You’ll find Simonsville’s remains near Nevada’s Muddy River, where P.A. Pop Simon’s 1879 silver-lead discovery sparked a mining boom. The site flourished after 1919 when Simon Silver-Lead Mines Company installed a 250-ton flotation mill, with tunnels stretching over 25,000 feet. Operations ceased in 1927 following flooding issues, and by 1938, the post office closed. Today, scattered foundations and mining remnants tell a deeper story of this once-prosperous settlement.
Key Takeaways
- Simonsville developed around Simon Mine, a silver-lead operation discovered in 1879, reaching peak prosperity in the early 1920s.
- The ghost town is located near Overton Airport in Clark County, Nevada, at coordinates 36°33′46″N, 114°26′40″W.
- Mining operations ended in 1931 due to catastrophic flooding, and the post office closure in 1938 marked Simonsville’s abandonment.
- The site featured extensive underground tunnels, a 250-ton flotation mill, and Mormon pioneer homes built from local materials.
- Today, minimal structures remain, with only foundation traces and scattered rubble visible beneath vegetation near the Muddy River.
The Origins of Simon Mine (1879)
While prospectors had long searched the Nevada desert for mineral wealth, the discovery of Simon Mine in 1879 marked a modest beginning for what would later become a significant silver-lead operation.
You’ll find that early mining techniques focused on extracting oxidized lead ores from surface gossan deposits, yielding small but promising shipments. The ore composition primarily consisted of lead-bearing material accessible through shallow digging. It wasn’t until 1919 that miners discovered the true ore wealth beneath the surface.
The mine’s true potential remained hidden beneath complex geological formations, with initial prospectors unaware of the rich silver-lead deposits that lay deeper underground. The P.A. Pop Simon stepped in to organize the Simon Silver-Lead Mines Company, marking a new chapter in the mine’s development.
Hidden wealth lay dormant beneath the earth, its riches concealed by layers of rock unknown to early miners.
From 1879 until 1919, operations stayed relatively small-scale, with miners extracting and shipping minimal amounts of silver-lead ore. These early efforts, though limited, laid the groundwork for the mine’s eventual transformation into a major producer.
Getting to the Ghost Town Today
Although most of Simonsville’s original structures have succumbed to modern development, you can locate this historic ghost town along the east bank of the Muddy River in Clark County, Nevada.
You’ll find it positioned at 36°33′46″N latitude and 114°26′40″W longitude, near the southern end of Overton Airport at an elevation of 1,325 feet.
Access routes require you to navigate through Moapa Valley toward Overton Airport.
Transportation challenges include road realignments and the Clark County Flood Control bridge that now occupies parts of the site.
You’ll need to prepare for off-road travel, as no formal trails exist.
Bring detailed maps, GPS equipment, and sufficient supplies for desert conditions.
The area has been extensively documented in online encyclopedias for its historical significance.
Before visiting, check with local authorities about land permissions, as the site borders private property and county infrastructure.
For security purposes, visitors must complete a verification process before accessing certain restricted areas of the site.
What Remains at the Site
Modern development has left very little of Simonsville’s original structures intact for today’s visitors. The site remnants you’ll find today are minimal, largely due to flood control infrastructure and airport road construction that have altered the landscape. Unlike successful mining towns like Belmont that once had 2,000 to 15,000 residents, Simonsville never achieved significant population growth. Similar to towns like Broken Hills, the site has been severely neglected over time.
Archaeological findings are scarce, with no standing buildings remaining from the town’s 1860s-1870s period.
Sadly, time has erased all traces of Simonsville’s original structures, leaving historians with few clues from its 1860s heyday.
- Foundation traces and scattered rubble may be visible beneath native vegetation
- Mining-related features like shaft openings have been filled or dismantled for safety
- No preserved artifacts or historical displays exist on-site
The Muddy River’s eastern bank, where Simonsville once thrived, has been greatly modified by modern flood control measures. The ghost town’s physical remains have largely disappeared, leaving only subtle hints of its brief but notable existence.
Life in Historical Simonsville
Unlike many Nevada ghost towns founded on mining, you’d find Simonsville’s daily life centered around communal farming and grain milling operations, with families working together to process local harvests at Orrawell Simons’ grist mill.
