Cerro Gordo was discovered by Mexican miners in 1864 or 1865, but it was not widely known until 1867 when chunks of silver ore were displayed in Nevada. The town boomed as prospectors and miners invaded the area, including a mining engineer named M. W. Belshaw, who purchased the Union Mine (the area's only reliable source of the lead needed for the smelter), built the town's only smelter, owned the only road into town (a toll road, naturally), and controlled the water supply. The sudden and swift boom in Cerro Gordo helped stimulate the growth of the small village of Los Angeles, as merchants, freight companies, and railways sought to supply the town.

Cerro Gordo is privately owned and run by Jody Stewart and her husband. They are very carefully restoring the site and will give you a tour for a small fee ($5) -- it is well worth the price. Drive to Cerro Gordo by taking a winding dirt road east from Keeler for 13 km. The site is quite high up in the mountains (2750 m.) so a wintertime visit may not be prudent.

The American Hotel

Walls

Cabins with the tram in the background

View of Owens Lake from Cerro Gordo