California Death Valley area

Older building in the hills... the light was very poor, so I converted this into black & white.

Looking east across the Amargosa flats from a hill between Tecopa and Tecopa Hot Springs. Note the barely visible water in the lower portion of the picture -- there has been an unusual level of rain in the area in the early Fall this year and there was some water in the river.

Looking southeast towards Tecopa, the cliffs on the left side of the picture are from the centuries of the Amargosa river cutting through the hills.

Canyon of the Amargosa river, east of Tecopa.

"Florence" (see adjacent picture), parked next to the bath houses at Tecopa Hot Springs county park. Best viewed in Lightbox (with black background).

The story of "Florence"

In the foreground, a parking lot of the Tecopa Hot Springs park. The lot seemed to be of stored and/or abandoned vehicles; the gray school bus was once abandoned in the campground (see www.ipernity.com/doc/donbrr/22308899) . (See adjacent picture)

Most of the area in this picture is Tecopa Hot Springs Resort, a private RV park and motel. I've stayed there in the winter, it's relatively primitive and quite affordable. Best viewed in Lightbox (with black background).

A collection of mobile homes, travel trailers, and sheds, on the east side of Tecopa Hot Springs. Best viewed in Lightbox (with black background).

"Danger No Trespassing" Though the posted danger is due to risk of sliding down into a very deep pit just to my right, the sign seems appropriate for describing the fact that the entire view seen here, far off into the distance, is littered with unmarked mining waste.

A collection of foundations and rubble in the area of the original Tecopa, which is about 8 miles from the current town of Tecopa. Based on the location of these foundations and the type of construction, I'm guessing that these are the remains of administrative buildings associated with the mines. For other photos of old Tecopa, see: www.ipernity.com/tag/donbrr/keyword/4575596

Tiny butterfly that seemed willing to pose! Taken near Emigrant Pass.

From Emigrant Pass in the Nopah Range on Old Spanish Trail Highway, looking west towards Resting Spring Range and then the mud hills around Tecopa.

Looking east across the Pahrump Valley (California) from Emigrant Pass in the Nopah Range on Old Spanish Trail Highway. From what I could find, the low mountains to the east do not have a separate name.

Looking in the wrong direction (Mt. Charleston is in Nevada and behind me (in the sun)), the village of Charleston View. Charleston View is one of the many fascinating, failed, development schemes of the intermountain west. If you look at a satellite view you'll see a fairly extensive grid of streets mapped out across the surrounding desert, but very few homes (see adjacent picture). From the 1960's I remember regularly seeing the ads in various magazines for "Western Ranchettes, $999" with pictures of rustic but thriving western communities. I imagine it was these sorts of developments that were being sold. Having seen many across the west that are very similar to this, I can't help but wonder what goes on in the minds of the people who did buy and moved here, only to find themselves isolated, with no services, and possibly even having drug manufacturers as the nearest neighbors.

Charleston View, described on some maps as Calvada Springs, and listed on Zillow as Spring Valley Ranchos. On Zillow vacant lots have been selling (in the past 2 years) for as high as $15K and as low as $348; the latter makes the most sense given that it is unimproved desert land. (See discussion with adjacent picture.)

Part of the main building at Death Valley Junction includes the Amargosa Opera House. Given the remote location, it is always surprising to see an opera house there. See my picture from a few years back for more detail: www.ipernity.com/doc/donbrr/22308733

E Clampus Vitus plaque describing the history of Death Valley Junction and its historic railroad connections.