Ramsey Mine Site

 Located in the eastern Flowery Range along the Lyon-Storey county line. The district extends into Storey County to inc lude the Gooseberry Mine area. The central part of the district is at Ramsey on the southeastern flank of the Flowery Range in Lyon County. Stretch (1867) described a Nevada district, east of the Red Mountain and Castle districts, in this area. The first location in Ramsey was made about the time of Virginia City, but there was very little activity until about 1904. Tom Ramsey found some high grade ore in an outcrop and the rush was on. A few years later the population was about 1,000, but by 1910 only about 100 people lived there, and by 1936 only two deserted houses were left. There was also supposed to be a post office in this area.

Weather was sunny but cool about 45 degrees. You cannot legally enter this area you are trespassing if you go in. It is fenced off and you must acquire permission to get in. Also the area is guarded by armed men so if you want to temp a ride to jail or worse I would advise staying out or getting the proper permission.   Great old mine site looks like they use cyanide to process the gold way before there was big regulations on how it could be used as you can tell from the photos. The site has not been trashed at all very pristine as I usually fine shot gun shells and beer cans there was very little sign of this. Unfortunately there will be a road going through from interstate 80 to hwy 50 and this site is not going to stay as I found it.

            Photos taken by Gary http://www.oldwesternphotography.com/

Blue Stone Mine / Ludwig Mine and Town Site

In this area of the state, copper is what is mined, and Ludwig is no exception. Copper ore was discovered in the mid 1860's and produced for a couple of years, but they didn't have much luck smelting it until after the turn of the century when the Nevada-Douglas Company bought the mines in 1907. The camp of Morning-star coalesced from the influx of men and equipment, and it was named Ludwig in 1908. Almost a thousand people lived and worked at Ludwig until 1914, when activity waned. They began mining gypsum in the 1940's but by 1960 most everything was gone.  Tons of ruins to go through and lots of mines. Please if you don't know what your doing DO NOT enter any mine even experienced folk get rattled going into old mines.  A gentleman died a few years ago after falling into a shaft at the Ludwig site. You can also travel along the old Copper Belt rail right of way.   

The Blue Stone area is interesting as there is also lots of mines and some buildings still standing. This mine was active in the 20s and they used electric rail cars to run the copper ore. You can still see some track, a transformer building, mill and another smaller building. Again careful lots of holes.

Note: Some school thought it was there prerogative to make a school project and paint some shitty mural at the site of Ludwig. What gives them the right to do this? Just because its in the name a education? I don't think so. Would you take your class to the home of George Washington and paint a "mural" on it? You would be arrested if not shot! Keep your paint off the sites!

Como / Palmyra

The Town of Como was started in 1862, several years after gold had been found in the Pine Nut Mountains. It was the successor to the nearby town of Palmyra which had been started after the initial ore discoveries in June 1860.  Steam powered Mill from 1862 - 64.  The small camp consisted of saloons,residences, and the luxury Cross Hotel. Also it was believed that some of the residents were confederate sympathizers during the civil war.  There were two more stints the area was worked from 1902 - 1905 and in the 30s one mining company built a large mill at Como. But days after it was operational there was no ore to process, a crucial detail investors failed to consider.     

 The road is very rocky and its one of those that you feel like you have gone 10 rounds with Mike Tyson when its all over.