Category: Ghost Towns

Ghost towns in the Western United States are abandoned settlements, often remnants of 19th-century mining, ranching, or railroad booms. Once thriving with prospectors, merchants, and families, these towns, like Bodie, California, or Virginia City, Montana, were deserted when resources depleted or economic shifts occurred, particularly after the 1860s gold and silver rushes. Characterized by dilapidated buildings, saloons, and mine shafts, they dot deserts and mountains, preserved by arid climates. Today, they attract tourists and historians, offering haunting glimpses into the West’s frontier past, shaped by ambition and transience.

Galeyville Arizona

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Galeyville, Arizona, was a short-lived silver mining boomtown in the Chiricahua Mountains of Cochise County, Arizona, during the early 1880s. It exemplifies the rapid rise and fall characteristic of many frontier mining camps in the American West, fueled by mineral discoveries, speculation, and the lawless reputation of the surrounding region.

Founding and Boom Period

John H. Galey (February 4, 1840 – April 12, 1918)
John H. Galey (February 4, 1840 – April 12, 1918)

The town originated in late 1880 following the discovery of promising silver-lead ore deposits in the area. John H. Galey (sometimes referred to as John Galey), a prospector and oil man originally from Pennsylvania (with some sources noting Texas connections), located rich silver veins and gave the settlement its name. The community quickly took shape as miners, merchants, and opportunists rushed in.

By early 1881, Galeyville had grown into a functional mining camp. A post office opened on January 6, 1881, reflecting its brief official recognition. The town featured typical boomtown amenities, including saloons, a general store, boarding houses, and other businesses supporting the miners. A smelter was constructed to process ore from local mines, such as the Texas Mine, highlighting the focus on silver-lead extraction.

At its peak in 1881–1882, Galeyville attracted several hundred residents (exact population figures are not well-documented but typical of small camps numbering in the low hundreds). It benefited from the broader mining excitement in southeastern Arizona following discoveries like those at Tombstone (founded around 1879).

Reputation and Outlaw Association

Galeyville earned notoriety as a supposed haven for outlaws and rough characters during Arizona Territory’s turbulent years. Located in a remote area near the San Simon Valley, it was reportedly used as a base or hangout by members of the loosely affiliated group known as the “Cowboys,” including infamous figures like Curly Bill Brocius and possibly Johnny Ringo. Legends portrayed it as a rough-and-tumble place filled with gamblers, rustlers, and gunmen who lived on the edge of the law.

While popular accounts (including later books and articles) amplified these tales—sometimes describing it as the “outlaw king” Curly Bill’s headquarters—more scholarly examinations, such as Brooks White’s book Galeyville, Arizona Territory 1880: Its History and Historic Archaeology, separate myth from evidence. Archaeological and historical records confirm mining activity and some outlaw presence, but the town’s outlaw reputation may have been exaggerated over time, influenced by its proximity to Tombstone’s famous events (e.g., the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881).

Decline and Abandonment

The boom proved fleeting. The ore deposits were not as extensive or rich as initially hoped, mining operations quickly became unprofitable, and excitement faded. The post office closed on May 31, 1882, after just over a year of operation—a clear sign of decline. By late 1882, most residents had departed, and the town was largely abandoned, with structures left to deteriorate. The smelter equipment was eventually relocated to Benson, Arizona.

Galeyville’s rapid collapse mirrored other Arizona mining camps dependent on narrow, high-grade veins that depleted fast without sustained development.

Legacy

Today, Galeyville is a classic ghost town with little visible remaining—no standing buildings, only scattered foundations, mine tailings, and archaeological traces in the Chiricahua Mountains. Its elevation is approximately 5,732 feet (1,747 m). The site is remote and accessible mainly by dirt roads, attracting historians, off-road enthusiasts, and those interested in Old West lore.

Galeyville’s brief existence (roughly 1880–1882) captures the transient nature of frontier mining: optimism sparked by discovery, a burst of activity, and swift abandonment when the riches proved illusory. Its association with outlaws like Curly Bill adds enduring appeal in Western history, though the reality was primarily that of a typical, short-lived silver camp in a lawless borderland.

Contention City, Arizona

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Contention City (also known simply as Contention) was a short-lived boomtown and ghost town in Cochise County, southeastern Arizona. Located along the banks of the San Pedro River approximately 10–12 miles northwest of the more famous Tombstone, it emerged as a key milling and transportation hub during the region’s silver mining rush in the late 19th century. Today, it is largely a ghost town, with only a few foundations and rubble remaining as evidence of its brief existence.

