Mojo Adventures

Mojo Adventures Two Humans. Two Dogs. Two Jeeps. One great big world to explore!! ✌️🌵

12/10/2024

CALIENTE DEPOT: You might be wondering what this beautiful Mission-style train depot is doing way out here in rural Nevada!

The grandiose Caliente Depot was built by Union Pacific in 1923 after a fire destroyed the original station in 1921. Much of the interior was made of solid oak and the cost of the lavish building totaled over $80k! The Caliente Depot housed the railroad station, offices, and even a restaurant. For some time the second level was also a fully operational 50 room hotel!

There was a reason the Caliente Depot was constructed with such grandeur out here in what seems like the middle of nowhere. Before Las Vegas emerged as a populous center in southern Nevada, Caliente was in the perfect location about halfway between the major cities of Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. The town of Caliente became a major dividing point for the Union Pacific railroad. At the time steam locomotives still ruled the rails also, and it was necessary to have a stop in this area for a watering station.

That all changed around 1940 when the U.S. began to adopt new diesel electric locomotives. With the growing town of Las Vegas only 150 miles to the south, Union Pacific decided to move the dividing point (and major operations) to Las Vegas. This effectively marked the end of the Caliente Depot, as it was no longer needed for passenger activity or as a siding.

After decades of sitting vacant, thankfully Union Pacific handed over the Caliente Depot to the town in 1970. Under local and state guidance, the depot has been well-preserved and managed to survive to this day. Recently the depot received a complete facelift, changing from it's classic Mission white to a update adobe tan. Long after it stopped functioning as a train depot, the building still serves the town as a civic center and city government offices. There is a train museum located on property as well in the Red Caboose that is highly recommended.

Although there might not be the same hustle and bustle of major railroad activity here anymore, several times a day you can catch the Union Pacific trains cruising past the Caliente Depot and heading into Rainbow Canyon just like they have for the last 100 years! 🚂

Check out the full HD clip on our B-Roll channel:
https://youtu.be/jwAj536MdFg?si=M6E2Hq9-MJ9v2Cnp

What have they done to the old homeplace...? ⛺Taking a load off for the night at a peaceful old homestead hidden amongst...
12/07/2024

What have they done to the old homeplace...? ⛺

Taking a load off for the night at a peaceful old homestead hidden amongst the layered hills. Looks like may have been a small ranching operation at one time. You can almost feel the hustle and bustle of daily life that took place here...

"To these trailmakers whose courage matched the dangers of the land, this bit of earth is dedicated forever."Frank "Shor...
12/04/2024

"To these trailmakers whose courage matched the dangers of the land, this bit of earth is dedicated forever."

Frank "Shorty" Harris, dean of all desert prospectors, was well known around the Death Valley area. Originally born in Rhode Island, he began to head west at the age of 20 and prospected in famous boomtowns like Leadville, Tombstone, and Coeur d'Alene along the way. Upon arriving in the Mojave desert he helped locate strikes from Ballarat to Bullfrog & Rhyolite up through Goldfield & Tonopah.

Harris got the nickname “Shorty” from his height, standing at 5’4” tall. It was rumored he had an uncanny ability to detect gold and some even claimed he could smell it! Once he found a decent claim, Shorty wouldn't work it though. He much preferred a hearty social life at the saloon over the daily work of mining, and prospecting seemed to strike the perfect balance for his lifestyle!

After a long and successful life in the desert, Shorty retreated to a cabin in Lone Pine where he hoped to rest and recover from an illness. He would pass away shortly afterwards in 1934 at the age of 77.

On November 16th, 1934, the Inyo Independent reported the funeral in Death Valley:

"While the sun sank slowly into the purple haze that filters over Death Valley at twilight and taps sounded in the clear air of this mysterious land he knew so well, "Shorty" Harris, miner, Good Samaritan and friend to all who knew him, was laid to rest in a dusty grave on the valley floor last Sunday afternoon. In deference to his request, he was buried at the "bottom of Death Valley", beside the grave of his old pal and friend, Jim Dayton, long a respected pioneer prospector of Death Valley region."

On his grave marker is the inscription he himself requested:
"Here lies Shorty Harris, a single blanket jackass prospector."

Just outside the valley in Rhyolite, an art installation was dedicated in 1994 at Goldwell Open Air Museum depicting Shorty walking off into the desert holding a pick axe. To this day, Shorty has certainly left a TALL MARK all over this desert!

WHY THE PENGUIN??? 🐧

Just like everything in the desert, this one has some lore to it as well! It is said the artist, Fred Bervoets, created the penguin as a self-portrait. Being a native of Belgium, the penguin was meant to symbolize how displaced he felt in the remote Nevada desert. At least that’s the official story from the museum!

