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American Nightmare

Take a look around the eerie Death Valley ghost town abandoned by its former residents

Rhyolite, Nevada, is one of America's eerie ghost towns, left by its former-residents to be consumed by the rapidly-encroaching desert

THESE photos allow you to take a look around this abandoned mining town, which was once a buzzing hub during the Death Valley gold rush.

Rhyolite, Nevada, is one of America's eerie ghost towns, left by its former-residents to be consumed by the rapidly-encroaching desert.

Vegas or rust... the Nevada town was once a hub of activity, but now lies neglected and abandoned
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Vegas or rust... the Nevada town was once a hub of activity, but now lies neglected and abandonedCredit: Alamy
The town's ruins have attracted tourists to the area, which was once an economic powerhouse
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The town's ruins have attracted tourists to the area, which was once an economic powerhouseCredit: Getty Images

The town, which was founded in 1905, sprung up as a mining camp after gold was discovered in the nearby hills.

The following rush saw thousands of gold-diggers flock to the area, which, according to folklore, only had one resident before the American dream brought new life to Death Valley.

Crumbling ruins now lie baking in the Nevada sun, which beats down on the eerie settlement
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Crumbling ruins now lie baking in the Nevada sun, which beats down on the eerie settlementCredit: Alamy
The town's population peaked at an estimated 5,000 people, but Rhyolite's best days didn't last for long
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The town's population peaked at an estimated 5,000 people, but Rhyolite's best days didn't last for longCredit: Getty Images

At its peak in 1907, Rhyolite was a bustling settlement, complete with electric lights, water mains, telephones, newspapers, a hospital, a school, an opera house, and a stock exchange.

Historians estimate that the town's population hit around 4,000 people at this point, with some experts claiming that up to 5,000 residents once called the settlement home.

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But the town, named after the rare rock, was doomed to fail as quickly as it sprung up.

Before long, the gold veins started to run dry, signalling the beginning of the end for once-proud Rhyolite.

And, following an earthquake the previous year, a financial panic starting in October 2007 put investors off the town completely, causing it to slide into a state of disrepair.

The shells of buildings hint at the town's former wealth, before economic downturn struck and the settlement was abandoned
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The shells of buildings hint at the town's former wealth, before economic downturn struck and the settlement was abandonedCredit: Alamy
The Nevadan town was founded after gold was discovered in the nearby hills, which caused miners to flock to the area
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The Nevadan town was founded after gold was discovered in the nearby hills, which caused miners to flock to the areaCredit: Getty Images

By 1910, the mine was barely yielding any gold, and was forced to close a few months later.

This prompted scores of newly-unemployed miners to leave the town in search of work elsewhere, causing the population to rapidly plummet to below 1,000 people.

The sandy ruins have turned into a tourist attraction, with visitors able to walk the town's streets as its long-gone residents once did
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The sandy ruins have turned into a tourist attraction, with visitors able to walk the town's streets as its long-gone residents once didCredit: Getty Images
Empty metal carcasses lie in the town, which is located just outside the official national park boundary of Death Valley
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Empty metal carcasses lie in the town, which is located just outside the official national park boundary of Death ValleyCredit: Alamy

By 1920, the remaining residents had trickled out of the town, leaving the ruined settlement to crumble into dust as the desert encroached.

Raiders salvaged materials from the crumbling buildings, although the town's railway depot was preserved, alongside a house made out of empty bottles.

The train depot is one of the few remaining buildings, and it now houses a museum dedicated to the town's history
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The train depot is one of the few remaining buildings, and it now houses a museum dedicated to the town's historyCredit: Alamy
A house made partially from empty bottles also still stands today, and only adds to Rhyolite's intrigue
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A house made partially from empty bottles also still stands today, and only adds to Rhyolite's intrigueCredit: Alamy

Today, Rhyolite is now maintained by the US Bureau of Land Management, and has been described as "one of the most photographed ghost towns in the West."

And the Rhyolite train depot has since been converted into a casino and museum, where tourists can learn more about the deserted town.

Whilst some buildings still stand, most have collapsed into the desert or been raided by scavengers
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Whilst some buildings still stand, most have collapsed into the desert or been raided by scavengers

The popular attraction is a hit with tourists, who can walk the eerie streets and experience the town's rapid decline firsthand.

And even looking at photos, it's hard not to imagine how the settlement looked in its glory days, back when the bustling town was a hub of activity and a symbol of the American dream.

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