Category: Ghost Towns

Bullionville, Nevada, is a ghost town in Lincoln County, located approximately one-quarter mile east of U.S. Route 93, one mile north of Panaca, and ten miles south of Pioche. This report explores the history of Bullionville, a short-lived but significant milling town that thrived from 1870 to 1882, driven by its strategic water resources and proximity to the silver mines of Pioche. Drawing from historical records, this account details its establishment, growth, decline, and lasting remnants.

Establishment and Early Development (1870–1872)

Bullionville was founded in February 1870 when John H. Ely and W.H. Raymond relocated a five-stamp mill from Hiko to a site selected for its reliable water supply from Meadow Valley Creek, a northern tributary of the Colorado River. Initially named Ely City, the settlement was renamed Bullionville later that year. The availability of water made it an ideal location for milling operations, prompting the construction of additional mills to process ore from nearby Pioche mines. Between 1870 and 1872, most of Pioche’s mills were established in Bullionville due to this advantage. The 1870 Federal Census recorded 96 residents, indicating early growth.

In 1872, construction began on the Pioche and Bullionville Railroad, a 21-mile narrow-gauge line costing $255,000, designed to transport ore from Pioche mines to Bullionville’s mills. Completed in 1873, the railroad facilitated efficient ore processing and spurred further development.

Peak Prosperity (1872–1875)

Bullionville experienced rapid growth between 1872 and 1875, reaching a population of approximately 500 by 1875. The town boasted five mills with a total of 110 stamps, making it a regional hub for ore processing. It also housed the first iron foundry in eastern Nevada, reflecting its industrial significance. The community supported a range of businesses, including hotels, stores, multiple saloons, blacksmith shops, and a daily stage service to Pioche. A post office opened in April 1874, further solidifying its status as a burgeoning settlement.

The Panaca Summit Charcoal Kilns, built in the mid-1870s, supported Bullionville’s mills by producing charcoal, a critical fuel for smelting silver ore. Constructed by skilled stone masons using rhyolitic tuff and operated by Swiss and Italian woodcutters known as “Carbonari,” these kilns processed up to 50 cords of wood per cycle, yielding enough charcoal to smelt one ton of ore per 30 bushels. The kilns, located near Panaca, operated until the late 1890s, outlasting Bullionville’s peak.

Decline and Abandonment (1875–1898)

The construction of a water system connecting Bullionville to Pioche in 1875 marked the beginning of the town’s decline. This system enabled Pioche to support its own milling operations, reducing the need for Bullionville’s facilities. Between 1875 and 1877, most mills were relocated to Pioche, and the Pioche and Bullionville Railroad ceased operations by 1880. The 1880 Federal Census reported only 68 residents, a sharp decline from the town’s peak.

In 1880, an attempt was made to sustain Bullionville by erecting a plant to process tailings left by the former mills. However, this effort failed to reverse the town’s fortunes. The post office closed in November 1886, briefly reopened from October 1892 to July 1898, and closed permanently thereafter. By 1900, the Federal Census recorded only two families, the Morgans (3 members) and the Clarks (10 members), residing in Bullionville. The town was effectively abandoned by the early 20th century.

Legacy and Current State

Today, Bullionville is a ghost town with few physical remnants. The Bullionville Cemetery, accessible via a short trail at Cathedral Gorge State Park, is one of the primary surviving features, documented in the 1980s as part of the Civic Historical Research Project led by Paul Vance. The cemetery offers insight into the lives of early residents, though no original buildings remain. The Nevada State Historical Marker No. 203, located along U.S. Route 93 one mile north of Panaca, commemorates Bullionville’s history.

Photographic evidence from the Nevada Historical Society, including images of mining operations circa 1910–1912, provides visual documentation of Bullionville’s industrial past. The Panaca Summit Charcoal Kilns, still standing, serve as a testament to the region’s mining heritage.

Conclusion

Bullionville, Nevada, was a fleeting but vital component of Lincoln County’s mining economy in the 1870s. Its strategic location and water resources fueled a brief period of prosperity, marked by industrial innovation and community growth. However, the development of infrastructure in Pioche led to its rapid decline, leaving Bullionville as a ghost town by the late 19th century. Its cemetery, historical marker, and nearby charcoal kilns preserve its legacy, offering a glimpse into Nevada’s boom-and-bust mining history.

Directions

Buillionville is located about 10 miles south of Pioche, near the intersection of the 319 and 93, Great Basin Highway. The Bullionville cemetary is located after a short hike in the Cathedral Gorge State Park.

Town Summary

Nevada State Historic Marker

Bullionville began early in 1870 when John H. Ely and W.H. Raymond removed their five-stamp mill at Hiko and placed it at this point. The enterprise prospered and during the next two years most of nearby Pioche’s mills were located here because of the proximity to water. A twenty-one mile narrow gauge railroad, the Pioche and Bullionville, was completed in 1873 at a cost of $255,000 to haul ore from the Pioche mines to the reduction mills. Bullionville grew rapidly and by 1875 it had five mills, a population of 500 and the first iron foundry in eastern Nevada. During the same year a water works was constructed at Pioche which eventually led to the relocation of the mills. Although a plant was erected here in 1880 to work the tailings deposited by the former mills, this failed to prevent the decline of Bullionville.

Nevada State Historic Marker

Bullionville Trail Map

Resources

• exploringtheamericanwest.blogspot.com
• Wikipedia