Big Bear, CA
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Courtland, Arizona
Courtland is a classic example of an Arizona ghost town, born from the rapid boom-and-bust cycle typical of early 20th-century mining communities in the American Southwest. Located in Cochise County at the foot of the Dragoon Mountains, approximately 15 miles northeast of the famous town of Tombstone, Courtland played a brief but significant role in the region’s copper mining industry.
Early Mineral History and Pre-Town Activity
The area’s mineral wealth dates back further than the town itself. Mining claims in the broader district (now known as the Turquoise Mining District or Courtland-Gleeson Mining District) were first discovered and located in the early 1890s. The region had even earlier significance, with Native American groups like the Navajo and Apache mining turquoise in the Dragoon Mountains for centuries, trading it for jewelry and other items. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, turquoise mining gained prominence, particularly after a fad boosted by retailers like Tiffany & Co. in the 1890s. Nearby Gleeson (originally called Turquoise) was tied to this activity, but turquoise production declined when the fashion waned.
The shift to copper transformed the area. In 1908, rich copper ore veins were discovered in the hills, with assays showing exceptionally high grades—around 7.5% copper in some deposits, far above the typical 2-3% that made large-scale operations viable elsewhere.
Founding and Boom Period (1909–1910s)
Courtland was officially founded in 1909 amid a copper mining boom. It was named after Courtland Young, one of the owners of the Great Western Mining Company (his brother W.J. Young was more actively involved in establishing the town). The Young brothers, lumber magnates from Clinton, Iowa, capitalized on the rich ore discoveries by acquiring significant land holdings.
Four major mining companies quickly entered the scene:
- Great Western Mining Company
- Calumet & Arizona
- Copper Queen (associated with Bisbee operations)
- Leadville Mining Company
These operations drew hundreds of settlers almost overnight, turning the site into a bustling tent city that rapidly grew into a proper town. At its peak, Courtland had a population of over 2,000 residents.
To support the influx, two railroads extended lines to the town:
- The Mexico & Colorado Railroad (owned by the El Paso & Southwestern Railroad)
- The Arizona & Colorado Railroad (owned by Southern Pacific)
These rail connections linked Courtland northward to Cochise and helped transport ore and supplies, making it a key hub in the local mining network.
The post office opened on March 13, 1909, reflecting the town’s rapid establishment and official recognition.
Historic Events and Daily Life
Courtland’s heyday was marked by typical boomtown activity: mining operations, general stores, hotels, cafes (such as the Crescent Cafe documented in 1909 photos), a jail, and community infrastructure. It formed part of the “Ghost Town Trail” alongside nearby Gleeson and Pearce, a string of mining settlements in the Sulphur Springs Valley.
While no major violent events like those in Tombstone are prominently recorded, the town experienced the standard challenges of mining camps, including labor demands and economic fluctuations tied to copper prices. Some later remnants include concrete structures from copper precipitation (cementation) processes near the Mame Mine, though these post-date the initial boom.
Major activity in the district peaked around 1919, after which production declined.
Decline and Ghost Town Status
The copper boom was short-lived. As ore quality diminished and market conditions changed, mining operations wound down. The population dwindled rapidly, and the post office closed on September 30, 1942, marking the end of Courtland as an active community. By 1938 or the early 1940s, it had largely been abandoned, with the bust completing the classic boom-to-bust cycle seen in many Arizona mining towns.
Today, Courtland is a true ghost town with no permanent residents (though some ranches occupy the broader area). Scattered ruins remain, including remnants of buildings, a jail, sidewalks, old mine sites, and a cemetery. It attracts off-road enthusiasts, history buffs, and those exploring the Ghost Town Trail. Some turquoise mines in the vicinity are still privately operated for collecting and sales by appointment.
