Ghost Towns and Mines

Access: Be aware that access to any of these sites may be restricted, and that the status of any site may change. What was accessible one year may be off-limits the next. Please respect private property and “no trespassing” signs.

Danger: Old or abandoned mines and buildings can be dangerous. Hazards run the gamut from minor issues such as stepping on rusted nails, to serious injuries and even death due to snake bites, collapsing structures, and unmarked, open mine shafts. Entering mines should be done only by those with the proper training and equipment.

Most of these sites are very remote are far beyond cellphone range. If you get into trouble, it will take a very long time to get help, at best. At worst, no one will even know you need help.

Vandalism: These historic sites are a part of our national heritage and should be treasured, not destroyed! One of the biggest threats to old sites is vandalism, including graffiti, littering, destruction of structures, and fire. Many sites have been lost forever as a result. Others have been fenced off or otherwise placed off-limits due to the thoughtless acts of stupid, selfish people.

One common problem even among people who wouldn’t normally commit other forms of vandalism, is the burning of wood from old buildings. If you really want a campfire, collect some deadwood, or bring your own.

Behave Responsibly: Don’t go to these places expecting to get drunk or stoned or carry on in a reckless manner. You want to “party”, fine, just do it somewhere else, there’s plenty of open desert for that. Illicit or obnoxious behavior can lead to damage of these sites, or unwanted government intrusion and restrictions. I’ve seen some sites which have been bulldozed by the BLM due to being trashed by drunken idiots or used for meth labs, etc.

Extremists: The Sierra Club and other environmental extremists, including many politicians and bureaucrats, are the Number One threat to the exploration and enjoyment of the desert and its historic sites. Whereas vandals can only damage or destroy specific features, the Sierra Club and their cronies in government can close off vast areas forever, effectively wiping them out of existence. They will not be satisfied until every last inch of land is locked up. DO NOT SUPPORT THESE GROUPS OR THEIR POLITICIANS!!!

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for you or your actions. I make no claims as to the safety, accessibility or legality of visiting any of these sites, mines or structures.

Also of interest:

Vintage Machinery and Vehicles

Photos of interesting old machinery, vehicles and other equipment found at ghost towns, mines, or elsewhere. Great reference material for modelers!

New Photos Added Aug. 2012

Tonopah Central Nevada Museum

Photos of authentic Old West buildings, including interiors; mining equipment; machinery; and other historic artifacts. A treasure trove of reference photos for modelers!

Tonopah Historical Mining Park

Photos of original, well-preserved mines. Includes both wood and steel headframes, plus complete hoisting machinery and other interior details A treasure trove of reference photos for modelers!

Nevada Trip 2012 - New August 2012

Another adventure full of ghost towns, mines, mining equipment, steam railroads, flash floods, and historic sites!

Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four Part Five

Nevada Trip 2011

More adventures through history, featuring several mines, mills, and other historic sites!

Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four

Nevada Trip 2010

More ghost towns, mines, mining equipment, steam railroads, wildlife, and historic sites!

Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four

Nevada Trip 2009

Ghost towns, mines, railroads, wildlife, and Ground Zero at a nuclear test site! This was an amazing trip!

Skip to: Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four

Nevada Trip 2008

I shot a lot of great photos of ghost towns and mines during my 2008 trip! Click the link above for the whole story.

Native Artifacts

Photos of petroglyphs and other Indian artifacts that I’ve encountered on my trips.

Lightning Photos

Beautiful photos of desert thunderstorms, rainbows, and other weather phenomenon.

Desert Wildflowers

The desert is a colorful place in the spring!

Desert Wildlife

A few of the critters I’ve encountered.

Unusual Sites

These are places of interest that are hard to categorize. They aren’t ghost towns or mines, but they may have some historical significance. Or they may simply be strange.

Project Faultless Site, NV

Note to modelers:

Many of the structures I’ve photographed would make great additions to your model railroad. It is my hope that these photos can be a useful reference resource.

If you need larger, higher resolution images, just let me know. Also, in many cases I have additional detail photos and alternate viewing angles that have not been posted online.

This page was updated August 2012. Several new sites added!

Return to Photography and Graphics page

I’ve been exploring old ghost towns, mines and mining camps for over 25 years. Now that I have my own website I’m trying to get as many of them documented as possible. These fascinating, historic sites are rapidly decaying; many have fallen prey to vandals or fire.

This will be an ongoing process for quite a while, as I have tons of photos to sort and post. Many have never been scanned.

Some are low resolution scans I transferred from my old computer. Eventually I want to rescan those images to improve the quality and size.

It’s my hope that my photos will be useful as reference to ghost town buffs; and to those who enjoy building scale models of old buildings and mining structures, for model railroads or other purposes. In many cases, higher resolution versions are available on request.

Email me at raydunakin@aol.com if you have any questions about these sites, new information to provide, or to report broken links. Some images are also available for sale as 8x10 prints.