The Aiken Cinder Mine is in the Mojave National Preserve, it began operations in 1948, mining cinder cone (volcanic rock). The abandoned mine has been closed since 1990, when they essentially just left everything behind. Most of the mining equipment (what hasn’t been pieced off by vandalism) is still around: tractors, diesel engines, massive conveyor belts, shakers, weigh stations, scales, etc. They mined just over 9 million tons of cinder, of which almost 8 million tons are still left on-site in piles. Of the 1+ million tons that was sold and went to market, the majority was used for various construction projects on the Las Vegas strip. Definitely a cool area to explore. Just off the main mine area is a small volcanic arch, next to the ruins of an old stone house.
Please click the images below:
Could you make it in a 2wd vehicle with decent clearance?
Hi Gordon,
I’ve been out to the mine site a few different times and each time the conditions on the trail/road were different, so it’s hard to say. You could definitely get “close” to the site, but maybe not all the way to it in a 2-wheel drive vehicle (meaning you might have to hike in the last 1-2 miles). The trails leading into the last mile or so into the site can be really rough, with some very jagged (and large) volcanic rocks that really chew the rubber on your tires. So, to be safe, I’d recommend either a high-clearance 4×4 with a good set of tires, or park at the parking spot by the Lava Tube and hike the rest of the way in.
Thanks!
Paul
p.s., I just added a new picture to the gallery that shows the road/trail, to visually give you an idea. Hope this helps (the picture was from this spring).
Fascinating. Sorry for the spelning..IF its wrong.
This was sooo cool!
And The Phone booth.. What a shame
Kind regards from Sweden.
Hi Hans! Thanks! You’re right, it is a really cool area. The amount of equipment they left behind is crazy. And, in the desert it stays so well preserved. Thanks for checking out my site…all the best to you in Sweden!
Do you know why they just left it? Everything I’ve read or seen shows signs of a quick evacuation, as if something happened, and forced them out. I’m so facinated by it and would love to know more.
Hi Alexis,
Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog. I find it fascinating, too…all this very expensive equipment simply abandoned. It’s almost like everyone just walked off the site for the day and just never came back. I haven’t been able to find anything too definitive beyond the mine owner was unable to pay their bills. But, that stills doesn’t explain why they would leave all the equipment. Maybe they left everything because they were hoping to get the funds and come back? Maybe they didn’t have the money to move/transport the equipment? I’m not really sure, but it does make you wonder.
The National Park service gave them the shaft.
Just like the phone both the destroyed a established historical site.
I’d hate to see what they do with old Indian art if that way they feel about historical achievements
As an abandoned mine explorer/ photographer/ videographer.. is there any way to get into the underground workings? I document these places through social media and YouTube @kennerunderground.
Thank you!
I saw the story about this place on youtube would like to know what the name of the family was and any other details as I am fascinated in what happened please
Russ and ross aiken. Las Vegas
Mr Aiken owned it. The people who ran it for years was Warren Mecham and Kay Mecham.
It is actually not uncommon for workers to abandon work sites or jobs when they get stiffed on pay, such as when a restaurant suddenly decides to close its doors and the employees leave the food to rot on the tables and in the kitchen. Kind of a “stick it to the man” type of situation when you realize that things aren’t going to get better or be remedied. this cod be the case. And, it could also be the case that by the time everyone left , the equipment was sp old and run down that they realized it wasn’t worth taking.
This mine was owned by my Grat grandpa Aiken. Heard lots of stories about it.
Wasn’t there trailers there that got abandoned I’f so what happened
There are a few buildings still left on site: the main office, the control room for the mine operation up on the hill, and the weigh platform’s control room. But, if you meant trailer for trucks, there’s one or two old Holland trailer still left on-site. I added some more pictures, including a couple of the old Holland trailer.
Main office is not there. The office was in north las Vegas. The brick building was bed rooms. If you have anymore questions email me. I lived there from 1963 to 1981.
Wow! Kent, thanks so much for your comments and sharing your insights. I’ll reach out to you separately (and privately) via email. THANKS!!! Paul
The govt inspectors fined them to death making way for the Mojave preserve. Former employee