Rhyolite caretaker Clint Boehringer offered a different explanation however...

According to him, when Shorty would be out prospecting in the desert and “would take up drinking from his bottle of O, be Joyful, after a time he'd look behind him and see a penguin following him.” Apparently Shorty never saw the pink elephants of delirium… but rather the desert penguins of joy instead.

Maybe THAT'S who was leading him to all that gold?🤠

Credit:
Historical Marker Database
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=159314

11/19/2024

Motorcyclists depart abandoned Rhyolite ghost town for the vast and unforgiving desert, heading down the same streets as prospectors and miners in the early 1900's...

11/19/2024

LIGHTS OUT AT THE GEM!📽️ The Gem Theater has been a landmark along Main Street Pioche since 1937! Opened exclusively for film during what many would call "the Golden Age of Hollywood", movies were shown at the Gem all the way from it's opening up until 2002 when a windstorm ripped the roof off and caused extensive damage.

The Gem was shuttered for nearly two decades until the non-profit "Friends of The Gem Theatre" organized to restore and reopen the venue. In 2022, the iconic marquee was officially 💡RE-LIT💡 marking a huge restoration milestone. The owners hope to eventually show classic movies and new releases in the theater once again. For tonight though... it's LIGHTS OUT at The Gem!

LEARN MORE:
https://gempioche.com/
Gem Theater in Pioche

"This is the train I hope to meet bearing you before very long..."✍️🚂 An old postcard pictures the Reno Southern Pacifi...
11/18/2024

"This is the train I hope to meet bearing you before very long..."✍️🚂 An old postcard pictures the Reno Southern Pacific Railway Depot with a handwritten caption at the bottom. The brick depot in the first postcard operated from 1889 to 1926 when it was lost to an accidental fire. The Southern Pacific Depot here would actually see a total of FOUR fires and FOUR rebuilds but still stands to this day in the heart of Reno!

After the brick building burned in 1926, a new depot was constructed and updated with colorful awnings, landscaping accents, and even an ice cream stand to serve passengers from the red-and-white striped awning. You can see this modern iteration from the second post card, dated 1930.

In the third photo you can see the modern depot hadn't changed much at all through the 20th century. Up until 2006, passengers accessed the train directly from the historic waiting room just like they had for 80 years!

In 2006, the city of Reno completed a railroad trench project through downtown which sunk the tracks underground and provided a pedestrian bridge over the original tracks. The Southern Pacific Depot remains in place with a museum inside, and is definitely worth a visit to see this vibrant part of the city's history!

RENO

11/09/2024

BEFORE & AFTER ⌛ Bonnie Claire Watering Station - "Last train to run over the Bullfrog Goldfield line" - JANUARY 7TH, 1928

Around September 1906, the Bullfrog-Goldfield Railroad reached Thorp, and the new stop there was called "Montana Station." The residents did not like that name, and in October the town was officially platted with the new name "Bonnie Claire."

A year later the town would peak with the arrival of the Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad. Mining activity continued until the ore dwindled, and in 1914 with demand falling, the LV&T and BGRR were consolidated and some parts of the original line abandoned. Limited operations occurred until 1928 when railroad service officially ended. Most of the original track would later be ripped up and salvaged for the WWII effort, and the historic Bonnie Clair Station disappeared back into the desert...

Mojo Adventures
https://youtube.com/.adventures

11/08/2024

MOJO MINER #1 (Petrified Wood) - These miners may just lead you to some gold at the end of a rainbow. Find them if you can! 🤠

⚒️ GODBE MILL ⚒️ In 1890, the already successful Raymond & Ely, Meadow Valley, and Yuba Mines were all merged by William...
11/06/2024

⚒️ GODBE MILL ⚒️ In 1890, the already successful Raymond & Ely, Meadow Valley, and Yuba Mines were all merged by William S. Godbe into the "Pioche Consolidated Mining & Reduction Company." The following year, he built a large new mill below town to service his claims which carried his name. The Pioche Pacific Railway connected the mill to the Pioche mines, keeping it constantly supplied with rich silver ore from the hills.

After successfully processing ore at this mill for decades, a newer mill was built above town in 1929, and the lower Godbe Mill was reconfigured to be a 250-ton flotation concentrator. Soon afterwards, an accidental fire occurred during operations and devastated much of the mill. The value of the operation was so immense though that the mill was soon rebuilt back even better, with a new aerial tramway to connect the mines on top of Treasure Hill. The wooden ore bins to the right of the mill house were the final stop on the gravity powered aerial tram, which can still be seen to this day!

