Ryan House and Lost Horse Well

Ryan House and Lost Horse Well are ranch ruins containing building remains from the early 1900s in Joshua Tree National Park. The structures had multiple rooms with adobe walls and stone foundations, connected to a water source that served mining operations.

Construction began in 1896 to serve as a base for mining operations in the area. A fire destroyed the main building in 1978, leaving only foundations and ruins behind.

The site reveals how miners and their families lived in the desert during the early 1900s. The small cemetery shows the people who made this remote area their home.

The site sits along a hiking trail and is most accessible from March through October when temperatures are more moderate. The area offers little shade, so bringing water and sun protection is essential.

The Lost Horse Well connected the residence to a mine several miles away through a pipeline that transported water. This infrastructure reveals the engineering solutions early settlers created to survive in the desert.