wells fargo silver reef monument

AS you travel the long road between Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, I recommend a short stop in Leeds to visit the Wells Fargo Silver Reef Monument. The town is full of remnants of a time of a wild west where towns spring up in search of riches and quickly die as fortunes are lost. I recommend you take a little extra time to climb the red rocks and explore silver reef canyon near by, the sights long expansive views are awesome. We drove up and found the old Kiln used in the mining of the silver which made the town. Ask the tour guide for directions. Price is $3 for adults and $10 for family in the museum, but to walk the town and red hills is free.

Ok, I wouldn't say this is much of a ghost town. Actually, as far as ghost towns go, it was very disappointing. There are remnants of buildings, a couple replicas (as far as I can tell), and just a few walls. The more disappointing part is that fairly nice houses seem to surround it all. However, the museum was very interesting and provided a town of artifacts and information. The staff there were also very knowledgable, personable and patient. My kids learned a lot and were extremely interested, mostly due to the staff. Definitely worth a stop if you only have an hour or two or nothing else to do.

Remember stopping here as a kid and wanted to check it out. The Wells Fargo museum is cool with some remnants of the mining town that had been there. Absolutely great vistas looking out across the desert of southwestern Utah. Great tour guide who was very knowledgeable and nice. Worth checking out of you like history or old west stuff. Now there are some very expensive looking homes around so its not a true ghost town, but I would have to imagine it those homes that help keep the museum going.

Admittedly, I chose to visit this place because it was referenced In a Louis LaMour novel so I came with some perspective. But I found the information available quite interesting. As a visual, the remains of the town does not offer much, but it is a beautiful setting at the edge of the Dixie National Forest and the seen of some newly developed luxury homes. Views down the valley are beautiful and there is a great deal of information about the silver mining operations of the late 1800's. One might miss a tour of the Catholic and the Protestant cemeteries at the base of the hill which offer some interesting epitaphs. The museum was actually closed (Tuesday and Wednesdays we are told) but one of the trustees happened by and opened a supplemental building which had a great model of the town and an audio presentation of its history. Worth a stop.

I was in town and had some time, thought I would stop by and see some interesting old buildings. What I was met with were some old walls in the backyards of some expensive looking homes. I realize that ghost town means town of the past, so I don't expect a full on house, but I also don't expect it to be in the backyard of some large homes. The museum wasn't open on the day I visited, so maybe that would add to the fun of the place. My general thought was "really?" That's it. I wouldn't go out of your way to see the place.

Assuming you love the desert and majestic craggy cliffs and colorful rocks most of southern Utah is more amazing that 90%+ of the amazing places I have visited around the world. Think Lawrence of Arabia country.

Today was the second time I've attempted to visit the Silver Reef Ghost Town, and the Wells Fargo Museum. The first time I arrived just after 5pm and missed the opportunity. On a return trip one year later I made sure I arrived more promptly...the sign on the door indicated that they had limited hours this week--Thurs, Friday, Saturday, from 10-5, and the recording for the museum confirmed those were the hours for this week (Oct 18-20). it was a little before 4pm and they were closed. I understand limited funding for extended hours. However, since I went out of my way a second time to visit, I am quite disappointed that they didn't at least honor their posted hours.The handful of old buildings and items outside the museum are of some interest, but not worth the trip off the freeway without getting in.

Ci siamo recati in questa città fantasma, ad essere onesti i resti della città sono davvero pochi e modesti, ma la cosa interessante è sicuramente il museo, i proprietari sono stati davvero carini, ci hanno fatto fare la visita guidata anche se non eravamo in orario. Le spiegazioni che ci hanno dato sono state davvero istruttive e interessanti, la nascita della città, addirittura la nascita di un giornale locale fino ad arrivare al declino. Se si è di passaggio sicuramente si può fare una sosta