SGT Photography
Shots Get Taken … a photoblog
American Flat, Nevada
American Flat is an old cyanide mill just outside of Virginia City, Nevada. Technically, is it between Gold Hill and Silver City but both of those places are near ghost towns now, too. According to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), “The United Comstock Merger Mill site is located on public lands at American Flat, Storey County, Nevada. The mill was built in 1922 to process local gold and silver ore utilizing cyanide vat leaching in what was then described as the largest concrete mill in the United States, which makes it historically significant. Since abandonment in 1924, this seven acre mill site has traditionally been used by high school students and other locals as a meeting place to hold parties, post graffiti, conduct paintball wars, etc., despite physical safety hazards from falling concrete, underground mill sumps filled with water, and holes in the concrete flooring. The BLM issued a Federal Register Notice and closed the historic mill buildings to public entry in 1997 in response to a fatality at the site. Regardless of the closure and repeated efforts by the BLM to fence, gate and post the site with warning signs, the property still receives visitors in trespass. According to the Storey County Sheriff’s Department, emergency vehicles respond to at least six serious injuries on the property every year, mostly from visitors climbing on and falling from the mill buildings which are as much as eighty feet in height.”
Needless to say, this is a creepy, old place yet worthy of the time photographing it. There are warning signs everywhere to be careful.
This huge mill was built in 1922. Imagine how big of an undertaking that was in those days. It was only used for TWO years.
All of the buildings are covered in graffiti, inside and out.
If these walls could talk … oh, the stories they would tell.
The Bar … enter if you dare …
A closer look at the largest building.
A look inside the largest building, there are holes in the floor and chunks of cement dangling from the ceilings.
Anyone can tell which areas are marked as “closed” but you can see that no one heeds the warnings.
Clearly, the EPA didn’t exist in the days of this mill. The cyanide barrels lay in waste all over the area.
The ghosts of the Comstock are alive and well here at American Flat.
Amazing photos! I love old, abandoned buildings and graffiti. So, these are especially awesome!
That last picture, the black and white one, captures the creepiness of the area. It’s beautiful.
Thanks — that’s exactly what I was going for in the B/W. It’s not hard, though. That place is super creepy.
Love, love, love this! I’m a graffiti junkie myself so I tend to think of places like this as improved by a little artful paint. 🙂
Thanks. Sadly, they are planning on tearing this place down completely because of safety issues. It’s an interesting place. I’m glad I have had the chance to go there.
What an interesting location and intriguing pictures! Such a unique history. It’s good that you were able to document it before they tear it down. Wouldn’t it be interesting to find and interview some of the people who actually partied/played paintball etc there?
Oh. I know lots of people that did exactly that. The place kind of has a bad juju on it. A lot of weird stuff happens there — too creepy, if you ask me.
Would have made an interesting movie set!
Definitely. But, I’m afraid someone might have filmed a snuff porno or something waaaaaay to bizarre out there. Yuck.
Great pictures Fresh Ginger … loved them! I subcribe to a Facebook site here in Brisbane Australia which shows photos of abandoned buildings in Brisbane and they are always amazing too. Here is the link:
https://www.facebook.com/AbandonedBrisbane?fref=ts
Cool! Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure …
Sooo awesome and haunting, Fresh Ginger. Love this post and your photos. Makes me want to go there and ghost hunt. 🙂
There’s lots of ghost hunting here. Biker Chicks Welcome.
Right on, baby! I’m all over that. 🙂
Wow! So interesting! Enjoyed the photographs…especially the 7th one. Love the perspective on it.
Thanks!
That’s awesome! I love decrepit things! And graffiti! Good post!
Abandoned spaces are always interesting to me. Thanks for stopping by to visit!
No doubt! And thanks you totally inspired me to post about this old drive in I went last year. It was so awesome! Falling apart everywhere. It was beautiful!
Love it! We still have one of the few real drive ins left in Reno. And, they show new movies! Go figure.
Here we go, finally posted the drive in pics…
http://alteredlines.wordpress.com/2013/07/24/drive-in-movie-theatre/
Brilliant photos.
There’s a beauty in desolation like that.
I agree.
Incredible photos! and such an insightful snapshot of society
Thanks for stopping by!
I know that they have talked about tearing down the place for years, and recently, the talk seemed pretty serious to the point I heard it would only be a few weeks. That was in April, now being September, I thought I would chance going back up there to see the place. I brought my 4 year daughter with me. I cant say we stayed out of the fenced off areas, but with the little one with me, didn’t wander in to far. I did get a picture of her on the steps inside the main building. I walked around and thought of all the times that I have been there in the years past. I have walked the buildings and enjoyed the rich history behind them and wished that I knew the stories that could be told. I have cracked open a few cold beers and toasted the ghosts that may be living there. I believe American Flats is the reason I have such a passion for ghost towns and old historical sights. I plan to return on my own where I don’t have to keep such a sharp eye out on my daughter. The history of the spot is fantastic and money could be made by having a tours and selling spray paint to people to paint walls in the safer areas rather than tear down our history.
They keep saying that the day is coming. It’s dangerous out there but beautiful in its own way.
Great pics and fascinating location history. And those cyanide barrels are a potent image at a time when so many talking heads are calling for drastically reduced government; it does have a role.
Thanks. Those barrels are pretty haunting. And, just gross, blatant, disgusting remnants. Unbelievable. They still remain.
Hi fresh Ginger, I used some of your pictures on my facebook page I wanted to credit you, wasnt sure on name, am using name at top of this blog Gingerlee photog. I rode with my kids all through those hills to the “flats” and we explored all the tunnels and rooms, creepy for sure!! and so desolate. thank you for great photos!! Sue Frawley
Thank you. My name is Sharlea.Taft and I also have a Facebook page for Gingerlea Photography.
very cool