Location:
Approximately 27 miles west and south of Wendover, Nevada along active railroad tracks.
Type OF Site:
Old Railroad Stop with foundations
Map:
1:100,000-Scale Geological Survey Topographic Map of Wendover, Utah-Nevada
Directions:
Take exit 387/Shafter from I80 and go to the paved/dirt road on the south side of the freeway that runs east, parallel to the freeway. Go .6 miles along this road to a dirt road on the right. (You will pass by at least one dirt road on the right before reaching the correct road at .6 miles.) The Shafter site is 7.3 miles south on this dirt road.
Turn onto to the dirt road and stay straight, (crossing at least 1 crossroad), for 2.1 miles. At this point a road branches off to the left. This left branch takes you to the Silver Zone site. (See Silver Zone.) For the Shafter site, stay straight and continue another 5.2 miles. There are several old foundations in the Shafter area.
Access:
There is a relatively flat easy dirt road all the way, but there may be bad ruts in places after bad weather. A 2WD vehicle should be OK in good weather. A vehicle pulling a camper or trailer should be OK.
Comments:
Use caution along the tracks since they are active.
How productive has this site been in the past?
History:
(From ghosttowns.com)
Originally known as Bews, Shafter was a siding for the Nevada Northern Railway and was established in 1906. It was renamed Bews in 1907 when the Western Pacific Railroad arrived. Lots were sold in the town. About 40 people lived here and a school opened in 1909 that did not close until 1932. By 1959 the office was closed and the town died. Today only foundations remain.
(From nvghosttowns.com)
Bews was established as a siding for the Nevada Northern Railway in 1906. During April, 1906, a railroad construction camp was organized and contained 150 Greeks and Italians. Bews was renamed Shafter when the Western Pacific Railroad reached here in September, 1907. As the Western Pacific neared Shafter, numerous lots were sold in the town. The Western Pacific began regular operations on November 9, 1908. A community of about 40 resided at Shafter for years. Both railroads maintained sections crews and small depots at Shafter. All businesses closed in 1957 and Shafter was basically abandoned after that. Until a few years ago, a couple of buildings still stood at Shafter but have since been dismantled. Only numerous concrete foundations now mark the site. A small cemetery is located nearby. The new Western Pacific Railroad bed now covers over the abandoned Nevada Northern Railway rails.