Similar to how Mark Twain’s cabin still stands in Unionville today, you would’ve seen modest adobe homes housing Mormon pioneer families who relied on the Muddy River for irrigation and basic needs.
You would’ve seen modest adobe homes housing Mormon pioneer families who relied on the Muddy River for irrigation and basic needs.
The tight-knit religious community maintained a self-sufficient lifestyle through cooperative farming, shared resources, and collective labor until taxation disputes with Nevada forced their abandonment in 1870.
The mine’s impressive 250-ton flotation mill processed over 93,000 tons of ore during its peak operations from 1921 to 1927.
Daily Mining Operations
The Simon Silver-Lead Mines Company established a robust mining operation in 1921, anchored by their state-of-the-art 100-ton flotation mill that would later expand to process 250 tons daily by 1923.
You’d find mine labor focused on extracting silver-lead ore from an extensive network of underground tunnels that stretched over 25,000 feet by the mid-1920s. Like many mining operations of the era, the work was marked by Wild West tension as conflicts occasionally erupted between miners over claims and working conditions. The challenging conditions were similar to those faced during the Comstock Lode era, with miners battling harsh underground environments.
- Workers maintained round-the-clock shifts between the mine’s tunnels and the processing mill, keeping the operation at full capacity.
- A power line from Hawthorne electrified the entire operation, running critical pumps and mill equipment.
- Ore extraction continued steadily until 1927, when milling operations ceased.
The daily routine centered on keeping water levels under control while maximizing ore recovery, though power outages occasionally disrupted operations and threatened the mine’s stability.
Community and Social Life
Beyond the clamor of mining operations, Simonsville’s social fabric emerged from its Mormon roots, weaving together religious devotion and communal values that shaped daily life from 1865 to 1870.
You’d have found a tight-knit community centered around the local church, where social gatherings marked religious holidays and harvest seasons. Children attended schools housed in adobe buildings, learning basic academics alongside Mormon teachings.
Community events often combined work and worship, with families joining forces for farming tasks and mill operations. Men worked the fields while women managed households and orchestrated social functions.
The settlement’s social structure followed Mormon traditions of cooperative living, with community leaders mediating disputes and organizing resources.
Though brief, Simonsville’s social bonds remained strong until Nevada’s tax pressures forced the community’s abandonment in 1870.
Housing and Basic Services
Standing along the Muddy River’s east bank, Simonsville’s modest dwellings reflected the practical needs of its Mormon pioneer residents from 1865 to 1870. You’d have found simple homes built from local timber, adobe, and stone, focused on functionality rather than decoration.
The settlement’s housing conditions centered around essential needs, with water access from the river supporting both domestic use and mill operations.
- Basic sanitation practices included outhouses positioned away from water sources, typical of frontier settlements.
- Living spaces relied on oil lamps and wood stoves for lighting, heating, and cooking needs.
- Food storage utilized traditional preservation methods in root cellars, while the local mills processed grains for flour.
The self-sufficient nature of these pioneers meant they’d adapted to life without modern utilities, creating a sustainable though temporary community along the river.
Mining Operations and Economic Impact
You’ll find that Simonsville’s mining story began in 1879 with the discovery of silver-lead ore deposits, though significant development wouldn’t occur until the Simon Silver-Lead Mines Company formed in 1919.
The company installed a 100-ton flotation mill in 1921, later expanding it to 250 tons by 1923, while extending underground workings to approximately 25,000 feet.
Your understanding of the operation’s scale becomes clear when considering the advanced processing methods and electrification infrastructure that supported the mine until flooding and financial challenges led to its decline in the 1930s.
Lead Ore Discovery Phase
While surface gossan initially revealed lead ore deposits in 1879 leading to small oxidized lead shipments, Simonsville’s true mining potential remained untapped until 1919, when P. A. Simon’s extensive exploratory work uncovered valuable ore bodies beneath the surface.
The discovery of argentiferous lead-zinc jasperoid ore, found near an alaskite porphyry dike, transformed the site’s prospects dramatically.
- You’ll find the mine’s development accelerated through vertical and inclined shafts, reaching depths over 500 feet by the late 1920s.