We'll have some great aerial footage and interior shots of this impressive piece of engineering that we'll be sharing soon! ▶️ https://youtube.com/.adventures

Pioche Baseball Park - Lincoln County, NV - 1908 - The "Pioche Nine" take on the baseball club from Caliente, who did ge...
11/05/2024

Pioche Baseball Park - Lincoln County, NV - 1908 - The "Pioche Nine" take on the baseball club from Caliente, who did get the best of the home team all that summer!

The 2 towns were only about 25 miles apart, but far isolated from any other large populations at the time... so they only played each other! ⚾️🤠

Pioche also had the reputation of being one of the roughest towns in the Old West, with proof still buried at "Boothill Cemetery" ☠️

Learn all about the ROUGH & TUMBLE HISTORY OF PIOCHE in our YouTube video HERE ▶️ https://youtu.be/W2K0jgP14Yw

11/05/2024

ENGINE 93 fires up for a ride through White Pine countryside! 🚂 Another beautiful rainy day on the Nevada Northern Railway 🌦️🌲

You can get UP & CLOSE with these magnificent machines at the working yard outside the museum. Check it out next time you are passing through eastern Nevada or visiting Great Basin National Park!

Ely Nevada

▶️youtube.com/.adventures

BEFORE & AFTER: Waiting on my Carl's Burger like ... 💀Carl's Burgers closed sometime in the mid-90's, but occupied the s...
10/28/2024

BEFORE & AFTER: Waiting on my Carl's Burger like ... 💀

Carl's Burgers closed sometime in the mid-90's, but occupied the space that was the State Cafe. You can still see the blue tiles framing the window and recessed marquee from the historic photo. Since then, the Smith-Cornelius Hotel (with Swallow's Drugs) and Carl's old space have been sitting vacant. The Blue Tile Mercantile (in between the buildings) was torn down. Carl Arnoldus (the owner) passed away in 2005, and his wife Arnelda passed away in 2011. According to locals she was always around the restaurant. Every time I pass by, I still wish I could stop and grab a malt. The coffee pop-up across the street is a good substitute! 🤠

The skeletons out front are part of Caliente's seasonal display and I just couldn't resist the pun👍🎃

"ROCK-A-BYE-BABY" - A man poses with his best friend and favorite Donkey, c.1910LIFE GOALS! 🫏🤠💯
10/27/2024

"ROCK-A-BYE-BABY" - A man poses with his best friend and favorite Donkey, c.1910

LIFE GOALS! 🫏🤠💯

10/24/2024

It must be SPOOKY SEASON because we found a whole lot of GHOSTS roaming around the desert this week... 👻🎃😱

🛑!!! PIT STOP !!!🛑 If you're passing through Beatty, make sure to SLOW DOWN ✋ and take a look around 👀 You aren't the on...
10/23/2024

🛑!!! PIT STOP !!!🛑 If you're passing through Beatty, make sure to SLOW DOWN ✋ and take a look around 👀 You aren't the only one stopping in town for a snack! 🫏

The "B***o", "Donkey", "Jack", or "Jenny" are descendants of the original working donkeys brought in to haul ore from the numerous mining districts in the area. To this day, they still roam the hills and wander back down into town, seemingly looking for their missing prospectors. I think you'll agree though, they've happily adapted to their new role as town ambassadors!

DID YOU KNOW: B***os were a miner's best friend, able to navigate long treks over rough terrain carrying heavy loads in dry desert environments. Often times, miners and prospectors credited their Donkeys for having found them a life-saving water source or wandering upon rich ore veins.

"Let us never forget the donkey, for it was always by their side"

Beatty, Nevada

10/22/2024

😊✨️There’s something incredibly freeing about hitting the open road. As we drive away from the city, I can feel the stress of daily life melting away. The constant hum of urban noise fades into the background, replaced by the soothing sound of tires on pavement and the thrill of the unknown ahead. With every mile, I’m reminded of the beauty in simplicity—endless horizons, fresh air, and the chance to explore. It’s a refreshing escape, allowing me to fully embrace the journey and the freedom that comes with it.