Mason's Western Hotel in Contention City, 1880
Mason’s Western Hotel in Contention City, 1880

Founding and Origins

The town’s name originated from a mining dispute. In the late 1870s, prospectors Ed Williams and Jack Friday tracked stray mules to a rich silver lode discovered by the famous prospector Ed Schieffelin (whose finds had sparked the Tombstone boom starting in 1877). A contention arose over ownership of the claim, leading to a division: Schieffelin retained part (named the Contention Mine), while Williams and Friday took the other (named the Grand Central Mine). This “contention” over the silver claim directly inspired the naming of both the mine and the subsequent town.

Contention City was established in late 1879 (with some sources citing early 1880) primarily as a milling site to process silver ore from the nearby Contention and Grand Central mines, as well as other Tombstone-area operations. Its strategic location on the San Pedro River provided essential water for the stamping mills—something lacking in drier Tombstone—making it ideal for ore processing. Several mills were constructed there, including the Contention Mill (with 25 stamps) and the smaller Sunset Mill, along with others to handle ore from up to six stamping operations in the district.

Contention City, Arizona, circa 1880. The Contention Mill - twenty-five stamps and thirty men - was one of three stamp mills that reduced the silver ore from the Tombstone mines.
Contention City, Arizona, circa 1880. The Contention Mill – twenty-five stamps and thirty men – was one of three stamp mills that reduced the silver ore from the Tombstone mines.

The town grew quickly to support mill workers and related activities. The Contention City Post Office opened on April 6, 1880, marking its official establishment. At its peak around 1882, the population approached 500, with amenities like saloons, hotels (such as Mason’s Western Hotel), and other frontier businesses.

Key Historic Events

Contention City, Arizona, 1880.
Contention City, Arizona, 1880.

Contention City’s history intertwined with the lawless and violent atmosphere of the Old West, particularly due to its proximity to Tombstone and involvement in events linked to the Earp brothers and the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (October 26, 1881).

  • March 1881: A stagecoach robbery (the Benson stage) occurred just outside town, heightening tensions in the region amid ongoing conflicts between lawmen and outlaws.
  • Post-O.K. Corral (1881–1882): After the gunfight, outlaw Ike Clanton attempted to have Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday tried for murder in Contention City, following a grand jury’s refusal to indict them in Tombstone after the Spicer Hearing. No trial ever took place there.
  • March 19, 1882: The day after Morgan Earp’s assassination in Tombstone (March 18, 1882), Wyatt Earp, Warren Earp, and others transported Morgan’s body to Contention City’s railroad depot for shipment to the family home in Colton, California.
  • March 20, 1882: Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday left their horses in Contention and arranged transport for the wounded Virgil Earp and his wife Allie to the railroad in Benson, as part of the Earps’ vendetta ride following the vendetta.
  • 1887: A notable shootout occurred between Cochise County Sheriff John Slaughter (with deputy Jeff Milton) and members of the Jack Taylor Gang (wanted outlaws including Manuel Robles and others). The confrontation left two outlaws dead after they fled Tombstone and were pursued.

A significant infrastructure milestone came in 1882, when the New Mexico and Arizona Railroad extended service to Contention City, establishing a depot there. This gave the town advantages over Tombstone (which lacked direct rail access until much later), supporting ore transport and passenger travel.

Decline and Abandonment

Contention City’s prosperity was tied to silver mining. The town’s fortunes declined sharply in the late 1880s due to multiple factors:

  • Flooding of the Tombstone mines following a major earthquake in Sonora, Mexico, in 1887, which forced mill shutdowns.
  • Declining silver prices and exhaustion of accessible ore.
  • Competition from other towns that offered services as mining waned.

The post office closed on November 26, 1888, and by 1890, the town was largely abandoned, with residents moving elsewhere. Unlike Tombstone, which endured as a county seat and later a tourist destination, Contention City faded rapidly.

Legacy

Contention City exemplifies the boom-and-bust cycle of Arizona’s mining towns. Though overshadowed by Tombstone, its role in processing silver ore, its railroad connection, and its tangential links to iconic Old West figures like the Earps and Doc Holliday give it lasting historical significance. Today, the site is remote and undeveloped, serving as a quiet reminder of the fleeting nature of frontier mining communities. Only scattered foundations, mill ruins, and occasional historical markers remain to mark where a once-thriving settlement stood.

Mazuma Nevada – Pershing County Ghost Town

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Mazuma, Nevada, was a short-lived gold mining boomtown in the remote Seven Troughs mining district of Pershing County, in northwestern Nevada. Located at the mouth of Seven Troughs Canyon in the Seven Troughs Range, approximately 25-30 miles northwest of Lovelock and about 30 miles from the county seat, the town sat in a vulnerable position prone to flash flooding from the surrounding mountains.

