GILMAN |
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NAME: Gilman COUNTY: Eagle ROADS: 2WD GRID: 5 CLIMATE: Cold winter with snow, cool summer BEST TIME TO VISIT: Summer |
COMMENTS:
Total ghost; private property with no public
access; trespassers will be prosecuted. Update: We were told by a Jeep-tour
guide that the EPA closed the place down because of the prodigious amounts
of contaminated waste that this "company" town was dumping into the ground
and the river in the gorge. No trepassing signs are posted at the gates
from Highway 24 and the authorities will yank anyone off the premises if
they know you are there. This is usually given away by your vehicle being
parked somewhere along the road near the site which is in the middle of
a long, no access portion of the highway. Our guide told us, however, that
people have been known to illegally access the site via mountain bike Submitted
by: Dick and Carol Oakes. REMAINS: Many original buildings. |
Gillman was founded in 1886 and is still not exactly a ghost town. The town is perched on the side of Battle Mountain and had as many as 2000 residents during its boom years. Most of the cabins were built on the side of the steep hill and steps were constructed up the cliff to gain access to the mines. Half of Gillman was destroyed by fire in 1899 including a hotel, the schoolhouse and most of the business section. However, as recently as 1950 production was valued at nearly 13 million dollars and was well above five million in 1953. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth. Update: in 1984, Gilman was abandoned and closed to the public while being cleared of mining pollutants. Zinc and lead were mined here. |
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