Silver Reef - Utah Ghost Town

SILVER REEF

NAME: Silver Reef
COUNTY: Washington
ROADS: 2WD
Grid #: 7
CLIMATE: Cool winter with possible snow, warm summer.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Anytime.

COMMENTS: A few current residents.
REMAINS: Many old buildings.

Silver Reef was discovered between 1866 and 1870 (There are many different stories about the founding of this town) However in 1874 a man named William T Barbee is credited with getting the mining going. In 1875 he had 22 claims here. In 1876 Silver Reef became an established town. Main street was over a mile long. Silver Reef had over 2000 people living here. There were hotels, 9 stores, 6 saloons, a bank, several restaurant, a hospital, 2 dance halls, 2 news papers, a china town and 3 cemeteries. In 1891 the last mine shut down, about 25 million dollars worth of ore had been taken from the mines here. Between 1891 and 1901 another $250,000 of ore was taken out of the area. The old Wells Fargo Express office is on the National Historical Register and is now a museum. The old bank is now a gift shop. Some of the area has been preserved for its history and is worth visiting. A lot of the surrounding areas of the old town are now homes and housing developments and are restricted to public access. Submitted by Bob Bezzant. Silver Reef, Utah: Nell Murbarger comes through again with a great piece on this ghost town at Desert Magazine, Buckboard Days at Silver Reef Once again she talks to the last remaining residence of Silver Reef. Five photos and a DM map. March 1950, page 4. Silver Reef Courtesy Dolores Steele Silver Reef Courtesy Dolores Steele Silver Reef Courtesy Bob Bezzant Rice Bank - 1876 Courtesy Dolores Steele Old mine at Silver Reef Courtesy Wendi Epps	Silver Reef Courtesy Bob Bezzant Silver Reef Courtesy Bob Bezzant Silver Reef Courtesy Bob Bezzant Silver Reef Courtesy Uwe Fischer-Wickenburg Wells Fargo Express office - faced Main Street in the center of town Courtesy Dolores Steele Silver Reef Courtesy Dolores Steele

Silver Reef was discovered between 1866 and 1870 (There are many different stories about the founding of this town) However in 1874 a man named William T Barbee is credited with getting the mining going. In 1875 he had 22 claims here. In 1876 Silver Reef became an established town. Main street was over a mile long. Silver Reef had over 2000 people living here. There were hotels, 9 stores, 6 saloons, a bank, several restaurant, a hospital, 2 dance halls, 2 news papers, a china town and 3 cemeteries. In 1891 the last mine shut down, about 25 million dollars worth of ore had been taken from the mines here. Between 1891 and 1901 another $250,000 of ore was taken out of the area. The old Wells Fargo Express office is on the National Historical Register and is now a museum. The old bank is now a gift shop. Some of the area has been preserved for its history and is worth visiting. A lot of the surrounding areas of the old town are now homes and housing developments and are restricted to public access. Submitted by Bob Bezzant.

Silver Reef, Utah: Nell Murbarger comes through again with a great piece on this ghost town at Desert Magazine, Buckboard Days at Silver Reef

Once again she talks to the last remaining residence of Silver Reef. Five photos and a DM map. March 1950, page 4.