Mazuma, Nevada - 1908
Mazuma, Nevada – 1908

The name “Mazuma” derives from Yiddish slang for “money” or “ready cash,” reflecting the optimistic spirit of the gold rush era.

Founding and Boom Period

The townsite was established in late 1906 by S.B. Hill and Starr Hill at the base of the canyon. It formed as part of the 1907 rush to the Seven Troughs district, alongside nearby camps like Seven Troughs, Vernon, and Farrell. Gold discoveries in the area, particularly at mines such as the Mazuma Hills Mine, drove rapid growth.

By mid-1908, Mazuma had become the most prosperous settlement in the district. Within just six weeks of its founding, it boasted:

  • A mercantile house (general store)
  • Three restaurants
  • A lodging house
  • Five saloons
  • Other businesses

The town later featured more substantial structures, including a two-story bank, a three-story hotel, stamp mills (for processing ore), a post office (established 1907), and homes for residents. Population estimates during its peak hovered around 80-100 people, typical of small mining camps in the region. It served as a key milling and support hub for nearby gold operations, with at least two stamp mills operating there.

The Tragic Flash Flood of 1912

Mazuma’s prosperity ended abruptly on July 18, 1912 (some sources note July 11 or 19 due to reporting variations; the event occurred around 5 p.m.). A sudden and intense cloudburst struck the Seven Troughs Range above the town. Heavy rain in the mountains funneled massive amounts of water down Burnt Canyon and Seven Troughs Canyon.

A towering wall of water—described as 20 feet high and 150 feet wide—rushed into Mazuma without warning. Attempts to telephone warnings from upstream failed or came too late. The flood devastated the town, destroying most buildings, sweeping away homes, businesses, and debris including mining equipment and even a bank vault reportedly carrying $20,000 in gold bullion (which was carried nearly two miles downstream).

The disaster claimed eight lives (some accounts suggest up to 11), nearly one-tenth of the population. Victims included children from the Kehoe family (three siblings) and others caught in the torrent. The Seven Troughs Cyanide Plant was also destroyed, releasing cyanide into the floodwaters and adding to the hazard.

Surviving structures were limited to the two-story hotel, the general store, a few cabins, and the Darby Mill (or similar remnants). The post office closed shortly after, in late 1912.

Yesterday afternoon, at about five o’clock, the town of Mazuma (northeast of Reno) was devastated, eight people were drowned and nine more injured, many fatally, and a property loss estimated at nearly $200,000 by a cloud burst that swept down, unheralded, upon the mountain town. The known dead are:

Edna Russell, Postmistress at Mazuma;

Three children of Wm. Kehoe, all aged under seven;

M.C. Whalen, a miner, aged 35;

Mrs. Floyd Foncannon, drowned in Burnt Canyon six miles north of Seven Troughs canyon.

Those injured so far as can be learned at time of going to press are:

John Trenchard, merchant, probably fatally;

Mrs. Trenchard, badly cut and bruised, may recover.

Mrs. Kehoe, cut about head and face, bruised about body, may die;

Mrs. O’Hanlan, badly injured, may recover.

——————

Today the first witnesses of the flood conductions and who talked to the survivors returned to town. Among them was Drs. Russell and West, H.J. Murriah, J.T. Goodlin, H.S. Riddle, Jack and Will Borland and W.H. Copper.

Lovelock Review-Miner July 12, 1912
Mazuma Flood Damage - 1912
Mazuma Flood Damage – 1912

Aftermath and Legacy

Mazuma was never rebuilt. The flood marked the effective end of the town, accelerating the decline of the entire Seven Troughs district. Nearby Seven Troughs and Vernon also faded, with small-scale mining continuing sporadically into the 1950s but no major revival. A later tunnel project (Tunnel Camp) attempted to drain mines but ultimately failed.

Today, Mazuma is a classic Nevada ghost town. Scattered ruins, debris from the flood (such as old cans, pipes, and mining remnants), and a small cemetery remain visible in the desert landscape. The site has returned largely to nature, with little left beyond rubble as early as the 1950s. It attracts ghost town explorers and historians interested in the dramatic story of a community erased almost overnight by nature.

The tragedy of Mazuma stands as a stark reminder of the risks faced by early 20th-century mining camps in arid regions—boom driven by precious metals, bust delivered by sudden desert floods.

Mazuma Trail Map

Further Reading

Panamint City California – Inyo County Ghost Town

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Panamint City is one of the most legendary ghost towns in the Panamint Range of Death Valley National Park, California. Perched high in Surprise Canyon at an elevation of around 6,000–6,500 feet (about 1,800–2,000 m), it was once a notorious silver boomtown known for its lawlessness, rapid rise, and swift decline. Today, the site lies in a remote, rugged wilderness area within the park (though some remnants are on private inholdings or patented claims).

