Lake Valley

School and mountains at Lake Valley

LAKE VALLEY

Take away all the world's computers, all the cellular phones, all the satellite dishes. Unplug all the soda machines, close all the drive-up windows, turn off all the lights. Take away everything that turns on, boots up or plugs in and the world might look a lot like Lake Valley.

QUICK STATS

COUNTY: Sierra

LOCATION: 18 miles south of Hillsboro

POST OFFICE: 1880-81, 1882-1955

NAME ORIGIN: Named for a dry lake nearby

RATING:

GNIS Info & Map

Virtual Tour of Lake Valley

Lake Valley's history is like that of many other mining towns. Silver ore was first discovered there in 1878 by George Lufkin, who sold the claim to George Daly. Daly was killed by Apaches on the day of the discovery of a large subterranean room and ore vein. It was named the Bridal Chamber, and became one of the richest veins of silver ever discovered. The Chamber was mined until the late 1890's.

Unlike other mining towns, Lake Valley is now under the management of the Bureau of Land Management, and remains fairly intact. Weathered wooden buildings, a school (shown above), a garage and several houses still survive.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
(click on the thumbnail image to see a larger picture)
The branches of a dead Lake Valley tree reach out desperately.	The Lake Valley Conoco has seen its last customer.


LAKE VALLEY
Take away all the world's computers, all the cellular phones, all the satellite dishes. Unplug all the soda machines, close all the drive-up windows, turn off all the lights. Take away everything that turns on, boots up or plugs in and the world might look a lot like Lake Valley.	QUICK STATS COUNTY: Sierra LOCATION: 18 miles south of Hillsboro POST OFFICE: 1880-81, 1882-1955 NAME ORIGIN: Named for a dry lake nearby RATING: GNIS Info & Map Virtual Tour of Lake Valley
Lake Valley's history is like that of many other mining towns. Silver ore was first discovered there in 1878 by George Lufkin, who sold the claim to George Daly. Daly was killed by Apaches on the day of the discovery of a large subterranean room and ore vein. It was named the Bridal Chamber, and became one of the richest veins of silver ever discovered. The Chamber was mined until the late 1890's. Unlike other mining towns, Lake Valley is now under the management of the Bureau of Land Management, and remains fairly intact. Weathered wooden buildings, a school (shown above), a garage and several houses still survive.