Gold Mines, Ghost Towns & the Rest

Gold mines and ghost towns tell the story of a time when people rushed to the desert to find gold. When the gold was gone, so were the people, and the towns became empty and forgotten.

In the Mojave Desert, places with good water became real towns. These towns started as small stops along trails and roads where people could rest and get water. Over time, these stops turned into important places for travelers and became real communities.

The ghost towns show how quickly places can change when money is involved. But the towns that lasted are a sign of how important water and good locations are for people to stay and live.

Amboy -- Arbuckle Mine -- Atolia

Bagdad-Chase -- Ballarat -- Bickel Camp -- Bodie -- Bonanza King Mine -- Bonanza King Mill

Cadiz Summit -- Calico Ghost Town -- Caliente -- Cartago -- Cerro Gordo -- Chloride, Az -- Chloride Cliff -- Chrysopolis -- Cima -- Coolgardie -- Cudahy

Darwin -- Death Valley Mine -- Death Valley Mine* -- Desert Queen Mine -- Dolomite -- Dublin Gulch

Eagle Cliff Mine -- Essex -- Eureka Mine -- Evening Star Mine

Garlock -- Garvanza Mine* -- Goffs -- Goldfield, Nevada -- Gold Hammer Mine -- Gold Mountain -- Goldstone -- Goldstone* -- Gold Valley* -- Goler Gulch -- Goodsprings, Nevada -- Greenwater -- Greenwater*

Harrisburg -- Hart

Ibex -- Ivanpah

Johannesburg

Keane Wonder -- Keeler Smelter -- Kewanee - Sunnyside* -- Kokoweef -- Keeler -- Kelso

La Paz, Az -- Leadfield -- Llano del Rio -- Lippencott Lead Mine -- Lost Burro Mine -- Lost Horse Mine -- Ludlow

Manvel -- Mastodon Mine -- Mescal Mine -- Mohawk Mine -- Moorehouse Mine -- Moorten's Mill -- Morning Star

Nantan* -- Nelson, Nv. -- New Dale Ghost Town -- Nipton

Oatman Arizona -- OK Mine -- Old Dale Ghost Town -- Old Dominion Mine -- Old Dutch Cleanser Mine --

Panamint City -- Providence -- Providence -- Providence Mountains*

Ragtown -- Randsburg -- Red Mountain -- Rhyolite -- Rice -- Rosalie* -- Rosalie/Valley Wells -- Ruth Mine -- Ryan*

Searchlight -- Sextette Mine -- Shoshone -- Silver Bell (Barstow) -- Silver Bell Mine (JTNP) -- Skidoo -- Skidoo Mill -- Standard Mine #1 -- Stedman/Bagdad-Chase -- Swansea

Techatticup -- Tecopa 20th Century* -- Toegel City -- Tonopah, Nevada -- Tropico

Vanderbuilt -- Virginia Dale -- Vontrigger

Yermo

Boomtown Characteristics

Not all of the sites and points of interest on this list are ghost towns per se or abandoned. Still, they may be active communities undermined by the loss of industry or commerce.

WARNING

Many mines and ghosttown ruins have become active under private ownership. DO NOT TRESPASS! Obtain permission from the property owner before entering any private property for any activity.