Rhyolite: A Nevada Ghost Town

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Rhyolite

Many people that visit Death Valley, California have no idea that right outside the park is a very interesting ghost town that's been featured in numerous magazines and books about ghost towns. Right on the border of California and Nevada, Rhyolite was a flourishing town in the early 1900's when gold was discovered in the surrounding area. Miners flocked to the area and soon there was a real boomtown. But like all boomtowns, when the gold ran out, so did the gold miners. Now all that's left are a few scattered buildings, a train station, and a house made of beer bottles. It is still a wonderful place to visit though, and if you're going to be in the area, you should definitely stop by.

Location of the Ghost Town of Rhyolite

Many people arrive at Rhyolite from the nearby town of Beatty. It is 4 miles west of the town, along Highway 374. The other way people arrive at Rhyolite is from Death Valley since it is just east of the park.

Pictures of Rhyolite

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Beatty, Rhyolite, and Salt Creek Video

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Street Signs 

Rhyolite, Nevada Ghost Town Video

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The Old Train Station 

Rhyolite Nevada Ghost Town Drive Video

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Books About the Ghost Town of Rhyolite

Ghost towns are always more interesting if you can picture the town in its heyday and learn about the people that once lived there. Rhyolite had its share of characters, and these books will help you get to know a few of them, as well as really put you in the mood to visit this interesting old town.
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Rhyolite Ghost Town Video

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Rhyolite

Song About Rhyolite

This song is about the ghost town of Rhyolite.

Old Railroad Car 

More Books About the Ghost Town of Rhyolite

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HD&LD Porter 1906 

The Old Rhyolite Merchantile 

The Rhyolite Bottle House 

The Tom Kelly Bottle House

Though there were three bottle houses known to have been created in Rhyolite, the only one still standing is the Tom Kelly bottle house. As you would expect from a mining town, most of the bottles used to make the bottle house were beer bottles, primarily Anheuser-Busch, now Budweiser. There are thousands of bottles that make up this bottle house and it was repaired just a few years ago to prevent it from falling apart. I think it must be lovely inside with the light shining in through the bottles.

Close-up of the Bottles that Make Up the Bottle House

Picture via Creative Commons from gregw66

Bottle House Video

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Interesting Art Near the Bottle House 

Goldwell Open Air Museum Video

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Rhyolite Items

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Death Valley

Rhyolite is located right on the edge of Death Valley National Park so it's an easy place to stop on your way in or out.
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Southern California Lenses

Places to visit while you're in the Rhyolite area
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The Ghost Town of Ballarat

Another ghost town in the general area, this one located on the westward edge of Death Valley, Ballarat is of a similar age to Rhyolite, but is a much different style of ghost town.
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More Ghost Towns in the West

The west has lots of ghost towns, pick up a few of these books and learn more about them, or even plan a trip to visit some of them.
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Rhyolite Guestbook

What did you think of this lens? Are you going to visit the ghost town of Rhyolite or have you already been there? Share your opinion here in the guestbook.

  • macmaki Apr 22, 2012 @ 8:12 pm | delete
    Rhyolite is definitely a cool ghost town! I'll have to visit! Great Lens!
  • RhyoliteNevada Dec 6, 2009 @ 3:58 pm | delete
    Thanks for the information on Rhyolite. Additional information can be found at http://www.rhyolitenevada.com

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Other Places to Visit near Rhyolite 

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Find Out More about Ghost Towns 

Ghost Towns: Yesterday & Today

Amazon Price: $13.00 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now

This book about ghost towns features Rhyolite ghost town, along with many other ghost towns of the American west. Whether you want to visit as many ghost towns as you can or if you just want to learn about all these mysterious places, this book will help you find what you're looking for.

Mysterious Places Near Rhyolite 

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