Eldorado Canyon (Nelson, Nevada)

This is a fantastic find, out in the middle of a desert canyon near Nelson, Nevada (population: 56). The family who owns the canyon doesn't advertise, other than a basic website here. The mountain here has an old gold mine which you can (and should) tour. Back in the day, it was mined by civil war deserters (north AND south) who then bunked in the campsite. The old bunkhouses are still here, and the mining store is still in use today though rebuilt after a fire. The area quickly gained notoriety as one of the most violent and lawless in Nevada, where the nearest sheriff wouldn't even bother to come after a murder. The mine, over 600 feet deep and including over 3 miles of shafts, is reputed to be haunted, but we unfortunately never saw any ghosties.

This jewel in the desert has been used as a set for filming a number of movies (including 3000 Miles To Graceland), and has professional photo shoots 3-4 times a week. The day we were there they said Nikon was coming out to shoot with a new camera they were testing. It's truly a photographer's wonderland, and if you like antiques or history, you're up to your neck. I'll be posting more shots from here shortly.