Rhyolite, Nevada (5 pix)

[thomascanty]

Rhyolite (http://www.rhyolitesite.com/) is a ghost town in Nevada, just a few miles east of Death Valley, and four miles west of Beatty.

The old school building:
http://www.ldphotography.net/cdpf/rhyolite01.jpg
Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 17-40 f/4L @ 25mm, 1/60s, f/13, ISO 100

Ashley in the school building:
http://www.ldphotography.net/cdpf/rhyolite02.jpg
Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 17-40 f/4L @ 17mm, 1/250s, f/5.6, ISO 100, Canon Speedlite 580EX and Lumiquest Softbox

The Porter Store. The jail can be seen in the distance on the right, and one of the mines is on the mountainside behind it:
http://www.ldphotography.net/cdpf/rhyolite03.jpg
Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 17-40 f/4L @ 29mm, 1/200, f/10, ISO 100

The bank:
http://www.ldphotography.net/cdpf/rhyolite04.jpg
Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 17-40 f/4L @ 21mm, 1/160s, f/9, ISO 100

These two weren't too happy to see Ashley. Actually there were three of them, but the other one ran off right away:
http://www.ldphotography.net/cdpf/rhyolite05.jpg
Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 17-40 f/4L @ 40mm, 1/50s, f/4, ISO 100

[stoneylonesome]

Interesting shots, looks pretty modern as far as ghost towns go. Not what I expected to see.. :confused: :confused: When did it become a ghost town? I see on one of the buildings 1908.

[Mills]

What a great outing!

[thomascanty]

Interesting shots, looks pretty modern as far as ghost towns go. Not what I expected to see.. :confused: :confused: When did it become a ghost town? I see on one of the buildings 1908.

It is a bit newer than most ghost towns. The gold discovery that created the town took place in 1904. The town was pretty much completely abandoned by 1915.

What a great outing!

It was a lot of fun. I had a great time!

[sparker1]

Good series. I stayed in Beatty last time we were through that area. Not much there, I'm afraid.

[jaypie77]

I'll be there in just over a week (march 31)! We can compare shots then.

[thomascanty]

Good series. I stayed in Beatty last time we were through that area. Not much there, I'm afraid.

No, there certainly isn't much there. I liked the town, though. What motel did you stay in? I was at the Phoenix Inn. It was nice, but I wish I'd stayed at the Motel 6 instead. The sign in front of that one said they have free in-room high speed Internet access. I was stuck with dialup at the Phoenix Inn. If only I'd known that before making my reservations... :)

I'll be there in just over a week (march 31)! We can compare shots then.

I have lots of shots to compare with. :) This was my third time in Rhyolite, and I have hundreds of pictures from there, taken with several different cameras. It's my second favorite ghost town, with Bodie being the first.

[marie]

wow again http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif

these are gorgeous


I just love how you got Ashley in the narrow light in the second shot alsohttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif
that is terrific
the shadows are great


and the cats hair rising shot
http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif
they are perfect additions to the great pictures Lonnie

love them
they are just great

[ssim]

Once again, great work. Oh how I long for warmer weather so I can get out and explore again.

[johnleveritt]

No, there certainly isn't much there. I liked the town, though. What motel did you stay in? I was at the Phoenix Inn. It was nice, but I wish I'd stayed at the Motel 6 instead. The sign in front of that one said they have free in-room high speed Internet access. I was stuck with dialup at the Phoenix Inn. If only I'd known that before making my reservations... :)

Wow, things certainly have changed in the last 3 years since I've been retired. The last time that I was in Beatty, there wasn't a Phoenix Inn, or a Motel 6. I know that they were planning a Motel 6 out at the north end of town by the Stagecoach casino, is that where it is? I know that Ed Ringle (owner of the Stagecoach casino), had the property/money available, but was dragging his feet so he could finish his minimart/gas station. I used to stay at the Burro Inn, on the south end of town on Hwy. 95 as you come in from Las Vegas, is it still there?

