The small ghost town of Nelson is nestled in Eldorado Canyon, in the Eldorado Mountains of Clark County between Las Vegas and Laughlin. Just over four square miles in size and housing a population of just 37, the history of the abandoned Nelson ghost town is full of bloodshed and corruption.

This tiny, nearly abandoned ghost town sits at the base of the Eldorado Mountains.
Love_Haight/Flickr
It was originally settled by Civil War deserters looking to evade military authorities.
Nelson is rich in gold, silver, copper and lead, and was the site of one of the largest booms the state of Nevada ever encountered.
Anais H./Yelp
When founded in 1775 by Spaniards, Nelson was originally called El Dorado which, essentially means "city of gold."
Christie L./Yelp
Gold and silver were discovered here in 1859 and the rush began in 1861. In 1897, Nelson was named for Charles Nelson, a camp leader murdered - along with four others - in his camp by Avote, a renegade Indian.
The Techatticup Mine (also known as the Eldorado Mine) was the centerpiece of Nelson's nefarious history.
Love_Haight/Flickr
Because of the mine's high demand, several labor and ownership disputes arose which were usually resolved with bloodshed. In fact, murders became rather commonplace and widely accepted. As a result, Nelson earned a reputation as a mining town whose riches were paid for in blood, yet the fortune-seekers continued to come.
Techatticup/Eldorado Mine operated from 1858 until 1945.
Tanya Hart/Flickr
Today, the mine serves as Nelson's biggest tourist attraction.
Laurie V./Yelp
Nearby Nelson's Landing was a small village on the Colorado River, just five miles east of Nelson where Lake Mohave and the river converge.
kasj2007/TripAdvisor
On 14 September 1974, 12 feet of water flooded Eldorado Canyon killing nine people at Nelson's Landing. Everything in the flood's path was swept into Lake Mohave by a wall of water reportedly 40 feet high.

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Another huge draw is this plane "wreckage" near Nelson.
James Marvin Phelps/Flickr
While many people wonder if this was actually a military plane crash, in reality, this is a movie set built specifically for the 2001 film 3000 Miles to Graceland.
All that remains - aside from the mine and airplane prop - are remnants and relics above the flood line: some abandoned houses, an old Texaco station, and other weathered buildings and machinery.
Rena J./Yelp
Allen/Flickr
Gina C./Yelp
Aimee K./Yelp
Amanda C./Yelp
The Texaco station houses a local river and mining tour business.
Amanda S./Yelp

If you’d like to check it out for yourself but can’t quite make it out there, this delightful video might be helpful:

Not unlike other Nevada ghost towns, Nelson also experienced a boom and bust during the Silver State’s gold rush. However, this nearly abandoned Nevada Mining town has a far more nefarious past. If you’re a fan of the Fallout games, you’ve likely explored a virtual version of Nelson already!

Have you visited Nelson ghost town, toured the mine, and seen the plane prop? Please share your experiences with this abandoned Nevada town in the comments. If you haven’t been yet, it makes for a great day trip from Las Vegas!

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Abandoned Nevada Town

Tori Jane | January 31, 2023

What is the most evil town in Nevada?  

The most evil towns in Nevada include:

  • Las Vegas. Come on, they don’t call it “Sin City” for nothing.  
  • Metropolis is a ghost town with a sinister history. 
  • Virginia City: they say it’s outrageously haunted. We’re inclined to agree with this assessment.  

Learn about some of the creepiest places in Nevada!   

If you ask us, there’s really no such thing as an “evil” town, though some towns do have a bit of a creepy backstory (and Nevada is no stranger to that). 

Which Nevada ghost towns are worth visiting?  

Nevada ghost towns worth visiting include:

  • Pine Grove, a little-known creepy ghost town way out in the desert. It was established in 1866, and it was a ghost town by the 1930s.  
  • Delmar was originally founded in 1889 when, of course, gold was discovered nearby. The mine would close in 1909, and the place has been a ghost town since the 1930s.  
  • Paradise Valley is a ridiculously beautiful place that’s way more serene than you’d ever think a ghost town could be.  
  • Rhyolite, which is delightfully creepy and said to be the site of many a haunted place!  

Learn more about other ghost towns in Nevada.   

How many ghost towns in Nevada are there?  

There are roughly 600 ghost towns in Nevada, some of which are:

  • Aurora 
  • Gold Center 
  • Hamilton 
  • Wonder 

Learn even more about some other amazing ghost towns in NV.   

At the time of this writing, there are more than 600 known ghost towns in NV. Many of them have no trace at all left, though, and aren’t worth trying to find. 

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Nelson, NV 89046, USA