Ponderosa Saloon Mine

Ponderosa Mine Tour

Useful Information

Location:	106 South C Street, Virginia City, NV 89440. Downtown Virginia City. (39.309502, -119.650134)
Open:	All year daily 12-17. Saloon: All year daily 11-24. [2023]
Fee:	Adults USD 12, Children (3-12) USD 5. [2023]
Classification:	Gold Mine Silver Mine
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:	D=25 min.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Ponderosa Saloon Mine, 106 South C St, (Ponderosa Saloon), Virginia City, NV 89440, Tel: +1-775-847-7210.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1869	Best & Belcher Mine opened.
1917	mine closed.

Geology

Description

Ponderosa Saloon Mine is a gold and silver mine located below Ponderosa Saloon in downtown Virginia City. The mine was originally named Best & Belcher Mine and was not profitable. It was operated for 50 years, and was actually never really profitable. It seems the main reason why it was operated was the fact that it was located between the extremely profitable Gould and Curry and Consolidated Virginia mines. It seems there was always enough hope that one day they would find the profitable lode.

The owners of the Ponderosa Saloon realized one day in the early 1990s that the mine shaft entrance of the mine was very close. So they dug a tunnel to this abandoned, unprofitable mine, and began offering tours. The tour takes only 25 minutes, fits exactly between two beers, and shows 300 pieces of equipment on display. There is a map room, a powder room, which still contains a few old, wooden dynamite boxes.

The saloon is located in the historic Bank of California offices, and the bank vault is another sight.