Most People Have No Idea There’s An Underwater Ghost Town Hiding In Nevada
In Nevada, the “great flood” isn’t only a biblical reference. As it turns out, the man-made creation of the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead in the 1930s led to the intentional flooding of St. Thomas, a small Nevada town. St. Thomas has since been referred to as the sometimes-underwater ghost town. According to the National Park Service, it has appeared and disappeared several times over the years, depending upon Lake Mead’s water levels.
![](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Arrowhead-Store-Groceries.-19960185818.jpg?w=720)
Townspeople at the Arrowhead Store in St. Thomas.
![](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Gentry-Hotel-20122000976.jpg?w=720)
Gentry Hotel in St. Thomas, Nevada (1934).
Advertisement
![](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/St.-Thomas-School-Bus-19527261133.jpg?w=720)
St. Thomas school bus (mid to late-1920s).
Advertisement
![](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Pres.-Coolidge-speaking-6192836527.jpg?w=720)
With the damming of the Colorado River came the creation of Lake Mead and the flooding of St. Thomas.
![](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Rising-Waters-19525601994.jpg?w=720)
One of town’s last residents was Hugh Lord, who paddled away from his home once the rising waters approached his front door in 1938, according to the National Park Service.
![](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/St.-Thomas-Evacuation-20153809491.jpg?w=720)
At its highest point, St. Thomas was under about 60 feet of water. Other settlements flooded by Lake Mead included Calville and nearby Anasazi Indian sites.
![](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Screenshot-42.png?w=720)
Currently Lake Mead's water level is historically low and St. Thomas has been uncovered since 2002.
![](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/St._Thomas_NV_Building_Foundation.jpg?w=720)
Advertisement
![](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/02468370-65-Cracked-Earth-in-St-Thomas-1-15626576449.jpg?w=720)
![](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/25094088950_97fd5df232_b.jpg?w=720)
The foundation of the St. Thomas School House.
![](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/St._Thomas_standing_building.jpg?w=720)
![](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/St.-Thomas-Nevada-20381408991.jpg?w=720)
Additional artifacts from the area are on display at the Lost City Museum, 721 S Moapa Valley Blvd., Overton.
![](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Screenshot-43.png?w=720)
Advertisement
![](https://oiys-develop.go-vip.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/St.-Thomas-NV-2015-19961602949.jpg?w=720)
Aerial shot of St. Thomas (2015).
What do you think about the story of this underwater ghost town?
Interested in more Nevada ghost towns? Check out this article!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.