Role in the Region
Courtland served as an important satellite in southeastern Arizona’s copper mining economy during the early 20th century, complementing larger operations in nearby Bisbee (Copper Queen) and contributing to the region’s output of copper, along with some base metals, manganese, and turquoise. Its railroads made it a transportation node connecting remote mines to broader rail networks. Part of Cochise County’s mining heritage—tied to the post-Apache Wars settlement boom—Courtland exemplified how mineral discoveries could spawn instant communities in the desert, supporting the growth of southern Arizona as a key U.S. copper-producing area.
Though short-lived, Courtland’s story highlights the transient nature of resource-based towns in the American West, leaving behind a legacy of ruins that preserve Arizona’s mining history for modern visitors.
Baldwin Lake-Bear Valley Mining District
The Baldwin Lake-Bear Valley Mining District (also referred to as the Baldwin Lake District or encompassing parts of the broader Bear Valley area) is located in the northern San Bernardino Mountains of San Bernardino County, California, east of Baldwin Lake and in the vicinity of Big Bear Valley and Holcomb Valley. This high-elevation region (around 6,700–7,000 feet) saw episodic gold mining activity, primarily from the mid-19th century through the early 20th century, with some intermittent prospecting later.
Geology
The district features a complex geologic setting typical of the San Bernardino Mountains, including metamorphic rocks such as mica schist, quartzite, and limestone, intruded by granite. Ore deposits primarily consist of irregular quartz-calcite veins hosting free gold, along with scheelite (tungsten mineral) and various sulfides (e.g., pyrite and others). Gold occurs in lode (vein) systems, with some associated placer deposits in alluvium from erosion of these veins. The area lacks a major “mother lode” but has numerous small to medium quartz veins and stringers, often fault-controlled. The region’s rugged terrain, with colluvial and alluvial processes, has influenced deposit exposure and mining challenges.
History and Significant Developments
Gold mining in the broader San Bernardino Mountains dates to reports of placer activity by Mexican miners possibly as early as the 1800s (or 1850s in some accounts), but the district’s main activity began around 1860. The nearby Holcomb Valley gold rush (triggered by William F. “Grizzly Bill” Holcomb’s 1860 discovery) drew prospectors to the region, leading to boom towns, violence, and short-lived placer operations. The Baldwin Lake area saw lode quartz mining emerge later.
The Rose Mine was active by 1860, marking early lode efforts. Activity increased in the 1870s with quartz vein discoveries. In 1873, Elias Jackson “Lucky” Baldwin—a wealthy investor known for prior mining successes elsewhere—purchased claims (including what became the Gold Mountain Mine, originally Carters Quartz Hill) for around $30,000. He formed the Gold Mountain Mining Company, shifting toward larger-scale quartz operations.
The area transitioned from individual placer prospecting to company-driven lode mining. Towns like Doble (also called Bairdstown) boomed briefly in the 1870s–1890s near the mines, supporting miners with stores, saloons, and mills. Belleville (in nearby Holcomb Valley) rivaled San Bernardino in population during peak rushes but declined quickly.
Mining peaked in the 1890s–early 1900s, with renewed interest in the 1930s (e.g., at some properties during the Great Depression). The district never produced at the scale of major California districts, lacking rich bonanzas, and activity waned by the 1920s–1940s as high-grade ore depleted and economics shifted.
No large towns or extensive mills were permanent fixtures solely in the Baldwin Lake sub-district; support came from nearby Holcomb Valley/Big Bear settlements. Small stamp mills or arrastres processed ore locally, but details on major mills are limited.
Significant Mines
- Gold Mountain Mine (also Baldwin Mine or Lucky Baldwin Mine): The district’s most prominent, overlooking Doble and Baldwin Lake. Operated intermittently into the 1920s (last major activity ~1923). Focused on quartz veins with free gold.
- Rose Mine: Active 1860; one of the earliest lode operations.
- Erwin Gold Mine: Near Big Bear City/Baldwin Lake area; historical producer.
- Doble-area claims (e.g., Gold Mountain group): Multiple unpatented claims in the 1870s onward.
- Others: Numerous small prospects (e.g., Gold Hill Mine, various Gold Mountain extensions); some with scheelite or polymetallic potential.
