This is a little bit of a drive from Death Valley National Park it's all the way on the other side. Lots to see along the way and the little ghost town was very interesting.
Rhyolite, Nevada is one of those ghost towns that actually feels alive. It’s tucked near Death Valley and looks like a movie set that time forgot, with crumbling bank walls, an old jail, and a bottle house made out of actual glass bottles. It boomed fast in the early 1900s, then died just as quick when the gold ran out, which somehow makes it even cooler. It’s eerie, beautiful, and weirdly peaceful, like history just parked itself there and never left.
Pretty awesome old ghost town to visit if you like old, abandoned buildings. There's also a really small museum when you enter, on the left, with really cool sculputes.
If your in to ghost towns and history it's a nice stop. If not then then head the to museum, not a lot to see due to it being stripped in WW2 but the history was very interesting. It was a large city at one point and is hard to imagine such a big place (as seen in the photos) turning into this.
Great historic place. Most areas are walking distance from the other. My advice here is to look close. There are many things not in direct view to ponder as well as the standing structures. All in all, I spent a couple of hours looking around.
WHY VISIT?
1. This structure is both hauntingly and enchantingly spectacular.
2. It is part of the Rhyolite ghost town–a main street featuring several other structures. In my opinion, it is the crown jewel.
3. Though there is a chain-link fence around the perimeter, visitors are invited to enter through a gate at the back of the depot (parking area). Visitors cannot visit the interior of the structure, but can walk close enough to touch and, the best part, walk onto the amazing veranda that wraps around the front and west side of the structure.
4. There are signs posted with historic photos and information about the structure and the town.
5. Vault toilets are available adjacent to the parking area.
6. Picnic tables are available. However, I enjoyed my box lunch on the front veranda overlooking the town.
7. The atmosphere at this abandoned train depot is the best. I did not want to leave.
CAUTIONS:
1. Of course, it’s the desert, so be aware of the temperature forecast in the hot months. The depot does provide shade throughout the day.
What a fantastic place to visit.. The bottle house and railway station are the complete (almost) buildings in town.. lot of explanations in front of the buildings
Can spend 15-90 mins
Quick stop on our way to Death Valley. It is interesting to read about the history of the town and train station that made the town thrive in the early 1900s. Now a ghost town with crumbling buildings.
Part of what’s left of the Rhyolite ghost town, one of the better structures remaining in the abandoned mining town. Worth checking out as a detour if coming from or going to Death Valley
It was fun. I love history. There was a bathroom near the train depot. Plenty of parking. Bring something to drink. I didn't go to the museum because of a low-hanging phone line I was concerned about snagging with my motorhome.
It's part of Rhyolite ghost town, an interesting place to see. The whole town was created during the gold rush, and grew into a very modern, flourishing town with three train lines serving. It was then deserted after people found that there was not so much good after all within 15 years (if I remember correctly, surely something around this time frame). It shows how quick even end of the 20th century a place could grow from nothing into something great, but then get deserted as quickly. The train Depot is still in good shape, and shows the beautiful architecture of the time. It helped me understand the strong believe in the American dream, where everything is possible, if you only put effort into it. It also made me aware how building - losing - starting new is a core element of US history, and even today is reflected in how easily people can find a great job, lose it, but quickly take on a new job, being always open to try the next adventure.
They expected this town to last a long time from the craftsmanship put into the Depot. It must have been a showstopper in its day. It's absolutely beautiful!
A neat little bit of history. I would only recommend stopping here if traveling to or spending a little bit of time in Beatty. It only takes a few minutes to check things out in the area.
Back to memory land, this ghost town from the early nineteenth hundreds shows you how everything worked back then, with interesting information and a nice walk simultaneously ????
The train depot at Rhyolite is one of the best preserved buildings in this long-abandoned ghost town that went boom in 1903 and bust a few years later when the mines ran dry.
You can drive right up to the depot via paved roads, then just get out, walk around, and explore the area. Just watch out for snakes ? when the weather gets warmer.
My wife and I visited Rhyolite from Las Vegas, nice drive on quiet wide open roads once out of the city. We found Rhyolite and the history surrounding it very interesting, it was hard to imagine that it was once, if only briefly, a thriving gold mining town.
This is a could streets with an old train depot, abanoned mining houses and structures, a museum, a house made of glass bottles and a ghostly experience. Neat little ghost town with a cool history. Enjoyed checking the half dozen or so houses and structures out! There's also a small museum and the ghostly statues, totem pole and other vintage items all around.
Visited the entire ghost town of Rhyolite. Some buildings are well preserved, others are ruins. Well signed and explained. It is hard to believe that the town is only 110 years old and has deteriorated this much. Well worth stopping by if you are going to Beatty or traveling down US95.
The coolest thing in this part of the planet is Rhyolite. Its history and the Goldwell outer art gallery. Dont drive by it en route to Death Valley. Stop, chill out, and feel the vibe. Especially cool at sun up and sun down.
Probably the most iconic building still intact in Rhyolite, the casino has still all the beauty of its time.
We visited this ghost town on our way to Death Valley and we recommend to stop by if you have some time.
The road is easily accessible for any car (we drove a Ford Mustang) even if dirty and bumpy.
Pretty cool Ghost Town close to the highway. Fun history and lots to see if you get out and walk around. Sometimes the wild donkeys are cruising around. Definitely stop at the little museum and contribute too even if it's just a little bit.
Cool desert ghost town!
It's small but a fun place to check out if you like historic sites and windows into the past.
It doesn't take long to explore the whole area, and you should check out the art exhibit next door while you are at it!
Definitely recommend!
Just outside of Beatty NV, Rhyolite was a booming mining town in the early 1900’s. Now the buildings and memories of the people who made them alive made a great visit. Best to visit on the weekend when the open air museum is manned and the fenced enclosures around the bottle house and train station are open.
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