This Nearly Abandoned Nevada Mining Town Has A Truly Nefarious Past

The small ghost town of Nelson is nestled in Eldorado Canyon, in the Eldorado Mountains of Clark County between Las Vegas and Laughlin. Just over four square miles in size and housing a population of just 37, the history of the abandoned Nelson ghost town is full of bloodshed and corruption.

This tiny, nearly abandoned ghost town sits at the base of the Eldorado Mountains.

It was originally settled by Civil War deserters looking to evade military authorities.

Nelson is rich in gold, silver, copper and lead, and was the site of one of the largest booms the state of Nevada ever encountered.

When founded in 1775 by Spaniards, Nelson was originally called El Dorado which, essentially means "city of gold."

Gold and silver were discovered here in 1859 and the rush began in 1861. In 1897, Nelson was named for Charles Nelson, a camp leader murdered - along with four others - in his camp by Avote, a renegade Indian.

The Techatticup Mine (also known as the Eldorado Mine) was the centerpiece of Nelson's nefarious history.

Because of the mine's high demand, several labor and ownership disputes arose which were usually resolved with bloodshed. In fact, murders became rather commonplace and widely accepted. As a result, Nelson earned a reputation as a mining town whose riches were paid for in blood, yet the fortune-seekers continued to come.

Techatticup/Eldorado Mine operated from 1858 until 1945.

Today, the mine serves as Nelson's biggest tourist attraction.

Nearby Nelson's Landing was a small village on the Colorado River, just five miles east of Nelson where Lake Mohave and the river converge.

On 14 September 1974, 12 feet of water flooded Eldorado Canyon killing nine people at Nelson's Landing. Everything in the flood's path was swept into Lake Mohave by a wall of water reportedly 40 feet high.

Another huge draw is this plane "wreckage" near Nelson.

While many people wonder if this was actually a military plane crash, in reality, this is a movie set built specifically for the 2001 film 3000 Miles to Graceland.

All that remains - aside from the mine and airplane prop - are remnants and relics above the flood line: some abandoned houses, an old Texaco station, and other weathered buildings and machinery.

The Texaco station houses a local river and mining tour business.

If you'd like to check it out for yourself but can't quite make it out there, this delightful video might be helpful:

Not unlike other Nevada ghost towns, Nelson also experienced a boom and bust during the Silver State's gold rush. However, this nearly abandoned Nevada Mining town has a far more nefarious past. If you're a fan of the Fallout games, you've likely explored a virtual version of Nelson already!

Have you visited Nelson ghost town, toured the mine, and seen the plane prop? Please share your experiences with this abandoned Nevada town in the comments. If you haven't been yet, it makes for a great day trip from Las Vegas!