Mine Owners/Operators
- Early prospectors: Individual miners (including Mexican placer workers pre-1860) and discoverers like the Carter brothers (filed claims in 1873).
- Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin: Dominant figure from 1873; purchased and developed Gold Mountain claims into a company operation.
- Later operators: Various small companies and lessees in the 1890s–1930s; no single long-term corporate dominance.
Production, Money Earned, and Tonnage
Specific district-wide totals are sparse in records, as much activity was small-scale and unreported. The broader San Bernardino Mountains gold region (including Holcomb/Bear Valleys) yielded modest placer and lode output compared to Sierra Nevada districts—likely in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars total (at historical gold prices of ~$20–$35/oz).
- No comprehensive tonnage or value figures exist for the Baldwin Lake-Bear Valley District alone; it was not a major producer.
- Individual mines like Gold Mountain/Baldwin had limited documented output, with operations described as modest.
- Nearby Holcomb Valley placers were richer per square mile in Southern California but short-lived (~1860s boom).
- Overall, the district contributed to Southern California’s minor gold output, with values far below millions; activity was intermittent and often unprofitable long-term.
Today, remnants (e.g., Gold Mountain Mine ruins) are visible along trails like the Gold Fever Trail, and the area is part of recreational and ecological reserves near Baldwin Lake. Mining claims persist (some active), but commercial production ceased decades ago.
Desert Chicory (Rafinesquia neomexicana)
Desert Chicory (Rafinesquia neomexicana), also known as New Mexico plumeseed or plumeseed, is a delicate annual wildflower native to the arid deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. This grayish-green plant features sparse foliage, weak zigzag stems that often climb through or lean on nearby shrubs for support, and exudes a milky sap when broken. Its basal leaves are pinnately lobed with narrow segments, while upper leaves are smaller and reduced. The most striking feature is its large, showy white flower heads—resembling dandelion-like blooms with strap-shaped ray florets often tinged with faint purplish streaks on the undersides—blooming in spring (typically March to May or June) after sufficient winter rains, brightening sandy or gravelly desert landscapes in habitats like creosote bush scrub and Joshua tree woodlands.
Scientific Taxonomy and Categorization
Scientific Name: Rafinesquia neomexicana A. Gray Common Names: Desert Chicory, New Mexico Plumeseed, California Chicory, Desert Chickory
Taxonomic Hierarchy (based on standard botanical classification):
- Kingdom: Plantae (Plants)
- Clade: Tracheophytes (Vascular plants)
- Clade: Angiosperms (Flowering plants)
- Clade: Eudicots
- Clade: Asterids
- Order: Asterales
- Family: Asteraceae (Aster or Sunflower family; also known as the daisy family)
- Genus:Rafinesquia
- Species:Rafinesquia neomexicana
This species belongs to the tribe Cichorieae within Asteraceae (the chicory tribe), characterized by flower heads composed entirely of ligulate (strap-shaped) ray florets with milky sap — traits shared with common chicory (Cichorium intybus) and dandelions. It is a native annual herbaceous forb (herb), completing its life cycle in one season from a taproot. It is not a true chicory but earns the common name from its superficial resemblance to chicory flowers. Synonyms include Nemoseris neomexicana.
Detailed Plant Description
Desert Chicory is a delicate, grayish-green annual forb growing 6–24 inches (15–61 cm) tall, typically reaching up to 2 feet. The stems are weak, purplish at the base, zigzag-shaped, glabrous (completely hairless), and often climb or lean on neighboring shrubs for support. All parts exude a milky sap when broken. Leaves are sparse and alternate along the stems: lower (basal) leaves are larger (2–8 inches or 5–20 cm long), pinnately lobed with narrow, teeth-like lobes; upper leaves are reduced to small, bract-like appendages. The entire plant has a sparse, upright appearance adapted for arid conditions.
