If you ever find yourself travelling along Route 6 through Nevada from Ely to Warm Springs, you know that there isn’t much out there. It is a rarety you pass another vehicle or see any other signs of life. You start to wonder how tough life would be out here, where would you get your gas or do your shopping? There is no way anyone would call this place home. You’d be wrong! Just off the highway is the Ghost Town of Tybo.
The first signs you are coming across remnants of the past are fragments of wood protruding from an old tailings pile. Then a small wooden portal sits in a debris pile, and across the way, a cabin emerges from the shadows of the trees.
Just around the next bend are more fragments of buildings that once created a life for those who dared to live here.
Believe it or not, this place still remains home for a few folks. We did come across two homes with residents and a travel trailer that looked new. Besides that, we didn’t see any signs of life.
HISTORY OF TYBO
It was the Shoshone Indians who first discovered silver in the canyons of the Hot Creek Range and informed some white prospectors.
The Two-G Mine was formed in the early 1870s by James W Gally and MVB Gillett who discovered the motherload.
Word spread, miners flocked, and the boom began in 1874. It was the same year that a post office was built, and within the following years, the town had increased its size to over 1,000.
Saloons, blacksmiths and stores sprung up to accommodate the inhabitants. This included a Wells Fargo office, a bank, and a school.
No mining town was without its troubles, and Tybo (a Shoshone term for white man’s district,”) was no different. The Irish, Cornish, Central Europeans and Swiss-Italians along with the Chinese were divided geographically.
Upper, Middle and Lower Tybo were designated to house the different ethnic communities although all the children did attend the same school.
our takeaway On tybo
There was a large brick building missing an entire side that was most definitely photo-worthy. We parked here and took a walk as the sign said there are no areas to turn around on an unmaintained road.
We found some old homesteads and mine site with giant wooden hoist still intact.
There were just a few other buildings that remained out in the canyon bed, and it was getting unpleasantly hot. We had found a spot we could get Tonto into and turn around, so we walked back to drive further in and cool off at the same time.
There was another cabin that looks as if they are remodelling it.
in a nutshell
- Approximately 5 miles on an unpaved road
- 2 Wheel drive OK, High clearance always recommended on unpaved roads
- Private residences, please be respectful
- No services
- No cell reception
- Make sure to bring plenty of water
- Wear suitable clothing for the weather conditions
- Be cautious of snakes in summer months (although we didn’t see any)
- Top up the fuel tank before heading out. It’s very desolate
- Nearest town is Tonopah
- Old mining buildings, ruins, mine shafts. There are some charcoal kilns (we didn’t find them)
- Mines are dangerous – Stay Out, Stay Alive
- Leave no trace, Pack it in, pack it out
location map
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Urban Exploration Check List
Boots: Protecting your feet from any rusting debris and nails is just plain smart. Our boots are steel toe and waterproof to make sure we have added protection.
Facemask: Depending on the situation, we have facemasks and respirators to make sure we won’t be breathing in any harmful fumes or moulds.
Gloves: You protect your feet, so you also need to protect your hands and keep them clean. Who knows what could be growing on abandoned things.
Head Lamp: Keeping the area your focusing on lit up in front of you is always good practice to avoid tripping hazards or open floors.
Second pair of Knickers: What if you do catch a Ghost!
Backpack: Keep extra supplies accessible, and a place for your travel size first aid kit.
First Aid Kit: Taking a travel size first aid kit is a no brainer. Your backpack is its forever home.
Camera: You are going to need to document how brave you are so you can show off to everyone you know.
Powerful Flashlight: Yes, you do have a headlamp, for added security you should also have at the ready a powerful, fully charged flashlight and extra batteries if needed. We carry two torches each.
Be Cautious: You may never know why a place has been abandoned, for how long or what its structural integrity is.
We visited Tybo on Thursday June 9 2022 and had a very strange experience! First, there were shiny new-looking electric lines strung into the canyon. Second, all the structures were privately owned and occupied except for the general store and the mill. Third, the structure high up on the left as you enter the canyon had huge transformers, also shiny new with the sun shining off the fresh paint. Fourth, there was a sign just past the last house partially blocking the road, it did not have any designation (like Nevada DOT for example) and it said Unimproved Road, No Turnarounds. Fifth, on our way out of the canyon there was a very large SUV entering it, unmarked except for the license plate which read US Government, with no agency listed. Dark tinted windows. We left the canyon quickly since the setup appeared to be hostile to visitors. Any info on this??
There were two houses occupied when we were there, although we didn’t see anyone. Further up the road where it says No Turnaround, the road splits. We parked there to explore. The right-hand fork does lead to some ruins, the left fork were some structures too. There are some kilns further up still, although we didn’t know this at the time of our explore. As far as the transformers and the Government vehicle, we have no idea. It has been some time since we were there. (Summer 2020).