Nevada has become famous for things like extreme heat during the summer months(May-November), the Las Vegas Strip, and the over 120 casinos with their flashing lights. Las Vegas is rich in history and has many things to do and see. From the beauty of Redrock Canyon, to the majestic slopes of MT. Charleston.

But what is it about the Ghost Towns and hauntings that we seldom ever hear about? Those places that things are seen that are not there, or the strange moans and groans that can be heard late in the night by passersby. One such place is Rhyolite, Nevada Mining Town.

Inside the gates of Rhyloite

Near the western boundary of the Death Valley National Park, Rhyolite is another vivid example of the boom and bust cycle of most Nevada mining towns. Gold was discovered in Rhyolite in 1904 and by 1907 an estimated 6,000 people had flocked to this boom town in the desert.

Three railroads - the Las Vegas and Tonopah, Tonopah and Tidewater, and Bullfrog-Goldfield - were extended into Rhyolite, which at its peak had 45 saloons, an opera house, a telephone company, electric power plant, three ice plants, several hotels, and two stock exchanges.

The old general store where several hauntings have said to have occurred

Rhyolite, however, turned out to be a disappointment in terms of gold production. While there was gold in the area, it was difficult to extract.

Today, Rhyolite is one of the most photogenic of Nevadaâ™s ghost towns. In the late afternoon, the sun casts marvelous light on the ruins, which include the three-story Cook bank building and the former Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad Depot. Rhyolite also has one of the last bottle houses in the state, built with more than 20,000 bottles at a time when building materials were scarce. The Old General Store which is still standing in Rhyolite is said to be haunted by the first manager.He was said to have been hanged for stealing money from the store but this has never been founded.

Rhyolite is 120 miles north of Las Vegas via U.S. Hwy. 95.