NVGHOSTTOWNS.COM
WASHOE COUNTY
GHOST TOWNS
I have not personally visited all the ghost towns on this list. Washoe County will be the subject of a future book of mine but current conditions listed are reports from fellow ghosttowners or other literary sources.
A
Auburn
A small milling camp that sprang up after 20 stamp mill was built in 1865. The camp died in 1868 as nearby Reno grew although mill ran off and on until 1880s. Nothing remains
B
BROOKLYN
Short-lived camp that sprang up in 1875 and completely died by 1877. A number of buildings were built during that time but none remain today.
C
CRYSTAL PEAK
Primarily a lumber town that formed in 1864. Later mining had limited success. By 1868, population stood at 1500 but after the Central Pacific was completed through Washoe County, the need for large amounts of lumber killed the town by the 1870s. Lumbering continued and a shortline railroad was built to haul lumber to Verdi. Numerous foundations and remains of the mining op
GLENDA
eration and railroad are still visible. A small cemetery is located at the site. I found this site to be very interesting to explore.
D
DERBY
Gold discovered in 1904. Post office opened in 1906. Stage line to Olinghouse. However not much more developed and post office closed in 1922. Roderick post office operated from 1929 to 1936. Nothing is left.
E
F
FRANKTOWN
First settled in 1852 by Mormons and the town grew rapidly until 1857 when all the Mormons returned to Utah. However, the town survived and in 1860, a 60 stamp mill was built. However, the prosperity slowed in the late 1860s and the mill burned in 1871. The Virginia and Truckee Railroad established a stop at Franktown but it didn't help out. Only a few residents and businesses remained by the 1880s. OnlyFoundations and the water tower remained when I visited the site.
G
GALENA
Silver discovered at Galena in 1860, later used as one of the primary lumber sources for Virginia City. During 1860s, more than a dozen sawmills were active. Population peaked around 300. Two large fires in 1865 and 1867 basically levelled the town and not much remains today of the original settlement of Galena.
GLENDALE
First served as a trading post beginning in 1857. Served as terminus for Virginia City turnpike. Post office opened in 1867. With the establishment of Reno, Glendale lost its importance. Not much remains although Nevada's oldest school house stands at the site.
H
HUNTER'S STATION
A hotel, store and post office operated at this river crossing during the 1860s. Also known as Mayberrys later, nothing remains but a foundation. Located near the Hunter exit on I-80.
I
INCLINE
A sawmill built in 1879 led to the establishment of Incline. A small narrow gauge railroad was built in 1881 to haul wood to the mill. At times, camp had population as high as 200. Operation closed in 1895 and Incline ceased to exist. Some remnants of the town and incline railway are left.
J
JAMISON'S STATION
Station was established in 1852. Served the many emigrants coming through. No longer needed once Truckee Meadows was settled. Fenced stone ruins remain.
K
L
M
MAGNOLIA HOUSE
Site of the largest toll station on the tollroad from Virginia City to Steamboat Springs. Active during the 1860s and 1870s. Only a foundation and scattered debris remain.
MILL STATION
Primarily a lumber stop on the Virginia and Truckee Railroad although a couple of stamp mills and sawmills operated nearby. Population never grew above 100 and only some faint foundations of the mills are visible today.
N
O
OLINGHOUSE
Activity began in 1860 but Olinghouse didn't form until 1897. Ora post office opened in 1898. Peak production took place in 1902. New strikes in 1907 prompted the building of the Nevada Railroad which connected to a mill near Wadsworth. However, by the end of 1907, railroad and mines had closed. Scattered buildings are left.
OPHIR
Town came into existence in 1861 when the Ophir Mining Company, based in Virginia City, built a huge 72 stamp mill. Within a year, population was 300. But when the mill closed and was dismantled in 1872, Ophir died. A number of stone ruins still remain, straddling US 395 in Washoe Valley.
P
PEAVINE
First known as Poe City, Peavine came into existence in 1863 and had a population of 200. Peak activity in 1873 and 1874. A 10 stamp mill was constructed. Abandoned by the mid 1880s. Dumps and scattered debris remained in a recent visit.
PYRAMID CITY
Discovered in 1876, rush to area quickly developed and two stamp mill built. Population more than 60 by 1877. Sub town of Jonesville also formed nearby. Post office closed in 1889 and both towns died. Several rock ruins remain.
Q
R
S
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
Settled in 1860 as a stop for wagons. A number of buildings built quickly to utilize the hot springs but all destroyed in 1871 fire. Became a stop on the Virginia and Truckee Railroad in 1871. Many buildings still remain in the area.
T
U
V
W
WADSWORTH
Early trading posts began operating in 1854. Central Pacific established camp in 1868. Wadsworth became headquarters for Truckee Division. Also became freighting center for areas to the south. By 1871, population was 700. Fire in 1884 destroyed almost all of town, rebuilt in present location. After railroad shops were relocated in 1902, Wadsworth lost its importance. Many buildings remain today.
WASHOE CITY
Established as a lumbering camp for Virginia City in 1861 and grew quickly, becoming the county seat that year. With a few years, the transient population grew to as much as 5000 but only half were permanent residents. After the Virginia and Truckee Railroad was completed, Washoe City had outlived its usefulness. It lost its county seat to Reno in 1871 and by 1880, only 200 were left. By the turn of the century, the town was empty. A number of old buildings remain scattered around the site which has recently seen a lot of new housing go in.
WEDEKIND
Gold discovered in 1896. By 1901, many active mines. Camp of Wedekind City, or Bryan City, formed. A 30 ton mill construction but folded by 1903. Nothing remains.
X
Y
Z