This month we'll be exploring the old town sites of Rhyolite, Bullfrog, Silverdale, Pioneer, Carrara, and Johnnie. The last place to get supplies and to fill the gas tank before hitting the trail is the town of Beatty, so this is where we will stage and begin our adventure. Be aware that at times you will be close to the boundary of Nellis Air Force base; it would be a good idea to keep your map open to ensure you do not drive onto the base by mistake.
Beatty is located at the junction of US 374 and US 95, about two hours (117 miles) north of Las Vegas. It is the sole surviving town of the original Bullfrog mining district, which is known for its gold mines from the early 1900s. Over the years, it has changed sizes many times and supported a number of different industries, but it has never gone the way of a ghost town.
Head west on US 374 for approximately 2 miles toward the Rhyolite historic area. Then go north-northwest on a well-marked dirt road toward Bullfrog Mountain for another 2 miles. Although this part does not require four-wheel drive, it's worth the trip while you're in the Rhyolite area.
Rhyolite was founded in 1904 by two penniless prospectors in search of gold. In August of that year, they found a gold vein and staked a claim; Bullfrog Mine was born. News of the strike quickly spread and the Bullfrog mining district came to life. In 1905, the town of Rhyolite was staked out in a draw near the mines. Offering free lots to the merchants, the town was virtually built overnight. All the water and food had to be hauled into the town by wagons, but that didn't slow down its growth.
Interesting Facts about Rhyolite* In 1905, Charles Schwab owned several mines in the area and frequented Rhyolite often.* The famous Bottle house is located here. Built in the '20s, it was used in the Zane Grey movie, Wanderers in the Wasteland, and is still lived in today.* By 1907, Rhyolite had grown to a population of 6,000. There were three water companies, a telephone service, electric street lamps, four banks, a railroad station, and several hotels and saloons.* Due to the financial panic caused by the big San Francisco earthquake in 1906, investment in this town started drying up. By 1910, only 700 residents were left, and in 1920, the town was completely empty.
Today, the town of Rhyolite is an official historic ghost town (36 54' 25" N/116 49' 38" W). This designation protects it from treasure hunters and vandals. You'll find several old buildings in various states of decay on the main street, and in the surrounding area, there are ruins and mines in abundance. In the main town, you can also find one of the original banks and the famous Bottle house.
Even though you will arrive in Rhyolite on pavement, there are trails throughout this area you can explore with the family and there are two other ghost towns that you can 'wheel to.The first one is Bullfrog (36 53' 33" N/116 50' 01" W), which is located 1 mile southwest of Rhyolite. The second town is Gold Bar (36 56' 25" N/116 53' 33" W), which is just northwest of Rhyolite.