Belmont - The Friendliest Little Ghost Town Of The West

Have you ever been driving down a desolate road and wondered where it goes? It winds its way off into the distance of empty rolling hills. The tarmac ends, a dirt track cuts through the middle, and there are no signs of life or vehicles. These roads excite us because treasures are awaiting, like Belmont Ghost Town.

Current Events sign with a large wood log with the words Belmont Nevada inscribed on the top with small wooden bench in front to read the current events in the town — The Town Square

Neither one of us knew what to expect and to be honest, it was a last-minute decision to stop at Belmont Ghost Town. We are so thrilled we took this detour.

HISTORY OF BELMONT GHOST TOWN

Belmont was established in 1865 in Nye County, Nevada, as a silver mining town. Other minerals such as copper and lead were also mined from the surrounding mountains.

At the town’s peak, there were 2,000 inhabitance, four stores, two saloons, five restaurants, a livery stable, a post office, an assay office, a bank, a school, a telegraph office, two newspapers, and a blacksmith shop.

WHAT’S LEFT IN BELMONT today?

On entering the town, the first thing we saw was an old smokestack on the left side of the road, surrounded by a few well looked after homes.

Tall smokestack and brick ruins on the side of the road into the small ghost town of Belmont with small trees dotting the hillside behind the ruins — The Monitor Mill c1878

According to the leaflet, this is part of the Monitor Mill which had been in operation during the 1870s and 80s. It closed in 1889.

We pulled into a small dirt parking lot in the centre of town directly across from the saloon, ‘Dirty Dicks.’

Building with large covered front porch that reads Dirty Dicks Belmont Saloon in a sign across the top of the roofline with lots of chairs — Dirty Dick’s Saloon

Armed with our camera and water bottles, we planned to explore. But no sooner had we closed the doors to the truck; some people approached us, and the conversations flowed like we had known them for years.

Two long and thin highly polished wooden table tops fill the room with paintings and pictures adorning the walls and old sacks hung along the ceiling in Belmont — Inside the saloon

We spent about an hour in the bar chatting with our “new friends”. Gleening an enormous amount of information about the town and its nine full-time residence.

Promising to return later that afternoon, we left to investigate the rest of the town.

Next door to the saloon is a small, restored cabin.

An original shack style cabin on the Main Street of Belmont with the door partially opened and a large window beside

The couple who own it invited us in to have a look around. As far as they know, the larger of the rooms housed a lawyer, while the other a miner.

Inside the small cabin is a bed with period style art work upon the walls and a trunk at the foot of the bed in Belmont

Both of the rooms are furnished with period pieces and are rented out like an Air B&B. The only downside is there is no loo! The nearest “facility” is across the road.

Room of the cabin in Belmont filled with lots of antiques and art work to bring the space to life and feel very homey

It’s a fab place and one that both of us would be happy to spend a couple of nights. Having no bathroom adds to the “old-time” experience.

The Bank Building – c1868

The ruins of the bank reminded us of the little town of Rhyolite.

Remains of a brick structure that has three tall arched openings the back half of the building on Belmont Main Street has collapsed — The ruins of the old bank c1868

This single-storey brick building, built in 1868 also has a basement. For many years it operated as the bank, later being converted into a courtroom and Sheriff’s office. The basement was used to house criminals and functioned as jail cells.

Two men, Jack Walker and Charles McIntyre lost their lives by hanging on this spot.

The Top End of Belmont Ghost Town

We continued up Main Street to our favourite spot in the town. Starting with the Philidelphia House/Combination building which was stunning, and connects to the Belmont Courier and then the Tasker Oddie House.

An original newspaper building with a home at the edge of dirt road of Belmont with large rain clouds looming in the background

This area of the town overlooks a small park area, and meandering stream next to historic houses and is incredible. There is such a serene feeling that fills the air here it’s contagious.

Old pickup truck that looks as if it was parked here walked away from and never come back to as the tall grass grows all around it

Philadelphia House

Philidelphia House, built in 1867, is one of the only buildings which has been continuously inhabited. Initially, it housed the superintendent and offices for the Combination Mining Company.

Wooden steps lead up to the front door of a brick building obscured from large full trees at the edge of town in Belmont — Combination Building aka Philadelphia House c1867

It became the private residence of attorney George Roscoe Williams not long after construction when the mining company filed for bankruptcy. Mr Williams remained here until 1879. Since then, it has had several owners even being converted into a guest house.

Large open wrap around porch with white lattice and columns juxtapose with the multicoloured stone facade and benches make this Belmont building extremely inviting — “No Vacancy” Now privately owned

Although still privately owned, it remains vacant.

Belmont Courier 1874 – 1901

This building was once the Belmont Inn Bar and also the newspaper printing office. The paper continued to operate until 1901 when the doors closed, and the press printed its final article.

Very handsome stone building with metal roof has three wooden steps leading up to a covered porch with the sign Belmont Courier along the roof — The Belmont Courier

The Historic Belmont Courthouse

The largest draw still today has to be the original Belmont Courthouse, which held none other than the infamous Charles Manson. His name is carved into one of the door frames inside.

Tall two story brick building that was the courthouse with a tall American flag blowing proudly in the wind — The Historic Courthouse

Can you believe this gorgeous building still stands from 1876 and cost $22,000 to build? Using the inflation calculator that equates to $534,411 today.

