Please remember to exercise caution when exploring Nevada's Ghost Towns & Mining Camps. Open shafts, drifts going into mountainsides, and old buildings, are all DANGEROUS. Be aware of your surroundings, and let someone know where you are, especially if your plans change.

Guadalajara (Sante Fe)

DIRECTIONS: From Austin, head east on U.S. 50 for 11.5 miles. Exit right onto Nevada 376 and follow for 12 miles. Exit right and follow for 1 mile to the Schmidtlein Ranch. Ask for permission here to visit Guadalajara, located 1 mile above the ranch.

"The Sante Fe District was organized by Peter Brandow, Robert Stuart, and John Reed in March 1863 after Mexican prospectors had located substantial silver ledges here. By summer, 3,000 mining claims had been staked in the district. A city site was platted in early 1864, and the boom was on. Among the more notable of the many mines in the district were the King (the most valuable), Mother Lode (owned by the Centary Mining Company, which built a mill in nearby Kingston Canyon), Santa Maria (the original location of the district), Otho, Mammoth, San Francisco, Florida, Maryland, Hudson, Amazon, Eureka, and Rattler.

While close to twenty mining companies were active in the area, only a few actually turned a profit. The best-producing mining companies of the district included the Maryland Silver Mining Company, Imperatrice Silver Mining Company, Belle Silver Mining Company, Santa Maria Silver Mining Company, Vulcan Mining Company (Alpheus Bull, president), United States Gold and Silver Mining Company (T. L. Bibbins, secretary), and Taurus Mining Company (C. H. Burton, secretary and recorder for the Sante Fe District).

By summer 1864, Guadalajara had reached its peak. About 150 people lived in the town, and the usual assortment of businesses thrived there. However, long life was not in the cards for his boom camp. In most of the mines, the ore was there one day, gone the next. One by one, the mines closed, and the population began to shrink. By the late 1860s, only a few mines were still producing, and only small amounts of ore were emerging. By 1870, only 50 residents were left. Two years later, only two mines, Yosemite and King, were being worked. A handful of residents still lived here, however, most employed in the mines and mills of surrounding districts. The population still stood at 37 in 1881, but virtually all mining activity within the district had ceased. By 1890 Guadalajara had joined the ghosts. Today the site is one of the most intriguing in Lander County. Close to twenty stone ruins remain, some in surprisingly good condition. Many of the buildings exhibit unique design. A number have narrow slits in the walls for rifles, just in case of Indian attack. This is a fascinating ghost town, but since it is on private property, please ask permission at the ranch before venturing up Sante Fe Canyon."

 

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