Detailed Flower Description
The showy, bright white flower heads measure about 1½ inches (3.8 cm) across and appear solitary or in small clusters at the tips of branches. Each head consists exclusively of ligulate ray florets (no central disk florets), giving it a dandelion- or chicory-like appearance. The rays are strap-shaped, with 5 small teeth at the tips and often purplish streaks or veins on the undersides or midribs. The phyllaries (bracts enclosing the head) are ½–1 inch (1.5–2.5 cm) long and feature purple-streaked midribs. Flowers open in response to adequate winter rainfall and close at night or in cloudy weather. The overall effect is a starburst of pure white against the desert backdrop.
Fruit: A cypsela (achene) with a pappus of dark gray bristles (hence “plumeseed”).
Habitat
Desert Chicory thrives in arid, dry-climate environments with sandy, gravelly, or rocky well-drained soils. It is commonly found in creosote bush scrub, Joshua tree woodland, arid plains, mesas, bajadas, moderate slopes, washes, and lower desert flats. It often grows nestled among or supported by other desert shrubs. Elevation range: 200–4,500 feet (61–1,067 m), primarily in lower to upper desert zones.
Range and Distribution
Native Range: Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
- U.S. States: Arizona (AZ), California (CA), Nevada (NV), New Mexico (NM), Texas (TX), Utah (UT).
- Mexico: Northern and central Baja California, Sonora.
It occurs across the Mojave Desert and Sonoran Desert (including the Colorado Desert subregion). In California, it is native and found in creosote bush scrub and Joshua tree woodland communities. Distribution is concentrated in southeastern California, southern Nevada, and central/western/northeastern Arizona. It is absent from the eastern United States (where “Carolina desert-chicory” refers to the unrelated Pyrrhopappus carolinianus).
Phenology and Ecology
Bloom Period: February–June (primarily March–May), peaking as a conspicuous spring bloomer following adequate winter rainfall.
Ecologically, it provides nectar and pollen for butterflies, moths, native bees, and other insects. Seeds and plants may attract hummingbirds, rodents, granivorous birds, and even red-eared blister beetles (which feed on petals). It is an important early-season wildflower in desert ecosystems. Similar species include Rafinesquia californica (smaller heads, more restricted in Arizona) and Calycoseris wrightii (tackstem, with glandular herbage).
This native desert annual plays a key role in post-rainfall displays across the Southwest, including areas around Las Vegas, Nevada, where it brightens sandy washes and slopes each spring.
Coppereid, Nevada – Churchill County Ghost Town
Coppereid, also known as White Cloud City, is a historic ghost town and mining camp in Churchill County, Nevada, located in White Cloud Canyon on the western slope of the Stillwater Range. The site lies approximately 35 miles southeast of Oreana (or roughly 20–25 miles south/southeast of Fallon, depending on the route), accessible via dirt roads off Stillwater Road into the canyon. Coordinates are approximately 39.849°N, 118.189°W. It is a remote, scenic location with a seasonal stream, wildlife, and remnants of stone and adobe structures, including building foundations and smelter ruins.
Early Discovery and Development (1860s–1890s)
Copper ore was first discovered in White Cloud Canyon in 1868 by Frederick Smith and Major B.B. Bee. Initial small-scale work occurred in the early 1870s (around 1871–1873), with a copper smelter erected near the mouth of the canyon at what was then called White Cloud City or the White Cloud mining area. Operations were limited due to transportation challenges, low-grade ore, and the remote desert setting. Further intermittent activity took place in 1889–1896, particularly in 1893–1896, focusing on copper with some associated iron, lead, and other minerals.
In the early 1890s, the area saw renewed interest under the name Clemens (with a post office established October 29, 1892, and discontinued June 26, 1895). Mining remained modest, reflecting the boom-and-bust cycle typical of small Nevada mining districts in the Great Basin.
Peak Activity as Coppereid (1900s–1910s)
A more substantial camp emerged around 1907 when the site was redeveloped as Coppereid. A new townsite formed adjacent to the Coppereid Mine, featuring a steam hoisting plant, air compressor, and several buildings to support underground mining. By 1908, the camp included infrastructure for processing ore. A 3,790-foot aerial tramway was constructed to transport ore from mines higher in the canyon down to a smelter near the mouth.
