Nevada Ghost Town Off Roading and Mine Exploration

09/19/2026

Mohawk Camp, just off the road out...

Sanger Mine...

09/18/2026

Blair, just far enough off the highway to drive right by without knowing it was ever there...

Blair, Nevada is a mining ghost town located in Esmeralda County, Nevada, approximately 3 miles north of Silver Peak. Founded in 1906, it was born out of a conflict with land speculators. When the Pittsburgh-Silver Peak Gold Mining Company attempted to buy land in nearby Silver Peak to construct a massive stamp mill, local speculators jacked up property prices. In response, the company secretly surveyed a brand new townsite nearby—naming it after banker and financier John Insley Blair—and moved their operations there.

At its height, Blair was a booming, fast-growing mining hub. The company completed a massive 100-to-120-stamp mill, which was the largest mill in Nevada at the time. Ore was delivered from the Mary Tunnel via an impressive 14,000-foot aerial tramway.

To service the town, the company constructed its own 17.5-mile Silver Peak Railroad, linking it directly to the Tonopah & Goldfield.

By 1907, Blair boasted a population of 700 residents, a two-story hotel, multiple saloons, stores, a newspaper, and a post office. Over its lifespan, the mill processed more than $6,000,000 worth of gold ore.

Blair's prosperity was entirely dependent on the mine, resulting in a very short lifespan. As ore grades declined, operations slowed down. The post office closed in December 1915, and the mine and mill officially shut down in 1917. By 1920, the town was completely abandoned and deserted.

Today, Blair is a popular stop for desert explorers. A historical marker (Nevada Historical Landmark 174) sits along State Route 265 to commemorate the town. Visitors who venture down the dirt road into the site can see the massive, multi-tiered concrete foundations of the old mill stepped down the hillside. Several stone and cement structures, including a remarkably intact building on a hill that likely served as the mill office.Scattered artifacts, partial chimneys, old fireplaces, and the flat, remaining bed of the former railroad.

Information compiled by AI.
Source of historic pictures unknown.
Modern pictures taken in 2021.
Photobomb by Hank.

09/17/2026

Camp Mohawk

The bottom of the mainshaft (500 ft level), the pinnacle and final session of our exploration at Mohawk...

The Eimco Model 12B Rocker Shovel Loader (Mucking Machine). This is a historic, widely used air-powered rail-mounted mucking machine. Introduced in 1938 by the Eimco Corporation, it revolutionized underground mining by mechanically clearing out "muck" (blasted rock) in narrow tunnels.

Powered by 5-cylinder radial air motors. Air Requirements: 60–125 PSI at a high volume of roughly 250 CFM (this explains the need for 4" air pipe throughout the adits). Moves 1 to 2 tons of rock per minute into attached rail cars. Usually configured for 18-inch or 24-inch narrow-gauge mining tracks. Weight: 4,200 lbs.

09/16/2026

09/16/2026

Mohawk Camp...

Adit right, took the left fork to the mainshaft, and down the ladder to the 300 foot level. At 300' foot right adit went 1 or 2 hundred yards to a collapse. Adit left became schetchy looking and went farther that I was willing to go...

09/15/2026

Mohawk Camp, Adit Left, a surprise upper chamber...

09/15/2026

Camp Mohawk, the road up...

Another view of the wildlife near Argentite Canyon...

Video courtesy of Joey Howard.

09/15/2026

Mohawk Camp, Adit Left

What felt like an immediate 50 ft decent to an incredible amount of timbering...

09/14/2026

Mohawk Camp, on the road up, just below Argentite Canyon...

Video by Debbie Howard

09/14/2026

Mohawk Camp... just down the road... an unusually tall cabin built over the top of another cabin...