Imagine walking through a once bustling town only to find yourself eerily alone with nothing but the hint of the road beneath your feet and the feeling of being watched through long abandoned windows. That’s the feeling most people describe when visiting Rhyolite, a ghost town in Beatty, Nevada. This once popular town is now a famous abandoned ghost town and one that you really have to see to believe.
The town of Rhyolite in Nevada was once a booming mining community as far back as 1905. It’s hard to imagine, but thousands of gold-seekers once made the region their home.
The name "Rhyolite" comes from the igneous rock in the area.
In 1906, the Montgomery Shoshone Mine was in full swing, bringing with it piped water, electricity, and even railroads for easy transportation to other parts of the state and beyond.
Rhyolite once had a population of between 3,500 and 5,000 residents!
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It didn’t help that the Montgomery Shoshone Mine ran into financial troubles, too. Raising capital following the financial panic of 1907 became a serious issue, and the mine closed only after a few short years of operation in 1911.
To visit the ghost town of Rhyolite, head 85 miles northwest of Las Vegas, taking U.S. Highway 95. Or, travel about four miles west from the town of Beatty. The roads are paved, however, there are no facilities in this remote area.
Now, visitors can find the town located in the Bullfrog Hills not far from Las Vegas. Rhyolite is very close to Death Valley National Park in Nevada.
The popular Rhyolite townsite was used and partially rebuilt over the decades for many Hollywood films. The railroad depot is one of the most well-preserved structures in the ghost town.
Many people have claimed to hear and see unexplainable phenomena in Rhyolite, particularly at the ruins of the Cook Bank.
Amazingly, you can still find jail cells and heavy metal locks on the doors of the Rhyolite Jailhouse. It is said that this is a particularly haunting place to be as well.
Mona Bell's story involves an abusive relationship that ended in her unfortunate death in 1908. Mona’s murder is the most famous in the history of Rhyolite, though no one knows for sure who is buried in her grave.
The ghost town of Rhyolite in Nevada leaves a haunting legacy behind. It came into existence and disappeared so quickly, it’s hard to imagine that an entire community of thousands of people once made the town their home. Now, all that’s left are the ruins of buildings, graves, and stories of a time gone by. You can see a bit more of what remains in the short video below.
Do you enjoy stepping back in time? Which ghost towns in Nevada send a shiver up your spine? Be sure to comment and let us know below!
While you’re in Rhyolite, take a look at the Bullfrog-Rhyolite Cemetery in this eerie Nevada ghost town!
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