Rhyolite
Boom to Bust in Just 12 Years
Rhyolite rose and fell in just 12 years. At its peak in 1908, this gold mining town had 5,000 residents, a stock exchange, an opera house, and electric lights. The Panic of 1907 killed the mines. By 1916, the last resident left. Today, its dramatic ruins and the nearby Goldwell Open Air Museum draw visitors from around the world.
Built on Gold
In August 1904, prospectors Shorty Harris and Ed Cross discovered gold in the Bullfrog Hills. Within weeks, thousands arrived. By 1908, Rhyolite had concrete buildings, electric lights, running water, telephones, and a railroad. The three-story Cook Bank building was the tallest in Nevada outside Reno.
The Bottle House
Miner Tom Kelly built a house from 50,000 beer and medicine bottles in 1906. Lumber was expensive in the desert; bottles were free. The Bottle House still stands today, one of the most photographed structures in the West. It was restored by Paramount Pictures for a 1925 film shoot.
Art in the Desert
In 1984, Belgian artist Albert Szukalski created the 'Last Supper' sculpture of ghostly white plaster figures near Rhyolite. The Goldwell Open Air Museum has grown to include other sculptures, creating a surreal contrast with the crumbling ruins of the ghost town.
Timeline
- 1904 - Gold Strike Bullfrog Mining District established
- 1906 - Bottle House Tom Kelly built famous house from 50,000 bottles
- 1907 - Panic Financial panic began town's decline
- 1908 - Peak Population reached 5,000
- 1916 - Last Resident Town fully abandoned
- 1984 - Goldwell Outdoor sculpture museum created
Photos
Plan Your Visit
Best Time: October through April (avoid summer heat)
Difficulty: Easy
Time Needed: 1-2 hours
Admission: Free
What to See
- Cook Bank building ruins
- Bottle House (restored)
- Railroad depot remains
- Goldwell Open Air Museum sculptures
Tips
- Best light for photography at sunrise or sunset
- Combine with Death Valley National Park visit
- Goldwell sculptures are a short walk from ruins
- Bring water; no services available
Quick Facts
- Rose and fell in just 12 years
- Bottle House built from 50,000 bottles
- Had a stock exchange and opera house
- Cook Bank was tallest building in Nevada outside Reno
- Goldwell sculptures create surreal photo opportunities
- 4 miles from Death Valley National Park entrance
Location
Address: Near Death Valley Junction, Nye County, NV
Coordinates: 36.9008, -116.8261