I guess that instead of going to Southern Utah (beautiful country) all of the time, I going to have to try out some of my old stomping grounds again.

[johnleveritt]

Wow, things certainly have changed in the last 3 years since I've been retired. The last time that I was in Beatty, there wasn't a Phoenix Inn, or a Motel 6. I know that they were planning a Motel 6 out at the north end of town by the Stagecoach casino, is that where it is? I know that Ed Ringle (owner of the Stagecoach casino), had the property/money available, but was dragging his feet so he could finish his minimart/gas station. I used to stay at the Burro Inn, on the south end of town on Hwy. 95 as you come in from Las Vegas, is it still there?

I guess that instead of going to Southern Utah (beautiful country) all of the time, I going to have to try out some of my old stomping grounds again.

Boy, what 10 minutes and a bowl of cereal can do for your memory. I do remember a Phoenix Inn in Beatty now, it was off of the main street and had theme rooms. Is that the Phoenix Inn you stayed in?

[Andy_T]

Thomas,

very nice pictures!

the one with the 2 cats is priceless :lol:

Best regards,
Andy

[Michaelmjc]

Awesome pictures, The cat one is really cool.

[sparker1]

Lonnie, I stayed at an RV park (associated with a motel, but I can't remember the name). We prefer to bring our own bed and bath.

[RJSorensen]

Nice shots for sure . . . I will have to stop there should I find myself in that neck of the woods.

[thomascanty]

Boy, what 10 minutes and a bowl of cereal can do for your memory. I do remember a Phoenix Inn in Beatty now, it was off of the main street and had theme rooms. Is that the Phoenix Inn you stayed in?

Yes, it's off the main highway. It's on First Street, about a block east of the gas station (Union 76), out of sight. I don't know about theme rooms, though. The motel is made up of about a dozen double-wide mobile homes, each one separated into three very large rooms.

The Motel 6 is on the north end of town, and now that you mention it, it did look fairly new. I don't know how long it's been there, though. I don't know if the Burro Inn is still there. I didn't notice it, but I didn't go into the south end of town, except to get to the road to Rhyolite and Death Valley. I didn't follow Highway 95 any farther than that intersection near the gas station.

Lonnie, I stayed at an RV park (associated with a motel, but I can't remember the name). We prefer to bring our own bed and bath.

I'd love to travel like that! I just don't have any place to keep an RV when I'm not travelling...

[johnleveritt]

Yes, it's off the main highway. It's on First Street, about a block east of the gas station (Union 76), out of sight. I don't know about theme rooms, though. The motel is made up of about a dozen double-wide mobile homes, each one separated into three very large rooms.

Yep, that's it. As far as the theme rooms go, that was a while ago, and I'm sure that it's under different management by now.

The Motel 6 is on the north end of town, and now that you mention it, it did look fairly new. I don't know how long it's been there, though. I don't know if the Burro Inn is still there. I didn't notice it, but I didn't go into the south end of town, except to get to the road to Rhyolite and Death Valley. I didn't follow Highway 95 any farther than that intersection near the gas station.

The true south of town in on Hwy. 95 turning left at the 4 way light going towards Las Vegas, where you went straight to go to Rhyolite and Death Valley. In fact you were parallel to the 95 when staying at the Phoenix Inn.

Yes, I'm sure that someone finally built the Motel 6 whether it was Ed Ringle or not. It wasn't there three years ago.

[thomascanty]

The true south of town in on Hwy. 95 turning left at the 4 way light going towards Las Vegas, where you went straight to go to Rhyolite and Death Valley. In fact you were parallel to the 95 when staying at the Phoenix Inn.

Yep, I've been through that part of town before, just not during last week's trip. In October, 2002, I drove the 95 from Reno to Vegas. That was a loooong trip! I stopped off at Rhyolite before heading through the south end of Beatty. Then, the following May I drove up from Vegas to go there again. It's a nice area. I'm sure last week won't be my last visit there.