The Coppereid post office opened on April 8, 1907, and operated until June 15, 1914, serving a small population that peaked at around 40 residents. The settlement supported miners, their families, and support workers in a typical early-20th-century mining camp layout. Ore production remained relatively small overall, with copper as the primary commodity alongside iron. The mine is classified in the Copper Kettle Mining District (or associated with the White Cloud/White Cloud Canyon area).
Decline and Later Attempts
Like many small Nevada mining operations, Coppereid struggled with economic viability. High transportation costs, fluctuating metal prices, and the challenges of water and isolation contributed to its decline after the post office closed in 1914. The site was largely abandoned by the 1910s–1920s, transitioning into a ghost town.
A final attempt to revive the mine occurred from 1948 to 1952. Workers recovered nearly $10,000 in ore, but operations ended abruptly when a flash flood—caused by water issuing from the main adit—damaged equipment and infrastructure. No significant production has occurred since, and the mine is now closed with no known plans for reopening.
Today and Preservation
Coppereid/White Cloud City remains a popular destination for ghost town enthusiasts, historians, and off-road explorers. Visible ruins include stone building foundations, smelter remnants, mine workings, and scattered debris from the mining era. The canyon setting provides a picturesque contrast of desert landscape, riparian vegetation along the stream, and rugged mountain terrain.
The site is on public land (likely Bureau of Land Management) and is accessible but requires high-clearance or 4WD vehicles for the final approach. Visitors are encouraged to practice “leave no trace” principles, avoid disturbing structures or artifacts, and be prepared for remote conditions with no services. It is sometimes visited alongside other nearby Churchill County sites like those in the Stillwater Range.
Coppereid exemplifies the small-scale, speculative copper mining that occurred across rural Nevada in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Unlike larger silver or gold rushes (such as those in Austin or Tonopah), it never developed into a major boomtown but left tangible ruins that illustrate the optimism, hardship, and transience of frontier mining life in the Great Basin. Its history ties into broader patterns of mineral exploration in Churchill County, which has seen varied but generally modest production compared to neighboring counties.
Dixie Valley, Nevada – Churchill County Ghost Town
Dixie Valley, located in Churchill County, Nevada, is a remote, north-south trending basin in the Great Basin desert, flanked by the Stillwater Range to the west and the Clan Alpine Mountains to the east. Situated roughly 50–70 miles northeast of Fallon (accessible via Dixie Valley Road north from U.S. Highway 50), the valley features artesian springs, lush meadows in places, and geothermal resources. It is now largely part of the U.S. Navy’s Fallon Range Training Complex (FRTC), used for military aviation training, including by the Navy’s “Top Gun” school at Naval Air Station Fallon.
Early Exploration and Mineral Interest (1860s)
Indigenous peoples, likely including the Northern Paiute, used the valley for hunting, camping, and resources for centuries prior to Euro-American arrival. White settlers first entered the area around 1860–1861 during the early mining boom following Nevada’s territorial period.
In 1861, interest in mineral resources led to the organization of the Dixie Marsh District. Settlers targeted salt, potash, and borax deposits, particularly from the Humboldt Salt Marsh (also called Dixie Marsh) at the head of the valley. A small settlement called Dixie (sometimes referred to as the abandoned town of Dixie) was established at the head of the valley and named by Southern sympathizers during the Civil War era. Some borax production occurred—reportedly as many as ten cars shipped—but mining activity was intermittent and largely declined by 1868. Silver and gold prospecting in surrounding mountains continued sporadically.
The valley floor itself saw limited early development, partly due to its isolation. Federal surveys initially labeled it “Osobb” before the Dixie name took hold.
