Valley Wells, California -- Valley
Wells is a rest stop on Highway 15 between Los Angeles and Las
Vegas. Clean and convenient, there are picnic tables that overlook
the beautiful cacti, fields and mountains of the Mojave Desert.
This popular roadside refuge was once a very different place.
According to a roadside plaque located at this facility, Valley
Wells was once popular for mining of copper. A nearby city
with restaurants, hotels, shopping and attractions is Barstow.
Below is
information contained on the plaque:
In the late 1860's copper was
discovered on the Clark Mountain and Clark Mining District was
organized. Ore was rich but high transportation costs soon caused
mining to cease. In the late 1890's the railroad came within 30
miles and the original strike, the Copper World Mine, was reopened.
Two wells were sunk and in 1899 a 50-ton smelter was built, treating
ore hauled by 20-mule teams. In 1917 a 100-ton furnace was built,
but was in use only a short while. In 1894, Valley Wells, formerly
known as Rosalie, became headquarters of the Yates Ranch Cattle Co.
Ranching ceased around 1950. The Copper World reopened in 1977
and there is large scale production of gold and rare-earth minerals
in the Clark District up to the present day.
Information by the Billy Holcomb
chapter of the ancient and honorable order of E Clampus Vidus in
cooperation with Caltrans District 8.
