Just a stone’s throw away from Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam, less than an hour’s drive from Las Vegas, lies one of Nevada’s most fascinating ghost towns. Nestled along the banks of the Colorado River, Nelson was born around one of the state’s oldest gold mines. Today, it is a popular destination for anyone looking to be transported from the modernity of Las Vegas into the heart of the Wild West. Let’s explore how to visit it.
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Location and Directions
The Nelson Ghost Town is located in southern Nevada, not far from the banks of the Colorado River, downstream from Lake Mead. To get there from Las Vegas, you need to head towards Boulder City and then take US-95, which runs parallel to the river from Boulder City to the south. When you reach the intersection with NV-165, where there is an information board about Eldorado Canyon, you turn left onto this smaller road, and in about half an hour, you will reach the ghost town.
If you’re coming from Arizona, perhaps from the Grand Canyon, there are two options. You can cross the Colorado River on the Hoover Dam and follow the aforementioned directions from Boulder City, or you can cross it on the Davis Dam further south, then turn right onto the US-95 and right again onto NV-165.
If you’re coming from California: If you’re traveling from Los Angeles to Las Vegas along I-15, you can take the Wheaton Springs exit. If you’re coming from San Diego or Joshua Tree National Park, you can take the US-95 at Vidal Junction and follow this road until you reach the aforementioned intersection with NV-165.
Nelson Ghost Town History
In 1775, Spanish explorers discovered this canyon on the banks of the Colorado River. Nearly a century later, in 1858, U.S. Army soldiers passed through here while traveling north from Fort Mohave and found traces of gold carried by the river’s water. They named the area Eldorado Canyon. From that moment, the gold rush towards this remote location began, and in 1861, a silver vein was discovered, leading to the establishment of a settlement that would later become Nelson.
With the spread of the news, Eldorado Canyon quickly became one of the major gold and silver mining sites in Nevada’s history. This brought wealth but also a high degree of criminality. On one hand, disputes over mine ownership and management turned into bloody conflicts, while on the other hand, the isolation from larger settlements favored outlaws and robbers.
The town of Nelson itself took its name from a violent incident. It was named in honor of Charles Nelson, who was in charge of the camp in 1897 when he was killed by a renegade Native American who had heard rumors that people in the village wanted his companion. In 1905, Nelson became the hub of mining activity. A smelter was built, and mining production increased exponentially. In addition to gold and silver, lead and copper were also extracted.
In 1945, the mines were closed after decades of generating millions of dollars. The part of Nelson facing the river, including the boat dock, was swept away by a flood in 1974. The flood also claimed the lives of nine people and marked the definitive end of the town, which was already in decline after the mines closed. Today, it has become a tourist destination, partly due to its use as a filming location for various movies.
Visiting Nelson Ghost Town
Nelson has now become a popular destination for photography services and film production, so many things have been restored, and the town has become a kind of open-air museum showcasing vintage objects. At the same time, visiting the mines provides a captivating experience that allows visitors to better understand how and why this place was born, thrived, and eventually declined.
Tickets and Hours
Access is allowed every day from 8 am to 6 pm. Since the owners live here, they do not accept visits outside of these hours and require all visitors to leave after sunset.
Nelson has now become a popular ghost town for photography services, so a fee is charged (ranging from $10 to $20) if you are here for this purpose. However, if you are simply taking a walk, a fee of $2 is required, or you may even be able to see it for free on the condition that no photos are taken.
Attractions and Things to Do
Among the many ghost towns found in this area, some are perfectly preserved and maintained, while others are left in a state of decay. Still, others are transformed into amusement parks for tourists. Nelson falls somewhere in between. There are dilapidated and seemingly abandoned structures, but there are also well-maintained areas filled with vintage objects that transport you back in time.
Outside, an old Texaco service station serves as a backdrop to several early 20th-century vehicles, many of which are colorful and quite fascinating. One of the highlights is a crashed airplane, but it’s not the wreckage of a real plane crash. It’s a prop from the movie “3000 Miles to Graceland”, starring Kurt Russell and Kevin Costner, which was filmed here. There’s also a broken piano, a camel-shaped carousel, a school bus transformed into a three-story vehicle, and various other peculiarities.
Nelson Ghost Town Mine Tour
If you visit Nelson, it is worth dedicating an hour to exploring the Techatticup Mine, the oldest and most prosperous mine in the area. The tour takes you through the tunnels to see where gold and silver were extracted for decades. If you plan to participate in a mine tour, it’s important to note that tours last a little over an hour and usually take place at 9 am, 12 pm, and 2 pm. However, tours are rarely conducted with fewer than four adults, so it’s advisable to call and make a reservation at +1 702-291-0026. Mine tours cost $15 per person. Children aged 5 to 12 pay $10, and those under 5 enter for free.
Places to Stay Near the Ghost Town
The closest place to stay is Boulder City, the nearest city to the Hoover Dam. If you’re taking a road trip between Nevada and Arizona, a viable alternative is to stay in Bullhead City, near the Davis Dam. However, if you want the widest range of choices, it’s advisable to seek accommodation in Las Vegas. Click the button below to read our recommendations for where to stay in the city:
