Two and one-half million ounces of Silver came from lake Valley’s fabled Bridal Chamber mine. John Leavitt, a blacksmith who discovered the Bridal Chamber, was unable to work the claim he had leased from the Sierra Grande Company and turned it back in for several thousand dollars. Lake Valley became an important railhead and prospered until the silver panic of 1893. Two or three houses and a few other buildings remain today.

This town had the usual assortment of Blacksmiths, boarding houses, general stores and even a church. Of course, like many other towns the saloons dominated the main street. Based on the number of bottles left behind there may have been a few bootleggers in the area during the prohibition.

The Post Office closed in 1954 and the last resident passed away in 1974.

Location

17 miles south of Hillsboro on State Road 27

Getting There

Lake Valley is on NM 27, between Nutt and Hillsboro.  It is in Sierra County.

Resources

For more information and images please visit the links below.

• http://rockymountainprofiles.com
• Lake Valley Information

Images Courtesy of Mike Sinnwell