Empire, Mining ghost town in Nevada, United States
Empire is an abandoned settlement in Washoe County located at 4,036 feet (1,229 m) elevation across desert terrain featuring empty industrial structures and residential streets. The buildings show the layout and architecture of what was once a fully operating company-sponsored town.
A gypsum deposit was discovered at the site in 1907, and the U.S. Gypsum Corporation established it as a company town in 1948. The settlement operated successfully for decades before closure in the late 1900s.
The settlement was named after the mining company and once served as a social hub with a golf course, swimming pool, and places of worship for its 750 residents. These amenities show how the employer tried to build a complete town rather than just a workplace.
Visitors should prepare for a remote desert location without modern amenities or running services currently available. The cooler months are better for exploring because summer heat can be quite intense in this area.
For years after the town closed, two llamas named Tony Llama and Llama Bahama were the only residents living on the grounds. These unexpected inhabitants became a local symbol of the place's persistence during its long dormancy.
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