Encyclopedia Of Forlorn Places

9/27/2013

Rhyolite Nevada

Rhyolite Nevada is one of the most substantial and accessible old west ghost towns I've visited. It's a short, worthwhile side trip from Death Valley National Park. Because it was built far from any source of lumber the primary construction material used was stone. Because of this the remains of Rhyolite are quite different than what's left of towns like Bodie, Chinese Camp, etc. Rhyolite was a very short lived town. It was founded in 1905 grew around briefly productive gold mines nearby. It was mostly abandoned by 1920 after the mines played out. It's population peaked at around 5,000 in 1908. In spite its being short lived, substantial ruins still exist.

Rhyolite Nevada

Rhyolite town site is managed by the BLM. The site is open and tourist traffic is moderate. It's at the end of a paved road off of NV 374. There are signs, a parking area and walking paths through the ruins. There is also an odd looking museum that I did not visit, on private land as you approach the town site. Scattered around and away from the standing ruins are gated off mine shafts and stone foundations of homes and other structures.

Rhyolite Nevada

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