Cold Springs Station Site, Stagecoach station ruins in Churchill County, Nevada, US

Cold Springs Station Site is an archaeological location near Austin that preserves the remains of a stagecoach station from the 1800s. The site contains building foundations, scattered artifacts, and evidence of how people and animals stopped here during their long journeys westward.

The station was established in the 1800s as a critical stopping point on a westbound travel route, where people and animals could rest and find water. This location served thousands of travelers during the era of westward expansion across the American frontier.

The site is also known as the Rock Creek Stage Station, a name tied to the nearby creek. The original Cold Springs Pony Express Station Ruins lie close by, marking the mail route that ran between Missouri and California in 1860 and 1861. Visitors can walk between the two sets of stone remains.

Contact the Churchill County Museum before visiting to confirm access and get directions to the site, as it sits in a remote location that is not always easily visible. Bring water and sun protection, as the area offers little shade and can be quite exposed.

The springs that gave this place its name were crucial for both drinking water and caring for horses, making it an indispensable stop for anyone traveling the long desert routes. Archaeological work has revealed how essential this water source was to the daily operations of the station.