Brief Mining Revivals and Short-Lived Camps (Early 1900s)
Mining excitement returned briefly in 1907 when word of a silver discovery near the marsh reached the nearby camp of Wonder. A new townsite named Dixie was laid out in June 1907, quickly growing to include five saloons, two general stores, restaurants, a hotel, assay office, bakery, and a population of about 200. The boom faded by the end of summer as prospects proved disappointing. Another short revival occurred around 1911–1912 under French promoters who renamed the camp “Marvel,” but it too failed.
A separate gold and silver operation, the Dixie Comstock Mine, saw activity starting in 1935, with most production through 1942 (halted by wartime restrictions on non-essential gold mining). Sporadic work continued later, but output remained modest.
Ranching Community (1910s–1980s)
Unlike many Nevada mining ghost towns, the lasting settlement in Dixie Valley was agricultural. The first ranching families arrived around 1914, drawn by abundant artesian wells and springs that created fertile meadows ideal for growing alfalfa and raising cattle. Additional families followed, establishing a scattered ranching community with up to about 50 families or ranches at its peak. Homes were often isolated, with neighbors more than a mile apart.
The community maintained a one-room schoolhouse (serving grades 1–8, with the teacher living on-site; older students bused to Fallon). It also functioned as a community hall for meetings, dances, and elections. A post office operated from March 7, 1918, to December 30, 1933. The population was recorded as 49 in the 1940 census. There were no retail businesses, reflecting the self-sufficient, isolated nature of life in this “slice of Eden” amid the desert.
The valley experienced a significant natural event on December 16, 1954, when a major earthquake doublet struck central Nevada. A magnitude ~7.1–7.2 Fairview Peak earthquake was followed just over four minutes later by a ~6.8–6.9 Dixie Valley earthquake. These events produced extensive surface ruptures (up to several meters of offset) along faults, including the east-dipping Dixie Valley fault, visible as prominent scarps today. Damage in the remote valley was limited, with no reported injuries.
Geothermal Development
Geothermal exploration intensified in the 1980s. A medium-sized Dixie Valley geothermal power plant (66 megawatts) came online in 1988, utilizing steam from production wells. It continues to operate with a small workforce, highlighting the valley’s significant geothermal resources tied to its fault system.
Acquisition by the U.S. Navy and Transition to Ghost Town (1980s–1995)
In the 1980s, the U.S. Navy sought to expand its training ranges around Naval Air Station Fallon to accommodate growing aviation needs, including low-level flight training and weapons ranges. Negotiations for the Dixie Valley area (part of a larger ~5,500-square-mile expansion) began around 1984. Many residents resisted, citing concerns over compensation, the need to leave despite the Navy primarily wanting airspace, and increasing jet noise and sonic booms that disrupted daily life.
Most residents eventually accepted offers and relocated, primarily to Fallon, Reno, or other areas, with a 90-day evacuation period for some. The Navy acquired the land in 1995, incorporating it into the Fallon Range Training Complex (FRTC). Many homesteads and structures were demolished or left to deteriorate, though some ruins, outbuildings, an abandoned school bus, and scattered remnants (including military vehicles like tanks used for training) remain. The old schoolhouse was reportedly burned by the Navy in the late 1980s. A small cemetery with a few graves persists as a quiet reminder of the community.
Today
Dixie Valley is now a “different kind of ghost town”—abandoned not by economic bust but by federal acquisition. The area features abandoned ranch ruins, visible 1954 earthquake scarps, geothermal infrastructure, and active military use with jets frequently overhead. Access is limited in parts due to Navy restrictions, but some roads and viewpoints allow public exploration (check current regulations with the BLM or Navy). The valley retains its stark beauty, with springs, meadows, and desert expanses.
Dixie Valley exemplifies multiple layers of Nevada history: early mineral exploration during the Civil War era, 20th-century ranching resilience in a harsh environment, seismic activity along the Central Nevada Seismic Belt, renewable energy development, and modern military expansion. Its story contrasts with typical boom-and-bust mining towns, highlighting instead the tensions between civilian communities and federal land-use priorities in the American West. Ruins and interpretive remnants provide a tangible link to these chapters.