Searchlight, Nevada

Not all ghost towns in Nevada die away and never get rebuilt. Searchlight is a perfect example of a town that would not die.

Gold was discovered in Searchlight, Nevada in 1897 by G.F. Colton. A year later Searchlight had a complete mining camp in place and even a Post Office.

At the turn of the century, Searchlight population had increased enough to be considered an official Nevada town. Within the next seven years, 1907, Searchlight had a population of more than 5,000.

The town was thriving in 1907 with more than a dozen saloons, and the surrounding area had forty-four working mines. Hardships began in late 1907 as with many mining towns and camps around the southwest. As the quality and quantity of gold ore declined, influx of new capital was essential. In 1934 they constructed a new mill to help the output of the mines. Unfortunately, the lack of ore required the new mill to shut down a year later.

Searchlight, an hour drive, 55 miles, south of Las Vegas, was a major mining area between 1902 - 1909. Searchlight is now a small tourist town located on the drive from Las Vegas to Laughlin.