Fire was always the greatest hazard for early mining towns. Wickes had its share having survived the holocaust years of 1901, 1906 and 1910. Although the town might be called “picturesque” given its small group of remaining buildings, its main attraction lies in the ruins of its huge smelters and refineries. The mines at Wickes produced $50,000,000 in gold and silver before operations ceased in the early 1890s. Submitted by Henry Chenowith.

UPDATE:The ghosttown of Wickes, which originally had several "bee hive" caldrons and funaces for ore and gold mining was burnt. Most of the original wooden buildings were burnt when a firestorm burst through the trees, into the open grasses and sweeped through most of the town. Prior to this the few residents still living there were evacuated. - WJ McKelvey