[johnleveritt]

Yep, I've been through that part of town before, just not during last week's trip. In October, 2002, I drove the 95 from Reno to Vegas. That was a loooong trip! I stopped off at Rhyolite before heading through the south end of Beatty. Then, the following May I drove up from Vegas to go there again. It's a nice area. I'm sure last week won't be my last visit there.

If you took the trip from Reno to Las Vegas on 95, you were right in the middle of good picture country. The Tonopah, Goldfield area is rich in Nevada history, and gold mining. You could have taken the turn off 6 miles past Coaldale junction, and gone 22 miles out to Silver Peak, Nevada, rich in gold mining history, and a treasure trove of picture taking. And Tonopah, Nevada, you never know what your going to see flying around that area, think F-117 Stealth Fighter. It's not there anymore, but you never know what is.

I see that your in Burbank. Have you ever gotten off of I15 at Baker, and traveled the back way to Beatty. Going by the Dumont Dunes, on to Shoshone (SP), going by the old opera house up to Stateline where the Longstreet casino is on one side, overlooking the Funeral Mountains and the Stateline Saloon is on the other. B-T-W, Frans daughter Mickey and her now ex-husband Joe (now a Nye County Sheriffs deputy) owned the Stateline Saloon. Then on by the Lathrop sand dunes, on to Lathrop Wells, turning left onto Hwy. 95, and into Beatty. B-T-W there's another cat house in Lathrop Wells. This trip saves you an hours drive, and you don't have to go through Las Vegas, unless you just want to. And at least a day of picture taking on the way.

I'm sorry for the long post, and I've left a lot out about that area, but your pictures just brought a flood of memories back. Twenty six years in the area, and there is a lot to remember.

[thomascanty]

And Tonopah, Nevada, you never know what your going to see flying around that area

When I drove through there, there were a lot of airplane contrails in the sky. One of them was black. I've always wondered what the hell kind of aircraft created that! :D

I see that your in Burbank. Have you ever gotten off of I15 at Baker, and traveled the back way to Beatty.

Not yet. My original plan for last week was to drive down that way, heading home, but I changed my mind at the last minute and cut across to the 395 so I could stop off at the little ghost town of Ballarat instead. Next time I'll go the Baker route.

No need to apologize for long messages, either. You're giving me a lot of great ideas for the next time I go through the area!

[johnleveritt]

When I drove through there, there were a lot of airplane contrails in the sky. One of them was black. I've always wondered what the hell kind of aircraft created that! :D

There's always a lot of contrails through the area, as there's a VOR (I think that's what they call it, you know the pyramid looking things) station on the road to Silver Peak, and that's what aircraft guide on in the air. I've never seen the black contrail, but the next time that you go through there, look for one that looks like it has knots in it, that is supposed to be the tell-tail signs of the Aurora spy plane that the government says doesn't exist. Remember the Tonopah Test Range is just 20 miles away, and Area 51 just 50 or 60.

On that whole trip from Tonopah to Las Vegas, the left side of the highway is government training grounds. They play war out there all of the time, you may see F-16's, F-15's, B-52's, A-10's, Russian Migs, you just never know what your going to see. Some of the stories that I have in my 26 years out there would curl your hair.

Not yet. My original plan for last week was to drive down that way, heading home, but I changed my mind at the last minute and cut across to the 395 so I could stop off at the little ghost town of Ballarat instead. Next time I'll go the Baker route.

Try it, you'll like it.

[thomascanty]

Some of the stories that I have in my 26 years out there would curl your hair.

I'm sure they would. You never know what's going on around there!

I've seen some fast moving fighter jets in the desert southeast of Death Valley and also in Valley of Fire. I can never seem to get the camera up fast enough. In Valley of Fire, one time there were two of them, about 10 or 15 feet apart and 20 feet off the ground, that went tearing through the valley heading south. About five minutes later one of those enormous helicopters did the same thing. I'll bet the pilots are having a lot of fun. :D

[johnleveritt]

I'm sure they would. You never know what's going on around there!

