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.

Simpson Park

DIRECTIONS: From Austin, take U.S. 50 east for 5.7 miles. Exit left onto Nevada 306 and follow for 4 miles to the Willow Creek Ranch. Exit right and follow rough road for 1.5 miles to Simpson Park station.

"Simpson Park, the site of a Pony Express station, was named for Captain James Simpson. The station was built in spring 1860 but on May 20 it was burned by Indians, who also killed the stationmaster, James Alcott, and stole all the stock. When Sir Richard Burton visited the site on October 12, he reported that the station was being rebuilt. After the Pony Express folded, Simpson Park was used by the Overland Stage and Mail Company until the route was moved south to Austin. After that, a ranch operated here for many years. A school was built at nearby Willow Creek Ranch and was active from 1927 until 1941. Today huge stone foundations of three buildings mark the Simpson Park site. One is easily identified as the station house and another as a horse barn and blacksmith shop. The third is of unknown origin. To the south of the foundations are remains of the old station corral, and within it are the remains of a small stone building. A couple of other small stone ruins are scattered near the site. All of these foundations are located in a private field, so visitors should ask permission before venturing onto the site. A cemetery is located on the other side of the road, just north of the site, on a small hill. The six graves, including Alcott's, are almost indiscernible from the surrounding landscape. As late as the 1950s, grave markers were visible, but now only a very sharp eye can pick out the lonely graves of these nameless pioneers."

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