In early 1880, a new attempt at working the Cerro Gordo mines was underway. Our interest in the Cerro Gordo had been aroused during a previous trip into that region when we saw at Keeler the lower terminus of' the old tramway which once brought the rich ore from the mine down the side of the mountain. An email has been sent to the address you entered, please click the link in that email to confirm your address. Cerro Gordo Road is just short of 8 miles long and fairly steep in places. Businessman, Victor Beaudry of nearby Independence, California, was so impressed by the quality of silver being taken out of Cerro Gordo, he opened a store near the mine and soon acquired several mining claims to settle unpaid debts. In April, 1866, the mine was included in the Lone Pine Mining District organized in April, 1866. The internet has much information on the area. Several attempts were made at restarting the Union mine in the 1890s, but depressed silver prices during this decade thwarted the efforts every time. The Cerro Gordo Mine isn’t a single mine, rather it is a collection of abandoned mines near Lone Pine. Welcome to Cerro Gordo. The particular details of the discovery are obscure, but it is thought that the first discoveries of silver ore were made by Mexican miners in 1865. Bring your own food and water. We are not responsible for ruts, holes, rocks or the overall condition of the road. In the early 1870’s, two smelters were erected at Cerro Gordo and one on Owens Lake near the rival town of Swansea. In 1872 the steamboat “Molly Stevens” was put into service to transport goods from Swansea on the northern end of Owens Lake, to Cartago on the southern end, removing over 40 miles of difficult road from the wagon route to Los Angeles. On the shore of Owens Lake, the town of Keeler was laid out and a mill was constructed to process some of the lower grade ores. What is the road like coming from Keeler? The two best years for Cerro Gordo were 1874 and 1875. The Summit Control Station and Power House can be seen at the top of Daisy Canyon northwest of Cerro Gordo ghost town. Our goal is to continually upgrade amenities and keep the town intact to be enjoyed and explored as a true historical site in California. Tramway Ramp Remains No.1 - Infrared Exposure- Cerro Gordo, CA - 2012 | Photo: Osceola Refetoff Cerro Gordo can easily be filled with wanton regret of all those who lived and worked here. Cerro Gordo, in the Inyo Mountains of California, became a ghost town after decades of disuse. What if I find something valuable? I posted all the GPS files in the Maps & GPS Tracks section of this website. Hundreds of miners, prospectors, and businessmen were making their way to the town. At the time the smelters were the best there were. In 1905, mining activity was revived in the Panamint region, and hope was seen for many of the old productive mines. By the 1910s attention had turned to Cerro Gordo’s zinc ores. Schedule a tour to see what life is like here. Keeler languished until 1883 when the Carson and Colorado Railroad built a line into town in July of 1883. From Mapcarta, the free map. Mule teams, owned by Remi Nadeau, transported the ore to Los Angeles, 275 miles away, necessitating high-class ore and bullion in order to make a profit, and for the first few years they did as trains of huge freight wagons delivered so much silver bullion from Cerro Gordo that the Los Angeles News, in February, 1872 stated,“To this city, Cerro Gordo trade is invaluable. The Cerro Gordo Mines are a collection of abandoned mines located in the Inyo Mountains, in Inyo County, near Lone Pine, California. The principal mines at this time were the San Lucas, San Ygnacio, San Francisco, and San Felipe. Mining Town Archive | A 5.6-mile, gravity-powered Leschen and Sons wire-rope aerial tramway replaced the initial Montgomery tram and moved 20 tons of zinc ore daily to the railroad at Keeler. (function() { The road in is dirt and if wet, can make conditions treacherous. You gain a mile in elevation from bottom to top, so it’s steep. s.parentNode.insertBefore(gcse, s); The town was the silver thread to Los Angeles, being partially responsible for its growth and economic development. One of Cerro Gordo's most famous ghosts is that of Alphonse Benoit. After our visit to Cerro Gordo, we continued up into the Inyo Mountains. Cerro Gordo was purchased by the Great Western Ore Purchasing and Reduction Company, which envisioned building a 100-ton smelter for custom work and also to process ore left on the Cerro Gordo dumps, earlier considered too low grade for the technological methods then in use. Situated near the summit of Buena Vista Peak at an elevation of 8,500 feet, the isolated mining outpost became known as Cerro Gordo, meaning “fat hill”, the meaning, of course, that it was fat with silver. Known as the Yellow Grade Road, Belshaw charged tolls for its use and was able to control the shipments of silver from the mountain. Ore Buckets From the Aerial Tramway. A smelter was built at Keeler and a steam tractor was used to haul ore down the mountain. Price: