Rosalie
If
you want a break from the monotony of Highway 15 to Las Vegas,
take a break and explore the remains of Rosalie. Exit the
15 at the Cima off ramp and turn north. In a little less
than two miles look for a dirt road bearing to your right. In
the distance you might be able to see the large tree and the
old slag heap that mark the mill ruins. This ghost town
was once the abode of miners working the Copper World Mine on
Clark Mountain. There was a spring here, and a large mill
was built to process the ore from the mine. The interesting
aspect of this spot is that the miners, many of them Chinese,
decided to burrow into the side of the wash north of the mill. They
dug under a natural tufa cap and had snug little dens! A
hole through the tufa provided ventilation for a stove. This
same technique of impromptu house building can be seen in the
Shoshone area.Rosalie was
founded in the 1860's, and as the mine began to fail was turned
into the headquarters of the Yates Ranch which operated from
1894 to 1952. Mill ruins, a giant slag heap, the miners'
dens, and a few adobe walls are all that remain. The town
at one time had close to a hundred inhabitants, a post office
and store. There is still plenty to explore, so hike around
until you're ready to get back on the asphalt and into the fast
lane again.