I've seen some fast moving fighter jets in the desert southeast of Death Valley and also in Valley of Fire. I can never seem to get the camera up fast enough. In Valley of Fire, one time there were two of them, about 10 or 15 feet apart and 20 feet off the ground, that went tearing through the valley heading south. About five minutes later one of those enormous helicopters did the same thing. I'll bet the pilots are having a lot of fun. :D

Yea, I've seen a B-52 using their ground hugging radar, flying somewhere around 100 feet off of the ground, that's got to be a rush, and scary for the crew, remember the radar controls the plane, and not the pilot. Also, Nellis A.F.B. in Las Vegas is the equivalent of Top Gun in the Navy, so they have anything and everything flying. They just finished a Red Flag exercise, and there were B-52's, B-1, and B-2 stealth bombers, F-117 Stealth fighters etc. Anyone into airplanes just had to sit at the end of the runway, and get all kinds of shots. Not to mention that Nellis is the home of the Thunderbirds demonstration team. They train in Indian Springs, which I'm sure that you passed on that trip on Hwy. 95 from Reno, to Las Vegas. And Top Gun isn't in Miramar(SP) any more, it's in Fallon Nevada now, so you never know what's up there, or when you may see it.

[thomascanty]

Yea, I've seen a B-52 using their ground hugging radar, flying somewhere around 100 feet off of the ground,

Those two I saw in Valley of Fire were probably closer to that than the 20 feet I said, now that I think of it. They just looked very, very low to the ground. I didn't know that the radar controls the plane. I know very little about military planes. Or, planes in general, actually.

And Top Gun isn't in Miramar(SP) any more, it's in Fallon Nevada now, so you never know what's up there, or when you may see it.

I didn't know Top Gun moved. When did that happen?

[Steve Parr]

I didn't know Top Gun moved. When did that happen?

The 1993 and 1995 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission decided to realign NAS (Naval Air Station) Miramar to MCAS (Marine Corps Air Station) Miramar. The transition officially took place on October 1, 1997, although several transitions had already been made over the previous two years to facilitate the realignment and relocation process.

Sorry... being retired Navy stationed and living in San Diego, you pick these things up...

Steve

[johnleveritt]

The 1993 and 1995 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission decided to realign NAS (Naval Air Station) Miramar to MCAS (Marine Corps Air Station) Miramar. The transition officially took place on October 1, 1997, although several transitions had already been made over the previous two years to facilitate the realignment and relocation process.

Sorry... being retired Navy stationed and living in San Diego, you pick these things up...

Steve

Boy, I'm glad that you had the particulars, I knew they moved a few years back, but I didn't know the details. I know something of the Air Force (My father retired Air Force, so I was a service brat for 19 years), but very little of the Navy, except dodging em in the desert (as well as Air Force).

[johnleveritt]

Those two I saw in Valley of Fire were probably closer to that than the 20 feet I said, now that I think of it. They just looked very, very low to the ground. I didn't know that the radar controls the plane. I know very little about military planes. Or, planes in general, actually.

Actually, most if not all fighters, fighter bombers, and bombers are capable of carrying ground hugging radar, where the radar controls the aircraft when flying that low. Human hands, and brains are just to slow to react to that task at that speed. I have seen fighter aircraft in the Tonopah area flying much lower (literally just above the telephone poles) than the bombers. And I've seen a picture of a B-1 bomber flying so low to water, that it sucked up a rooster tail. Now that's a sight to see.

If I'm not mistaken, Steve Parr can maybe confirm this, F-18's use radar for catapulting off of aircraft carriers. Then the pilot takes over.

[MauiTiki]

Oh my gosh - the 2 cats is such a great shot!