Just outside of Death Valley, across the California State line in Western Nevada, is the ghost town of Rhyolite. 

In the early 20th century, Rhyolite was the largest town in Southern Nevada, larger than Las Vegas. 

But by 1920, there were only 14 residents left.  FOURTEEN! 

Rhyolite’s rise to glory and fall from grace were both spectacular.  The ruins speak to the unrealized hopes and dreams of the people who lived here.

Rhyolite’s demise began with the financial crisis of 1907.  The financial shock waves rippled from New York City to Western Nevada, sparing no one. 

Coming out of the pandemic, we can all relate to how quickly our lives, our dreams can be stunted and damaged through no fault of our own.  We’re the collateral of catastrophe. So was Rhyolite.

Part of the Rhyolite town is the Goldwell Open Air Museum, a spectacular outdoor, desert sculpture museum. Its most stunning and well-known sculpture is a re-interpretation of The Last Supper, with ghost-like figures. 

And across the street is Tom Kelly’s Bottle House, made entirely of bottles (hence the name, “Bottle House!”).

To find out more about all three of these, check out this video.