Two very different attractions

Berlin/Ichthyosaur State Park boasts of one of the most well-preserved ghost towns in Nevada. Founded near the end of the 19th century, Berlin is far from the oldest mining town in the state. However, its colorful and vibrant history can spar with the likes of other ghost towns in the west.

Because it is protected by the state, the remains which encompass many of the original buildings, exist in a state of arrested decay. You can walk the townsite via self-guided walking trails which weave all about the area.

Not far away are different kinds of ghosts. But instead of being 130 years old, these are 225 million years old. Not only were these prehistoric beasts present long before it became mining land, they were here before there was any land here at all. They swam the warm ocean that covered present day Nevada.

 

Two very different extinctions

Although silver was discovered here as early as 1863, it was not until the Union Mining District was formed in 1894 that the town of Berlin came into existence. The Berlin Mine was in full operation within two years. Miners and prospectors from parts near and far came to try their luck at the new boom camp. Woodcutters, charcoal makers, merchants, a doctor, a nurse, and, of course, a few women to work the fancy house, all made a home in Berlin. The population peaked at about 250 people.

Plenty of gold was produced for a small town, some 42,000 troy ounces, which resulted in $849,000. That was a lot of money back then. In fact, that is a lot of money now! Berlin was most profitable about 1908. All of the ore was extracted through tunnels using hard rock mining techniques. As a result, you can see large hills and piles of tailings surrounding the mill area.

Berlin would not fit into the category of a Nevada boom town if there was not an end to the glory. By 1911 the mines had played out, and with the exception of a couple of residents, the town became a ghost.

Since then, Berlin has had a peaceful, albeit surprising post life.  One could even say dinosaurs helped save the history of Berlin.

In 1928, some 17 years after Berlin was abandoned, Dr. Siemon Muller was poking around a naturally eroded hillside just behind the townsite and discovered the remains of Ichthyosaurs; giant marine mammals dating back to the Mesozoic Era. There was not just one Ichthyosaur, or three or eight or twelve. Over years of excavation and discovery, forty of the creatures were found embedded in the hillside, this remained the largest concentration of Ichthyosaurs ever discovered in a single location until 2004.

Some as large as 50 feet long; the Ichthyosaur ruled the shallow seas that cover present day central Nevada. They were mean, tough, hungry and feared by the other seagoing creatures. But they had one weakness. They were unable to properly evolve and adapt to the intense climate change that befell them. Extinction followed and many eras would come and go before the seas receded and discovery was possible.

Continued excavation and further discoveries initiated Nevada to form a state park around the area in 1957 to better preserve the remains. The park included the diminishing ghost town of Berlin. This is how the Dinosaurs helped to preserve the ghost town.

That was not enough. Nevada then made the Ichthyosaur the official state fossil. That was not enough either, for Nevada likes to go all out. The Great Basin Brewery in the Reno/Sparks area brews the “Icky,” for those who want a little prehistoric taste in their beer.

 

Two very different preservations

As mentioned afore, Berlin is in a state of arrested decay. As with any other ghost town, there is much less left of the place than in its heyday. There are empty spaces, or in some cases, rotting piles of collapsed structures. Signs indicate what once stood there and what events transpired on the scene. A few of the standing structures have been upgraded or fortified for park ranger housing, a visitors’ center and storage. But the other structures that still exist can be seen pretty much as they were when abandoned.

The Berlin Mill still stands and, looking through windowless frames, you can see parts of the machinery still intact, including a section of the 20 stamps which crushed the ore. A machine shop, stage stop, miners’ cabins, a cemetery and much of the mine workings are free to roam. Tours into the nearby Diana Mine are sometimes available.

Heading out past town you will proceed up Union Canyon until you come to a hill on the right. A narrow road takes you up to the Ichthyosaur site. The eroding hillside in which the prehistoric beasts were found, is now confined within a modern fossil house. Tours are available here as well.

The untrained eye may only see rock and rubble with some discoloration. A ranger, using a red penlight, will point out the embedded skeletons, causing a confusing scene to become obvious. No arrested decay here. That already happened for 225 million years. Now, the tall shelter protects the excavations from the elements. Along the walls are smaller fossils and educational literature.

 

Conclusion

Berlin/Ichthyosaur Nevada State Park is located in the Ione Valley, nestled up to the western slope of the Shoshone Mountains in Nye County. All roads in the vicinity are dirt, but normally fairly well maintained.  The nearest gas and food are about 50 miles away at Middlegate Station.

While exploring Berlin and the Ichthyosaurs you’ll find there is far more to do as well.  Camping, hiking and mountain biking are available. Not far from Berlin are the sister ghost towns of Ione and Grantsville. Both of these are about ten miles away, with ample chunks of the Ione Valley to explore along the way. The park is at an elevation of 7,000 feet. There is snow in the winter and intermittent storms in the spring to be aware of. For more information on the varied attractions go to http://parks.nv.gov/parks/berlin-ichthyosaur.

Berlin/Ichthyosaur State Park is a desolate and beautiful place. Bring your quest for adventure and your thirst for knowledge.