US $95.00 . Cerro Gordo Mining in the 1900's Part Two. Cerro Gordo Mining in the 1900’s. 8500’, so many people can suffer slight altitude sickness. If you’d like to donate to our cause you may make a contribution to the Cerro Gordo Historical Foundation, a 501(c)3. taken from Owens Valley History site. The Cerro Gordo Mines are a collection of abandoned mines located in the Inyo Mountains, in Inyo County, near Lone Pine, California. It may be better to approach from the Cerro Gordo Mine. How’s the weather? Cerro Gordo was once again an active mining town. Cerro Gordo is located on the western slope of the Inyo Mountains about seven miles east of Keeler and thirty miles south of Independence. Right to Left – Old crib from Lola’s Brothel, Assay Office, tramway structure at the Union Mine and a modern day outhouse. They are not allowed in any Town buildings. It is not for vehicles with low ground clearance. The misfortune of the fire, combined with declining yields of ore from the mine signaled the end of major mining operations by 1879 and Cerro Gordo became a virtual ghost town. In 1914 he took title to the property from the previous owner, the Four Metals Co., and incorporated the Cerro Gordo Mines Co. Cerro Gordo was booming again. The tractor cut the ore hauling time in half, but still could not keep the smelter in enough ore to be profitable. Please add your email address and specify your topics of interest. Cerro Gordo is a well preserved town with a great history and an awesome visit spot. The American Hotel was built in 1871 and it still stands today. Just as the mines were running out, another silver discovery was made in 1925. Mining operations spanned 1866 to 1957, producing high grade silver, lead, and zinc ore. In 1912, the Cerro Gordo group, whose property now consisted of tunnels and shafts and an aerial tramway connecting the mine with the narrow-gauge Southern Pacific Railroad at Keeler, was acquired by Utah mining men. Cerro Gordo Mines is situated 2 miles northeast of Tramway. Sat, Oct 20, 2018, 9:00 AM: For those that missed the June trip, we're headed back to Cerro Gordo in October (and the crowd goes wild)! I finally got up to Cerro Gordo last Saturday and took a tour of the town. function ml_webform_success_2150690(){var r=ml_jQuery||jQuery;r(".ml-subscribe-form-2150690 .row-success").show(),r(".ml-subscribe-form-2150690 .row-form").hide()}. Your access to Cerro Gordo Mines, Cerro Gordo Ghost Town site and surrounding areas, whether participating in an organized or unorganized event or just exploring, whether authorized or unauthorized, constitutes your agreement to all of the terms and conditions of our Waiver of Liability and Hold Harmless Agreement. A more lethal blow was dealt by falling lead and silver prices, effectively ending this era of activity at Cerro Gordo. The mines of Cerro Gordo finally became quiet in 1933. From the mid to late 1800’s, Cerro Gordo was a lively silver boom town, controlled by a savvy French Canadian merchant named Victor Beaudry, & Mortimer Belshaw, a well educated son of Irish emigrants who just happened to have a background in both engineering and silver mining. by Cecile Page Vargo . It is the silver cord that binds our present existence. Hiking shoes are recommended if you decide to explore some of the local terrain. Cerro Gordo is an abandoned mining town in central Inyo County. There is also an Assay Office, Hoist House (1877) and more. This matter was finally settled in January, 1876 when the Union Consolidated Mining Company of Cerro Gordo was created and preparations made to return to full-scale production. In 1907 a second smelter was built. Shipping 1,000 tons of ore daily, Cerro Gordo became the largest producer of zinc carbonates in the entire United States. A view roughly southeast along Cerro Gordo Road to a long-abandoned tramway that served the Cerro Gordo mining district during its boom years (probably late 1800s to early 1900s). Cerro Gordo Cerro Gordo, Inyo County. The road in is about eight miles, steep and 4 wheel drive is recommended. There are the prostitutes in the cribs, the starving Indians whose pinion crops were destroyed for firewood, and the miners who broke their spirits on hard rock and unfulfilled dreams. Do not leave pets unattended or in vehicles; heat kills quickly, and pets are especially vulnerable to predators if left alone. There is no public wifi and cellphone coverage is very spotty. The Battle of Cerro Gordo, or Battle of Sierra Gordo, was an engagement in the Mexican–American War on April 18, 1847. No. He supervised the construction of the first wagon road to the town in July of 1868. Home About Living here Visiting Members Contact Tours Interested in living at Cerro Gordo? I had purchased my tour on line at the mine website, but you can also pay in cash once up there. Silver was roasted and formed into bullion, sent down the Yellow Grade road by mule team, then shipped across Owen’s Lake by steamboat. A fire that raged through some of the mine buildings and the Union shaft was the final straw and the furnaces