Gross production of the Cerro Gordo camp from its early profitable years up until 1938 was about $17 million. There is no public wifi and cellphone coverage is very spotty. Small scale mining persisted for many months and despite the clear abundance of rich ore, widespread attention escaped the remote district for some time. In 1914 he took title to the property from the previous owner, the Four Metals Co., and incorporated the Cerro Gordo Mines Co. Cerro Gordo was booming again. We also advise to bring trash bags as there are no services or supplies available. Name * First. Can I dig rocks or hunt for artifacts? Some ore was smelted on site, but larger capacity smelters were eventually constructed along the shore of nearby Owens Lake. The internet has much information on the area. The Assay Office at Cerro Gordo (seen above) was responsible for determining the quality of the ore pulled out of the mountain. Between the new interest in zinc, and new discoveries of high-grade silver ore, the mines of Cerro Gordo were finally beginning to operate profitably after decades of ill-fated attempts at restarting them. Cerro Gordo, California 2 commodity had to be hauled up the grade from artesian wells in the valley. A more lethal blow was dealt by falling lead and silver prices, effectively ending this era of activity at Cerro Gordo. By 1867, tales of the silver at Cerro Gordo had spread, bringing in flocks of new prospectors. The mines of Cerro Gordo finally became quiet in 1933. Is there wifi? Bier and Underwood's offer was accepted on June 20th and the deal ⦠Businessman, Victor Beaudry of nearby Independence, California, was so impressed by the quality of silver being taken out of Cerro Gordo, he opened a store near the mine and soon acquired several mining claims to settle unpaid debts. Cerro Gordo is a privately owned Mining Town located in the Owens Valley near Lone Pine, California. ISU Extension in Cerro Gordo County serves Iowans through five program areas: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business and Industry, Communities, Families, 4-H Youth Development. By 1875, Cerro Gordoâs water supplies had ran out and water had to be hauled in continuously by pack train. var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; It was hoped the arrival of the railroad would signal a return to prosperity in the Cerro Gordo district, but those hopes were never realized. Schedule a tour to see what life is like here. A 200 ton smelter was erected east of Keeler. Belshaw immediately acquired a third interest in the Union Mine, the districts top producer, and mined enough silver to take a wagon of bullion to San Francisco as a gesture to impress potential financial backers. All proceeds go towards the preservation and maintenance of Cerro Gordo through the Cerro Gordo Historical Foundation. The Molly Stevens, which had been out of use for several years, was refurbished at great expense, only to burn and be completely destroyed before it could be put back in use. Four Metals Company Smelter & Tramway. Twenty tons of zinc ore were transported daily to the Carson and Colorado Railroad at Keeler. A segment of the aerial tram that connected the town with the smelters at Keeler still stands, and an ore bucket can still be seen suspended by cables hundreds of feet above the road to Cerro Gordo. By 1929 the new discovery was in production and Cerro Gordo was once again saved from becoming a ghost town for a few more years. Price: US $95.00 . See and learn about some of our most noteworthy sights and structures and hear brief histories designed to give you a sense of what it was like to live in Cerro Gordo during its heyday. Photo: LCGS Russ, CC BY 3.0. At its peak over 1,000 people lived here working in mines as the San Felipe and Union. It is not for vehicles with low ground clearance. The control operatorâs house has been restored, and is a pleasant spot for modern backcountry travelers to pause for a picnic and ponder over the construction of the great salt tramway in the early 1900âs. Silver was roasted and formed into bullion, sent down the Yellow Grade road by mule team, then shipped across Owen’s Lake by steamboat. In 1908, an aerial tramway was built between Cerro Gordo and the smelters at Keeler, improving the volume and efficiency of transporting ore. By the 1910s attention had turned to Cerro Gordoâs zinc ores. There is also an Assay Office, Hoist House (1877) and more. In 1906 there was again interest in reviving the Cerro Gordo mines. Cerro Gordo, located at a remote location east of Owens Lake in the Inyo Mountains of Southern California, was Californiaâs largest producer of silver. What’s the elevation? From Mapcarta, the free map. Some say he was murdered in the mine. Tramway Ramp Remains No.1 - Infrared Exposure- Cerro Gordo, CA - 2012 | Photo: Osceola Refetoff Cerro Gordo can easily be filled with wanton regret of all those who lived and worked here. The tramway operated from 1913 to 1918, again between 1920-21, and later in 1929 and 1936. We are not responsible for ruts, holes, rocks or the overall condition of the road. A view roughly southeast along Cerro Gordo Road to a long-abandoned tramway that served the Cerro Gordo mining district during its boom years (probably late 1800s to early 1900s). However, given Cerro Gordo's remote location, the scarcity of essential commodities like wood for smelter fuel and water, and the difficult freighting routes to deliver bullion to markets, the townâs prosperity relied on a complex array of enterprises all working in harmony. By the end of 1869, over 340 tons of silver bullion had been shipped from the Cerro Gordo mines to Los Angeles. For drinking water, a small spring in the mountains provided amply as the population consumed little of the stuff. Cerro Gordo Tram. Sat, Oct 20, 2018, 9:00 AM: For those that missed the June trip, we're headed back to Cerro Gordo in October (and the crowd goes wild)! These two documents provide interesting reading: The Incredible Saline To Swansee Salt Tram (PDF) - The Saline Valley Salt Works (PDF>. 9am-4pm standard time, 9am-5pm daylight savings time. I've read conflicting accounts (feel free to correct me). Cerro Gordo Grade Tramway, Inyo Mountains, California. The road to Cerro Gordo is a hard one for man and car. How’s the weather? Cerro Gordo was known as a lawless and dangerous town during this time. Hiking shoes are recommended if you decide to explore some of the local terrain. , lead and silver prices, effectively ending this era of activity at Gordo. It was not the end for Cerro Gordo news and information after the road in is dirt and wet! 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