Panamint City California - 1875
Panamint City California – 1875

Historical Background and Founding (1872–1873)

The story of Panamint City begins in late 1872 amid the chaotic aftermath of earlier California gold and silver rushes. Prospectors William L. Kennedy, Robert Polk Stewart, and Richard C. Jacobs (some accounts name them as William Ledlie Kennedy et al.) were searching for the fabled Lost Gunsight Mine (a legendary lost gold deposit tied to early Death Valley lore) when they stumbled upon rich silver outcrops in Surprise Canyon. The canyon’s isolation had long made it a favorite hideout for outlaws evading law enforcement after stagecoach robberies and other crimes.

When the prospectors returned to stake formal claims, a gang of six bandits (who had followed them) forced a partnership to share in the profits—despite the outlaws being wanted for crimes like robbing a Wells Fargo stage of $12,000. This unlikely alliance marked the birth of the Panamint Mining District, officially formed in February 1873. Ore samples sent to Los Angeles attracted attention, and word spread quickly.

Senator John Percival Jones
Senator John Percival Jones

Boom Period (1873–1875)

The real boom ignited when Nevada’s “Silver Senators”—John P. Jones and William M. Stewart (prominent Comstock Lode investors)—learned of the discoveries. They organized the Panamint Mining Company with $2 million in capital stock and bought up major claims, injecting serious investment. By late 1874, Panamint City exploded into a full-fledged town:

  • Population peaked at around 1,500–2,000 residents, including miners, merchants, saloonkeepers, prostitutes, gamblers, and outlaws.
  • The main street stretched nearly one mile up the narrow canyon, lined with wooden buildings: hotels, restaurants, stores, assay offices, two banks, a post office, and the Panamint News newspaper.
  • Saloons and a red-light district thrived, contributing to the town’s reputation as one of the “toughest, rawest, most hard-boiled little hellholes” in the West.
  • Lawlessness was rampant—reports claim over 50 murders in the first few years, with shootouts, claim-jumping, and vigilante justice common. Wells Fargo refused to operate a stage line due to the banditry; instead, bullion was cast into heavy 400-pound cubes to deter theft during transport.
  • Key mines included the Wyoming Mine, Wonder Mine, and others producing high-grade silver ore (some assays showed values in the thousands of dollars per ton), along with copper and lesser gold.

The town even inspired ambitious infrastructure plans, such as Senator Jones’ short-lived railroad project from Santa Monica (which never fully materialized beyond initial segments).

William M. Stewart. Photo by Matthew Brady
William M. Stewart. Photo by Matthew Brady

Decline and Abandonment (1875–1877)

The bust came as quickly as the boom. By late 1875, the richest surface and near-surface ore bodies in the major mines began depleting rapidly. Veins pinched out or became too low-grade to process profitably with 1870s technology. Investors pulled out, and production plummeted.

A catastrophic flash flood in 1876 roared down Surprise Canyon, washing away much of the lower town, destroying buildings, roads, and equipment. This disaster accelerated the exodus. By 1877, major operations shut down entirely, and Panamint City was largely abandoned. Scavengers and a few holdouts lingered briefly, but the population evaporated within months.

Later History and Remnants

The site is protected; visitors must hike and plan trips carefully (flash flood risk remains high). Sporadic small-scale prospecting occurred in the early 20th century, but nothing revived the town. The area saw renewed minor activity during later Panamint Range booms (e.g., gold at nearby Skidoo in 1905–1917), but Panamint City itself remained a ghost town.

In the mid-20th century, some structures were salvaged or burned; flash floods continued to erode the site.

Today, within Death Valley National Park (established 1994, expanded to include the Panamint Range), remnants include:

  • Foundation stones and walls of former buildings.
  • Mine adits, shafts, and tailings piles.
  • The old smelter stack base and scattered artifacts.
Panamint City Stamp Mill
Panamint City Stamp Mill

Panamint City exemplifies the classic Western mining boom-bust cycle: fueled by rich silver discoveries, hyped by big investors, plagued by lawlessness and isolation, and doomed by ore depletion and natural disaster. Its brief, violent heyday left an enduring legend in Death Valley lore—one of outlaws turning prospectors, senators chasing silver, and a canyon that swallowed a town almost as fast as it rose.

