desertislands.org (Exploring the Great Basin!)

Gold Springs Ghost Mine
Iron County, Utah
Update: October 2004

In early 2004 the Utah Division of Natural resources demolished the Jennie Mine and all buildings in Gold Springs Ghost Town. There is nothing left but a pile of trash. This site and all the history that was there is gone forever. Here are photos taken in summer 2004.

We thank Mike Jacobs for contributing these photographs. We also have a few words to say about the Utah Division of Natural resources for bulldozing the place... but we'll save that for another venue. Read below to see what Gold Springs USED to look like.

From Surweb.org: "Gold Springs is located on the Utah-Nevada border in Western Iron County. These abandoned buildings are located at the Jennie Mine in the Gold Springs Mining District. The Jennie Mine produced 4,000 ounces of gold and 21,000 ounces of silver from 1907 to 1940. The mine is located northwest of Modena". For more information on Gold Springs and the Jennie Mine, visit Surweb.org.

Please observe and honor the followng staement from the owner of the Jennie Mine: "While we don't wish to distract from the historical and cultural values of exploring old mine sites and ghost towns, we would like you to point out to your web site visitors that many old mine sites are on private land (patented mineral claims), and visitors are therefore trespassing. Our Jennie property is in fact on private land. The buildings are getting more hazardous every day, and the old shafts aren't any better. We are in discussions with the Utah Division of Minerals for a rehabilitation program. Let's keep it safe for everyone!

WARNING: Exploring mines is dangerous activity. Although many such sites in the Great Basin appear abandoned, they may be privately owned and, hence, visitors are often trespassing. Always heed "No Trespassing" signs and avoid the risk of injury and death associated with this activity. For your own safety and to protect property owners, and at the request of mine owners, we discourage people from entering mine shafts and dilapidated structures common in this region.

Excerpt from Some Dreams Die by George A. Thompson, Dream Garden Press, Salt Lake City, ©1982 and 1999 "Several fine mills were built at Gold Springs, including a modern 100 ton per day plant built by the Jennie Mine. In 1907 two new cyanide type mills were ordered for the mines there. That was the town's downfall, for they were hardly completed when the great financial panic of 1907 struck. Bankrupt mining companies were unable to meet their payrolls. Then store owners quit giving credit, and began boarding up their buildings. Short & Elliott used the last of their company's treasury to hire a special train to bring stockholders to Gold Springs to prove the Jennie Mine was still full of gold ore, but the bankers had no money to loan, and left the Jennie Company broke and Gold Springs a vagrant with no means of support. Out of work miners left town and by 1910 Gold Springs was deserted."

Gold Springs is on the Utah-Nevada border west or Modena. Remarkably intact, the site provides a haunting tour of times past. Exercise common sense as you look around...there are still a number of dangerous open shafts and rickety old buildings.

Don't take these warnings lightly.

These buildings were constructed with very heavy lumber which has kept them standing for more than 75 years. The ground beneath them, however, has moved, settled and eroded, causing the structures to lean and sink. Hence walking though the building is dangerous and is not recommended.

It appears that squatters occupied two of these abandoned homes until the late 1970's, when they must have become uninhabitable. Like the mine buildings, these homes are constructed of sturdy materials, but have been damaged severely by ground movement.

After a heavy rain in the desert you are likely to encounter a number of elusive creatures--like this tarantula we observed crossing the road.

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