This week we’re adventuring in Nevada, heading less than one hour off the Las Vegas Strip to visit one of the oldest and most famous gold mining towns in the state. Join me at Nelson Ghost Town.

History

The area surrounding Nelson and Eldorado Canyon was home to the ancient Ancient Puebloan Indians, and then later to the Paiutes and Mojave tribes before Spaniards arrived in 1775. The Spaniards soon found small amounts of silver, but it wasn’t until the 1850s that large amounts of gold were found in one of the first major gold strikes in Nevada. The Nelson area is said to have yielded over 500 million dollars in ore over nearly a century. In fact the famous Techatticup Mine remained active until 1943, and produced more than 2.5 million dollars worth of gold, silver, copper, and lead.

Wild West Years

As word got out about the gold strikes, prospectors and miners rushed to the area. Then as the American Civil War broke out, both Union and Confederate deserters made there way here hoping no one would search for them in such a desolate secluded place.

In early years, the nearest sheriff was hundreds of miles away, and the Techatticup Mine became known as a lawless, violent place where gunfights were notorious and death was the norm. The name change from Eldorado to Nelson came about when Charles Nelson, a camp leader, was killed along with four others in 1897 by Avote, a local Native American.

"I think there never was another place where, in proportion to the population, so many murders were committed without the criminals being brought to trial or even apprehended."
– John Riggs (Eldorado Canyon Gold Miner in 1880)

Visiting Now

Currently you are free to explore Nelson Ghost Town in Eldorado Canyon and the historical Techatticup Mine. The family run Eldorado Mine Tours gives visitors the opportunity to see inside the Techatticup Mine on an hour long walking mine tour (reservation are required). Road trippers are free to roam the grounds and see the building & mining equipment sprinkled along the dry dirt road. A lovely little chapel can be reserved for weddings and there is a BBQ area with picnic tables. One of the highlights in exploring the history here is the extensive vintage vehicle collection...you’ll find an array of custom redesigned modes of transportation (including a triple decker school bus) and nearly 100 year old shot-out car shells rusting away.

Film/Photography

This location has long been used as a backdrop for films and television shows, as well as for photo shoots and music videos. National Geographic Channel's "Brain Games" was filmed in Nelson…as were the movies "Eye of the Beholder" and "Breakdown.” However visitors are most impressed by the planes crashed into the ground on the side of the road. These planes did not crash by accident. They were props for the movie "3,000 Miles to Graceland", and you won’t want to leave before checking them out.

If you want to have your own Instagrammable moments here, make sure to check in at the General Store. There is a reasonable fee for shooting here, depending on your time spent and shoot requirements.

Know Before You Go

• You’ll find this ghost town at 16880 State Highway 165, Nelson, NV at mile marker 13, two miles past the town of Nelson.

• The General Store doubles as a small museum filled with the quirky history of this place…make sure to check in and chat with the owners.

• The General Store offers snacks and drinks, but there are no gas stations or restaurants, so plan accordingly.

• When going on a self-guided tour of the grounds, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings. Cholla cactus are abundant here, as well as rattle snakes. And because of the long mining history, rusty metal and broken glass can be found throughout the grounds.

• After exploring the ghost town, be sure to continue east on Highway 165 for about 5 miles to enjoy the Colorado River.

In Summary & Behind the Blog Video

Thanks for joining me this week at Nelson Ghost Town to discover some fascinating Nevada history. For more information see my Behind the Blog video below…and until next week I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go.

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