of Rhyolite Ghost Town
In 1904, a man by the name of Shorty Harris discovered a town that later was called Rhyolite while exploring the Bullfrog hills. He discovered several quartzes that just lay there unmined. News of Shorty Harris’s discovery reached many and by 1905, mining companies and other service providers flocked the small district with a population of more than 1200 people settling in the region just under a year and a half. Later in 1906, Charles M. Schwab's management of the Montgomery Shoshone mine (Schwab bought the mine from its original owner) that the town experienced major development. Schwab invested in the town from the building of railroads to establishing a power plant and school. Rhyolite Town did so well and by 1907, it had banks, police and fire departments, hospitals, and other features that made it a promising town in the mining district.
Rhyolite Ghost Town is a former mining town established in the early 1900s near the Bullfrog Hills, Nevada. The town which is located in the Beatty mining region, Nevada existed for less than 10 years after its establishment as it was abandoned by its citizens shortly after.
Death of Rhyolite Town
Just as fast as it developed in less than 3 years Rhyolite faced extinction when most of the mines ran out of ores. The mines were the pillar of the town and when they began to close down, the town of Rhyolite was unsalvageable. Mines closed rendering most citizens of the town jobless. They, therefore, flew to the nearest towns and by 1910, the population dropped from thousands to less than 700. Montgomery Shoshone mine was facing its financial problems and in 1911 it was closed. Being the largest mine in the town that supported major businesses in the area, its closure was followed by the closure of the 3 banks at the town. Rhyolite town was deserted fast and rapidly after the power plant was switched off and by 1920 it had a population of fewer than 15 people. By December of 1924, the town was completely inhabited.
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What remains of the Rhyolite town?
Rhyolite is in ruins, most of its buildings completely collapsed with roofs off leaving just visible walls. The railroads which were destroyed by a hurricane in 1907 were never restored. Paramount Pictures (a film and production company) restored some of its buildings which they use as a site for the shooting of their movies. Currently, it is a tourist attraction site receiving tourists from far and beyond. Rhyolite is currently within Death Valley National Park which offers tours at the park and abandoned Nelson town. You can book a tour with them anytime. Death Valley National Park also provides other recreation adventures such as hiking, scenic drives, and nature walks.
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