Peering in the windows, you must pause and realize what it is you’re looking at. The historical graffiti on the walls, the people who walked these floors who lived and died. All of it took place long before we took our first breath. These little glimpses into the past are incredibly crucial for us to understand where we’ve come from, and where we want to go.

Peering in the window of the historic courthouse shows hand scratched messages from the past along the walls — Graffiti dating back to the early 1900s

Behind the building sits the original jail cells. Once these cells sat inside the Courthouse. In the early 1900s, they were removed and shipped to Tonapah before being returned to their rightful place in Belmont many years later.

Two metal jail cells outside the back of the courthouse rustied with the paint fading and peeling off — The jail cells behind the Courthouse

Old pick up parked against a hill with one busted window and the other missing still has one headlight and wooden gates along the bed

Ernst House

This wooden house, built sometime in the 1870s was the home of the surveyor, George Ernst, his wife Ellen Mary Hinton and their family.

Wooden picket fence and gate lays just behind a small creek and lush tree which create a green wonderland — Ernst House c1870

Now dilapidated and overgrown, it still makes for an exceptionally picturesque spot.

Many of these buildings are now owned privately or by the historical society.

The Belmont Church

Heading further up the hill, Belmont Church stands proudly overlooking the town.

A refurbished church sits on the edge of town high up on a hill over looking the valley and blue skies — A replica of the original church

This is a replica built in 2001. The original Church constructed in 1872 was relocated, lock stock and pew to the town of Manhattan in 1906.

Flotation and Combination Mills

On the eastern edge of town heading down into the Monitor Valley lie the remains of the Floatation and Combination Mills. The first is on the right-hand side looking down into a small outcrop.

Small stone ruins lay in the valley nestled in around small trees with a mountain looming in the background — Flotation Mill c1905

These are the ruins of the Floatation Mill, built in 1915 with salvaged bricks from the Combination Mill which is a little further along the road.

The Floatation Mill had a short lifespan of just three years. In 1918 it became inactive.

Large smokestack rises high up above the stone and brick ruins of what was once a mill on this site now brush reclaims the landscape — The Combination Mill c1867

Only one of the two large smokestacks of the Combination Mill remain today.

This forty stamp mill built in 1867 closed a year later. It was refurbished a decade later running one more year before being shut down permanently with its machinery being moved to the Gold Mountain camp in 1880.

Metal framed doorway remains against the brick and stone wall leading into a room

Fun Fact

There is an interesting side story we were told about. It is said that the bullet holes at the very top of the remaining stack were put there by one Mr Chuck Yeager. Rumour has it he used these as target practice on many of his flight training missions.

A small room made completely out of brick with no floor only a few stones remain on the dirt floor

The Belmont Cemetery

Our last stop for the day was the cemetery. The white picket fence should give you an indication of how they treat their dearly departed.

White picket fence leads to a large opening with many trees inside the fence line and tall Rocky Mountain in the background — Entrance to the Belmont Cemetery

The smell of freshly cut flowers and distant rain floating upon the gentle breeze under the darkening skies. With the sun setting over the distant mountains it made the whole experience feel more significant.

Many hand made crosses and small stone head stones lay in rest with flowers placed gently against them in remembrance — The earliest marked grave we found dated back to the 1880s

During 1869 the first residents came here to rest. At the base of the mountain, they are surrounded by juniper, pine and sagebrush.

Sadly, there are dozens of children’s graves from the mining era. Due to illness, epidemics, lack of medicines and hygiene, the death toll was high.

Belmont Cemetery is still in use today. The tranquil setting makes you want to take your time and wander. It is, by far, one of the prettiest and well-kempt graveyards we have seen.

OUR TAKEAWAY

Belmont is one of those small towns that leaves you smiling. Why? Not just the beautiful buildings, it’s the people.

We, as a society, are being desensitized slowly and deliberately.

When was the last time you sat with a group of friends, swapped stories, laughed and really felt good about yourself? What about with a group of complete strangers, who made you feel right at home?

There is a lot of darkness in the world, and it can become overwhelming at times. We are all guilty of allowing it to take over. And it may seem misplaced to add this here, but it’s not. Belmont was a friendly wake-up call; it is incredible what a good conversation and an act of kindness can do.

We did return to ‘Dirty Dicks’ later in the day and met up with our new-found friends. Several hours passed with the telling of jokes, stories of hunting and more history about the town.

We will be returning to this area again, probably many times.

IN A NUTSHELL

The town of Belmont is off-grid. There are no amenities including electricity, food, gas or water
The nearest town is Tonapah to the south 48 miles away
Eurika and HWY 50, to the north, is accessible through Monitor Valley. 4×4 high clearance is advisable
Make sure your tank is full, and you have plenty of water, snacks and food
There is a well-graded dirt road
The FREE campsite on the edge of town is on a first-come, first-serve basis and is accessible to RVs and trailers
Although not a structured site, there is plenty of room for 50+ tents or rigs
Pit toilets, picnic tables and fire rings are scattered
It is very beautiful with lots of shade and large boulders

location map

Screen shot of location of Belmont Ghost Town in Google Maps — Location Map of Belmont Nevada

Explore, have fun and put another Pin In The Atlas!

Man and woman stand on either side of a wooden sign that says Welcome to Belmont with a painting of the two story courthouse

See you at our next location

other locations nearby

AREA 51

Belmont – The Friendliest Little Ghost Town Of The West

HISTORY OF BELMONT GHOST TOWN