Nelson’s glory days are all but gone. Today, about 20 people, living in trailers and homes, call the town home, a far cry from when the area’s population outnumbered that in the Las Vegas Valley. There’s no real commerce, just a smattering of small abandoned shacks and heaps of rusting machinery parts. All in all, it’s about as close to a ghost town as it gets.
From Nelson, a winding, two-lane stretch of black top cuts through El Dorado Canyon’s rugged rock walls, along which are the remnants of mining tailings. Down the road a couple of miles lies the Techatticup Mine, which exhausted itself in 1945. Some 50 or so years later the mine and surrounding property were purchased by an enterprising couple who envisioned the area as a destination for tourism.
One of the restored main buildings in Nelson, NV
This pair removed debris and rubble from the mine’s main shaft. Then they added stabilizing ramps, access ladders, emergency phones and a string of electric lights. The restoration eventually got clearance from the State of Nevada and the couple began running guided, 1-hour tours that take adventurous souls 500 feet below the ground. Numerous historic buildings have also been restored, too, with the main hosting a museum that provides testament to El Dorado’s rambunctious past.
Looking down the main shaft of Techatticup Mine, El Dorado Canyon.
The canyon has also captured the imagination of Hollywood. Two movies have used Techatticup Mine as a set. The first was “Breakdown,” a 1997 suspense-thriller starring Kurt Russell and Kathleen Quinlan who play a distressed couple stranded in the desert. In 2001, the movie “3000 Miles to Graceland,” staring Mr. Russell, Kevin Costner and Courtney Cox, featured the mine and specifically the Lucky Strike gas station, which was “blown up.” Props from both movies are still on site.
Past the mine, the road wanders down to the legendary Colorado River. Here you’ll find outstanding views of Lake Mohave. It’s also the place where travelers launch their kayaks into the river for a day of paddling. There are a number of roads that fan out across the canyon, many leading to open mines and ventilation shafts. Note that much of these ventures lie on private land and that landowners are quick to prosecute those who trespass.
To self-drive to El Dorado Canyon, take I-95 south from Las Vegas to Boulder City. Take SR 165 south, then take SR 165 (also know as the Nelson Road) for 11 miles to Nelson. There’s also a Las Vegas helicopter tour that’s popular with travelers. It departs every day of the year and starts with a 4,000-foot descent to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, then heads to El Dorado for the mine tour. Upgrades include ATV trail rides, horseback riding, kayaking and more.
This article is part of a series about El Dorado Canyon. Read the other segments: Part 1 | Part 2
