Nelson, Nevada is located a mere 45 minutes from the Strip which allows visitors to Las Vegas to take a day tour to Eldorado Canyon Mine for an out of the ordinary adventure. Leave the drinking and gambling behind and become a prospector for the day. Situated at Techatticup Mine, Eldorado Canyon Mine is probably the most famous gold mine in all of Southern Nevada. If you’re into history and adventure, then a day tour to the Eldorado Canyon Mine is for you. For anyone looking to discover just what the Wild, Wild West was all about, then you definitely need to tour Eldorado Canyon Mine.
Money Saving Tip! Eldorado Canyon Mine Tour is included on the Las Vegas Flex Premium Sightseeing Pass. If you are sightseeing in Searchlight, then you can save a lot of money with a pass.
Eldorado Canyon Mine History
At the mouth of the Colorado River, Spaniards invaded the region and displaced the many Native Americans living there in 1775 to create a settlement that they called Eldorado. Not finding only silver and no gold, they left, but nearly 100 years later, new prospectors to the region came in search of gold. People were so driven to find gold and get rich that anything would go including murder.
The Colorado River is only five miles away and as such, Nelson’s Landing was one of the largest ports on the Colorado River, which became important during the Prohibition era of the 1920’s and the construction of the Hoover Dam. Prohibition was strictly enforced on the Arizona side of the river, but not so much on the Nevada side. This led to an increase in bootlegging of moonshine because people still wanted to drink. When work began on the Hoover Dam, it was necessary for surveyors to get to the work site from Nelson’s Landing. Upon completion of the Hoover Dam, this area was one of the first tourist destinations near Hoover Dam. This resulted in supplies and lodging being created to accommodate tourists.
Techiatticup Mine was operational from 1861 until 1942 and produced more than $2.5 million in gold, silver, copper, and lead. The mine sat unused and abandoned for 50 years. Then Tony and Bobbie Werly purchased 50 acres of land and have been restoring the area, including Techatticup Mine, one of the earliest mining districts in the area. This was a hard and grueling task, but the Werlys were committed to the restoration of Eldorado Canyon Mine.
Today, Techatticup Mine is the oldest and most famous gold mine in Southern Nevada. The history of this mining town is all that remains along with the many memories of illegal activities, crimes, and death along with the larger than life payouts.
Eldorado Canyon Mine: The Main Attraction
A visit to Eldorado Canyon Mine wouldn’t be complete without going below ground on a mining tour. The mine was restored so it’s safe for visitors to enter what was once a working mine until around the end of World War II. Visitors get a guided tour of the mine along with history of the area and mining techniques that were used. Don’t expect a long and boring tour as the tour guides are entertaining and the tours last just over one hour in length. That’s long enough to keep you amused, but not so long that you’ll wander off looking for an exit. The tour guides also welcome questions from guests, which means that both adults and kids who like to ask questions will feel at home here.
You’ll want to wear closed toe shoes for the uneven ground you’ll encounter inside the mine and the areas around it. You can expect much cooler temperatures year round inside the mine even if the temperature climbs outside. That means a visit to Eldorado Canyon Mine is a good idea no matter what time of year you visit.
Why the Eldorado Canyon Mine is a Must-See
Everything you’ll want to see is all below ground at Eldorado Canyon Mine. This place is a literal goldmine for photo opportunities. This could be because there have been countless film and television productions here as well as video and photo shoots and you’ll understand why once you see it. One of the movies that was filmed here was 3000 Miles to Graceland starring Kurt Russell, Kevin Costner, Courtney Cox, Christian Slater, and David Arquette. Some of the props, like the crashed airplane, remain for guests to look over and take pics with for their own special memories of Eldorado Canyon Mine.
What To See When You’re at the Eldorado Canyon Mine
You’ll definitely want to go inside the mine to learn how men were motivated to work inside such a place for a chance to hit it rich. But you also want to walk around the property for the perfect picture. With so many buildings, shacks, artifacts, and abandoned vehicles, you’ll feel transported back in time to another place in history. This family business exists because of the passion the family has to the restoration of Eldorado Canyon Mine and its history.
Why You Should Go to the Eldorado Canyon Mine
If you enjoy reading about history, then Eldorado Canyon Mine will bring the history of the Wild West alive for you. If you like abandoned towns, nothing beats exploring at Eldorado Canyon Mine and the surrounding area. If you like both, then you’ve hit the jackpot. This is definitely a great spot to visit for couples, families, or friends visiting Las Vegas, no matter how old you are. Then you can return home and share your stories, pictures, and videos of your visit to a midwest ghost town and Eldorado Canyon Mine.
