Amargosa

Nye County

AKA: Johnnie Station; Amargosa Station; Johnnie Siding

Disclaimer: This Amargosa is not to be confused with the current, inhabited community of Amargosa Valley near the Lathrop Wells junction. It is also not to be confused with the town called Amargosa (Amargosa City) that sprang up near Rhyolite and eventually merged with Bullfrog. This site is located near the junction of Highway 95 and Highway 160 (The road to Pahrump). The first and second photographs with the gas can, show the old concrete slab and the actual location of the site. The other photographs were taken while searching the surrounding area along the old railroad bed.

Researching this site took a little bit of effort. I relied on three of my favorite Nevada historians. Two of these historians completely conflicted with the third. Based on this, I looked at other sources. They also conflicted with the third historian. In the third historians account, it seems like the dates of this Amargosa, and the Amargosa located up by Rhyolite/Bullfrog, may have been intertwined. The dates did not make any sense. Therefore, I'm going to provide the version that makes the most sense to me. If I get it wrong, I apologize in advance.

This location was first established as a temporary camp while work was being completed on the Las Vegas & Tonopah Railroad line. Wells were sunk at this location that contained bitter, brackish water. Hence the Spanish to English translation of "Amargo" to "Bitter". The Johnnie District, which was only a few miles from here, saw a mining resurgence in 1905. When the railroad was completed through here in 1906, the station became a main supply and travel hub for those in the Johnnie District and other nearby camps. A few of the normal mining camp businesses operated here. To include a hotel, restaurant, store and blacksmith. A man known as "Alkali Bill" Brong operated an auto stage in the area. It was known as the Death Valley Chug Wagon. This station was also a main supply hub for the booming camp of Greenwater in Death Valley. Rich copper ore was discovered in Greenwater in early 1906. With the completion of the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad closer to Greenwater in 1907, Amargosa eventually lost that business. Amargosa continued to be the main supply hub for the Johnnie District. When Johnnie declined in 1912, Amargosa declined as well. By 1915, Amargosa was completely abandoned.

Post Office: None

Last Trip/ Road Conditions: February, 2022. Being that we are from Pahrump and Amargosa respectively, we have both driven right past this site a million times. I know that I took it for granted that it would always be right down the road. I tried looking for the site a couple times but gave up quickly when I didn't find it. Being as close to the road as it is, it was extremely hard to find. We finally made a plan in February 2022. There are a lot of small relics left, such as railroad ties, small dumps and bricks. However, they are not all together. You will have to wander around the desert to find a scrap here and there. Not much of the old concrete slab is even visible anymore. The desert is swallowing it back up. Roads shouldn't be an issue here. Not much, if any, winter snow. All of this is located within walking distance from Hwy 95 as well.

Sources: Nevada Ghost Towns and Mining Camps (By: Stanley W. Paher); Preserving the Glory Days- Ghost Towns and Mining Camps of Nye County, Nevada (By: Shawn Hall); Nevada Place Names- A Geographical Dictionary (By: Helen S. Carlson).