✨

10/22/2024

GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE! 🌞😎

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CALIENTE DEPOT: You might be wondering what this beautiful Mission-style train depot is doing way out here in rural Nevada! The grandiose Caliente Depot was built by Union Pacific in 1923 after a fire destroyed the original station in 1921. Much of the interior was made of solid oak and the cost of the lavish building totaled over $80k! The Caliente Depot housed the railroad station, offices, and even a restaurant. For some time the second level was also a fully operational 50 room hotel! There was a reason the Caliente Depot was constructed with such grandeur out here in what seems like the middle of nowhere. Before Las Vegas emerged as a populous center in southern Nevada, Caliente was in the perfect location about halfway between the major cities of Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. The town of Caliente became a major dividing point for the Union Pacific railroad. At the time steam locomotives still ruled the rails also, and it was necessary to have a stop in this area for a watering station. That all changed around 1940 when the U.S. began to adopt new diesel electric locomotives. With the growing town of Las Vegas only 150 miles to the south, Union Pacific decided to move the dividing point (and major operations) to Las Vegas. This effectively marked the end of the Caliente Depot, as it was no longer needed for passenger activity or as a siding. After decades of sitting vacant, thankfully Union Pacific handed over the Caliente Depot to the town in 1970. Under local and state guidance, the depot has been well-preserved and managed to survive to this day. Recently the depot received a complete facelift, changing from it's classic Mission white to a update adobe tan. Long after it stopped functioning as a train depot, the building still serves the town as a civic center and city government offices. There is a train museum located on property as well in the Red Caboose that is highly recommended. Although there might not be the same hustle and bustle of major r

Art installation at Goldwell Open Air Museum in Rhyolite dedicated to Shorty Harris

Motorcyclists depart abandoned Rhyolite ghost town for the vast and unforgiving desert, heading down the same streets as prospectors and miners in the early 1900's... #explore #ghost #mining #history #adventure #explorepage #fypシ #travel #nevada #NYE #county #TravelNevada #outdoors

LIGHTS OUT AT THE GEM!📽️ The Gem Theater has been a landmark along Main Street Pioche since 1937! Opened exclusively for film during what many would call "the Golden Age of Hollywood", movies were shown at the Gem all the way from it's opening up until 2002 when a windstorm ripped the roof off and caused extensive damage. The Gem was shuttered for nearly two decades until the non-profit "Friends of The Gem Theatre" organized to restore and reopen the venue. In 2022, the iconic marquee was officially 💡RE-LIT💡 marking a huge restoration milestone. The owners hope to eventually show classic movies and new releases in the theater once again. For tonight though... it's LIGHTS OUT at The Gem! LEARN MORE: https://gempioche.com/ Gem Theater in Pioche #gemtheater #explore #history #nevada #films #theater #explorepage #Adventure #historylovers

BEFORE & AFTER ⌛ Bonnie Claire Watering Station - "Last train to run over the Bullfrog Goldfield line" - JANUARY 7TH, 1928 Around September 1906, the Bullfrog-Goldfield Railroad reached Thorp, and the new stop there was called "Montana Station." The residents did not like that name, and in October the town was officially platted with the new name "Bonnie Claire." A year later the town would peak with the arrival of the Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad. Mining activity continued until the ore dwindled, and in 1914 with demand falling, the LV&T and BGRR were consolidated and some parts of the original line abandoned. Limited operations occurred until 1928 when railroad service officially ended. Most of the original track would later be ripped up and salvaged for the WWII effort, and the historic Bonnie Clair Station disappeared back into the desert... Mojo Adventures https://youtube.com/@mojo.adventures #history #explore #railway #lasvegas #tonopah #goldfields #BonnieClaire #NYE #nevada #mining #railroad #desert #adventure #railfans #mojo #southwest

MOJO MINER #1 (Petrified Wood) - These miners may just lead you to some gold at the end of a rainbow. Find them if you can! 🤠 #explorepage #adventure #ghost #town #mining #history #treasurehunt #map #xmarksthespot

ENGINE 93 fires up for a ride through White Pine countryside! 🚂 Another beautiful rainy day on the Nevada Northern Railway 🌦️🌲 You can get UP & CLOSE with these magnificent machines at the working yard outside the museum. Check it out next time you are passing through eastern Nevada or visiting Great Basin National Park! Ely Nevada #nevadanorthernrailway #railway #fans #railfans #Ely #nevada #explore #adventure #mojo #explorepage ▶️youtube.com/@mojo.adventures

It must be SPOOKY SEASON because we found a whole lot of GHOSTS roaming around the desert this week... 👻🎃😱 #ghosts #SpookySeason #Halloween #desert #explorepage

😊✨️There’s something incredibly freeing about hitting the open road. As we drive away from the city, I can feel the stress of daily life melting away. The constant hum of urban noise fades into the background, replaced by the soothing sound of tires on pavement and the thrill of the unknown ahead. With every mile, I’m reminded of the beauty in simplicity—endless horizons, fresh air, and the chance to explore. It’s a refreshing escape, allowing me to fully embrace the journey and the freedom that comes with it. #Roadtrip #highway #explorepage✨#cockapoo #dogsoftiktok #traveltiktok #jeeplife #freedom #crosscountry #foryou #peaceful #camping #fyp

GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE! 🌞😎 #sphere #lasvegas #herecomesthesun

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