Panamint Town Summary

NamePanamint
LocationInyo County
Latitude, Longitude36.1182827, -117.0953327
GNIS1661185
Elevation6,300 Feet
NewspaperPanamint News ( 1874-1875 )

Panamint Map

References

Chloride City California – Inyo County Ghost Town

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Chloride City is a remote ghost town and historic mining site located in the Funeral Mountains on the eastern side of Death Valley National Park, Inyo County, California. Situated at an elevation of approximately 4,770 feet (1,454 m) in a saddle high above the valley floor, it offers dramatic panoramic views across Death Valley to the Panamint Mountains—over 5,000 feet below—making it one of the more scenic yet challenging historic locations in the park. Access requires a high-clearance vehicle (often 4WD) via rough dirt roads, such as Chloride City Road off Daylight Pass Road or near Hell’s Gate, and the site remains largely untouched, with scattered remnants rather than intact structures.

Crowells Mill under construction in Chloride City, CA about 1915
Crowells Mill under construction in Chloride City, CA about 1915

Early Discovery and Initial Mining (1870s)

The area’s mining history dates back to one of the earliest documented strikes in the Death Valley region. In August 1871, prospector August J. Franklin (a civil engineer involved in U.S. government surveying work on the Nevada-California border) made the initial discovery. According to local legend, Franklin killed a rattlesnake with a rock, noticed rich-looking float (loose ore fragments) beneath it, and traced the material uphill to its source—a vein of silver chloride (a form of silver ore) at what became known as Chloride Cliff.

Franklin staked claims and formed the Chloride Cliff Mining Company, sinking a shaft to about 70 feet by mid-1873 and employing several miners. Ore samples reportedly assayed at high values—between $200 and $1,000 per ton in silver—indicating significant potential. However, the remote location, harsh desert conditions, lack of water, and transportation difficulties limited development. Activity was intermittent; Franklin and later his son George worked claims sporadically to maintain ownership, but the site saw little sustained production through the 1870s and remained largely deserted from around 1873 until the early 1900s.

Boom Period and Establishment of Chloride City (1905–1906)

Interest revived in the early 20th century amid the broader Death Valley mining boom, particularly following the major gold discovery at Bullfrog, Nevada (near Rhyolite) in 1904 and the development of the nearby Keane Wonder Mine (discovered in late 1903). Prospectors from Bullfrog crossed into the Funeral Mountains, reworking older claims and exploring new ones.

By 1905, enough activity centered on the Chloride Cliff area (including renewed work on silver-lead and emerging gold veins) that a small support camp was laid out: Chloride City. It served as a hub for nearby operations, featuring basic facilities such as an assay office, bunkhouse, and possibly other rudimentary structures. The town was positioned in a picturesque but wind-swept saddle, supporting miners extracting ore from adits (horizontal tunnels) and shafts in the vicinity.

Despite initial promise, the boom was short-lived. Most operations proved uneconomical due to low-grade ore, high processing costs, and isolation. Chloride City became a ghost town by late 1906, abandoned as miners moved to more promising strikes elsewhere.

Later Activity and Nearby Mines (1910s–1940s)

Sporadic mining returned in the 1910s and especially the 1930s, when higher gold prices during the Great Depression spurred renewed prospecting. Nearby sites like the Big Bell Mine (and Big Bell Extension) saw more substantial work, including construction of an aerial tramway, ore bins, ball mills, cyanide tanks, and other equipment—much of which remains remarkably preserved due to the site’s inaccessibility. These operations focused on gold and silver, with some claims reportedly changing hands through dramatic means (e.g., gambling, disputes, or even a reported duel). Activity largely ceased by the early 1940s, with the last major shutdown around 1941.

Chloride City itself did not revive as a town; it remained a loose collection of mining features rather than a populated settlement.

Current Status and Remnants

Today, Chloride City is within Death Valley National Park and protected as part of its historic resources. Little of the actual “town” survives—mostly scattered foundations, mine dumps, numerous adits (some explorable with caution), ore remnants, and the remains of three stamp mills. A single grave marks the site: that of James McKay, about whom virtually nothing is known.

The area includes dramatic overlooks at Chloride Cliff, where visitors can stand on old dumps and gaze down into Death Valley. Nearby hikes lead to well-preserved ruins like those of the Big Bell Mine complex, featuring rusting machinery, collapsed shacks, and tramway elements frozen in time.

The site exemplifies the fleeting nature of desert mining booms: early promise, rapid influx, quick bust, and long-term abandonment. Its isolation has helped preserve artifacts, offering a glimpse into the grit of 19th- and early 20th-century prospectors in one of Earth’s harshest environments. Visitors should prepare for rough roads, extreme conditions, and practice Leave No Trace principles, as the area has no facilities or signage in many spots.

Chloride City Trail Map