were closed the following February. In 1912, the Cerro Gordo group, whose property now consisted of tunnels and shafts and an aerial tramway connecting the mine with the narrow-gauge Southern Pacific Railroad at Keeler, was acquired by Utah mining men. c.1914 Owens Lake Cerro Gordo Mines Inyo Mountains SP Railroad Tramway Road Map. Now as to what happened to him is a bit sketchy for me. By 1907 high-grade zinc was found in the old Cerro Gordo stopes, and ore shipments were begun. More than 1,500 people filled the camp and buildings were going up as fast as materials could be supplied. Cerro Gordo finally had the basic infrastructure it needed, and a bonanza was about to begin in the district. Cerro Gordo, California 2 commodity had to be hauled up the grade from artesian wells in the valley. The “fat hill” produced silver, lead and zinc for a century. By 1929 the new discovery was in production and Cerro Gordo was once again saved from becoming a ghost town for a few more years. The battle saw Winfield Scott's United States troops outflank Antonio López de Santa Anna's larger Mexican army, driving it from a strong defensive position. However, the revival was not destined to last, as by late 1876 and early 1877 the Union Mine appeared to be played out. By 1875, Cerro Gordo’s water supplies had ran out and water had to be hauled in continuously by pack train. var gcse = document.createElement('script'); Mount Whitney and the Sierras are across the valley, looking over Lake Owens, and provide breath-taking views. Make checks payable to Cerro Gordo Historical Foundation. Cerro Gordo has at several times in its history burned down. There is no camping or overnight stays allowed. The tramway operated from 1913 to 1918, again between 1920-21, and later in 1929 and 1936. Children: (5-12), FREE Depending on the time of year, we suggest bringing a jacket and warm clothing. Successful merchant Victor Beaudry was the first person to recognize the potential of the Cerro Gordo mines. The remains of tramway structure at the Union Mine. At its peak over 1,000 people lived here working in mines as the San Felipe and Union. We ask that any valuable artifacts found are left for the Cerro Gordo Museum so others may enjoy the history. All proceeds go towards the preservation and maintenance of Cerro Gordo through the Cerro Gordo Historical Foundation. The surface ores were very rich and less complex than silver ores of other districts, and the miners were able to extract significant quantities of silver with nothing but hand labor and crude roasting ovens made of adobe. CERRO GORDO. For further information about rates, group discounts or private events, please call us at 760.689.2443. Is there wifi? In 1906 there was again interest in reviving the Cerro Gordo mines. You’ll see and visit the many buildings still standing in Cerro Gordo. Document Archive | All proceeds from guided tours go to the Cerro Gordo Historical Foundation. Admission is payable by check or cash with our Caretaker the day you arrive. In 1908, an aerial tramway was built between Cerro Gordo and the smelters at Keeler, improving the volume and efficiency of transporting ore. By the 1910s attention had turned to Cerro Gordo’s zinc ores. Please note that there is no overnight camping allowed. gcse.async = true; Belshaw immediately acquired a third interest in the Union Mine, the districts top producer, and mined enough silver to take a wagon of bullion to San Francisco as a gesture to impress potential financial backers. var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; Tour interest * Email * Comment * Submit. What Los Angeles now is, is mainly due to it. The plan was to drive to the Saline Valley Salt Tram Summit Station where we would spend the night. He worked as a woodcutter at a nearby lumber camp during the late 1800s. By December of 1868, silver shipments from Cerro Gordo began reaching Los Angeles. The Inyo Mountains had been stripped bare of the sparse juniper and pinyon and wood had to be shipped in from distant sawmills to fuel the smelters. Shipping 1,000 tons of ore daily, Cerro Gordo became the largest producer of zinc carbonates in the entire United States. Its new owners plan to spend about $1 million to make it boom again. Nestled in the foothills of Oregon's Cascade Mountain Range, Cerro Gordo is currently a collection of 13 homes and families organized as a cooperative, with access to conservation easements consisting of 1,000 acres of mountains, meadows, forests, and creeks. Tours are available by reservation and can be guided or self-guided. ISU Extension in Cerro Gordo County serves Iowans through five program areas: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business and Industry, Communities, Families, 4-H Youth Development. Yes, but please keep them on a leash for their safety, as well as the safety of other guests and their pets. .. A reported $500 million of minerals were blasted out of the mountain, but any miner worth his axe knows you never report the full value. 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