- The ore bodies formed through limestone replacement, creating two distinct shoots: a pipe-like formation in the footwall and another in the dike’s hanging wall.
- Simon’s discovery sparked a rush of mining activity, leading to the establishment of a 100-ton flotation mill by 1921.
Equipment and Processing Methods
Throughout the mining operations at Simonsville, sophisticated equipment and processing methods transformed the site into a model of technical efficiency.
You’d find underground loaders specifically engineered for confined spaces, often operated remotely during initial extraction phases when tunnel stability was uncertain. The mining technology included advanced rock reinforcement techniques, with shotcrete sprayed at high velocity to stabilize fractured formations.
Equipment efficiency reached new heights through the deployment of haul trucks carrying up to 66-ton payloads through narrow underground passages.
The operation’s success relied on continuous haulage systems that maintained steady workflow from mining face to surface processing. Maintenance programs, backed by Silver Service® policies, kept the machinery running at peak performance despite the harsh, abrasive conditions of underground mining.
Economic Rise and Decline
The Simon district’s mining operations began modestly in 1879 with limited silver-lead ore shipments, but the area’s economic trajectory changed dramatically with the formation of Simon Silver-Lead Mines Company in 1919.
You’ll find the district’s peak prosperity emerged through significant mining technology advancements, including a 100-ton flotation mill in 1921 that expanded to 250 tons by 1923.
- Underground workings stretched 25,000 feet by mid-1920s, driving local employment and infrastructure growth
- Economic cycles shifted downward when mill operations ceased in 1927, though smaller-scale mining continued
- A devastating 18-hour power failure in 1931 flooded the mine’s lower levels, leading to failed recovery attempts
The town’s decline accelerated after Bryan Mining Company’s unsuccessful dewatering efforts in 1937, and by 1938, the closure of the post office signaled Simon’s transformation into a ghost town.
Notable Landmarks and Safety Considerations
Once a bustling mill settlement, Simonsville’s notable landmarks have largely disappeared due to modern infrastructure development.
While the historical significance of James Leithead’s original grist mill and Orrawell Simons’ 1866 addition once defined this Muddy River settlement, you’ll find no standing structures remain today. Clark County’s flood control bridge and airport road realignments have transformed the original site.
For ghost town exploration, you’ll need to exercise caution when visiting Simonsville. The site lacks marked trails or visitor facilities, and you’ll encounter potential hazards near the unstable riverbanks.
If you’re planning a visit, bring adequate water, navigation tools, and remember there’s limited cell service. Unlike preserved ghost towns like Berlin, you won’t find interpretive signage or maintained structures at this remote location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Any Documented Paranormal Activities or Ghost Sightings at Simon?
You won’t find documented ghost stories or haunted locations at Simon, despite its ghost town status. Historical records and paranormal archives show no credible sightings or supernatural activity in this area.
What Happened to the Original Mining Equipment and Valuable Materials?
You’ll find most original equipment was dismantled and moved to active mines, while valuable materials were shipped to regional smelters. Locals salvaged remaining metal parts, leaving only scattered, rusted fragments today.
When Was the Last Known Permanent Resident Living in Simon?
You’ll find the last resident departed in 1870 during the mass Mormon exodus. Town history shows everyone left over the tax dispute, and no permanent settlers returned after that point.
Did Any Famous Historical Figures Ever Visit or Invest in Simon?
You won’t find any famous historical figures who visited or invested in this settlement. The town’s limited historical significance and notable investments were restricted to local Mormon settler Orrawell Simons’s mill ventures.
What Is the Estimated Total Value of Ore Extracted From Simon Mine?
You can’t determine the exact ore valuation from Simon Mine’s mining history, as no official records document total value, though 500,000 tons were extracted containing silver, lead and other metals.
References
- https://forgottennevada.org/sites/simon.htm
- https://www.visittheusa.com/experience/6-nevada-ghost-towns-explore-if-you-dare
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgeIdSf5xSY
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ghost_towns_in_Nevada
- https://www.nvexpeditions.com/clark/logandale.php
- https://www.nvexpeditions.com/mineral/simon.php
- https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/0725h/report.pdf
- https://westernmininghistory.com/mine-detail/10044637/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simonsville
- https://www.wikiwand.com/en/map/Simonsville
