"Diamond Springs" was the Eden on the Pony Express Trail if there ever was one! Sir Richard Burton visited the station on October 9, 1860, and reported that it was run by an unfriendly Mormon couple. Even so, riders often preferred Diamond Springs over every other station in Nevada. The most dangerous station along the entire trail (even by the trail's standards) was Butte Valley Station, roughly 40 miles east of Diamond Springs. Butte Valley was a hostile place with no shade, with hardly any fresh water to speak of, and suffered countless Indian attacks from throughout the trail's lifetime. In comparison, water was relatively abundant at Diamond Springs and the surrounding countryside provided some sort of fortification against Indians. The station's higher elevation ensured cooler temperatures and plenty of shade. After the passing of the Pony Express, Diamond Springs was used by the Overland Stage and Mail Company and also served as a telegraph station shortly after. George Francis Cox ran both of these enterprises. After the Overland Stage stopped running, the station house was left to decay.
It wasn't until 1864 that silver discoveries were made and the small camp of Diamond City formed around the station. Production did not begin until 1866, the primary producer being the Champion Mine. Most mining, though, ended in the late 1870s. A few residents stayed on until 1884 until the post office closed its doors on July 10. Today, a visit to Diamond Springs is a must! Completely surrounded by trees, this location is one of the more beautiful camps in Nevada, with plenty of still-standing ruins. Mill foundations, stone ruins, and the charcoal kiln remain at Diamond City. At Diamond Springs, the newer Overland station remains. Beware, however; a swarm of mean bees that now inhabit the chimney can deter the visitor from getting a closer look! The original spring has stopped gurgling water, but it manages to seep out just enough to form a large grassy meadow ideal for camping. Look for the cemetery a few hundred yards south of the meadow. From Eureka, take SR 228, the Diamond Valley Highway, north for 14.9 miles to a road on your right sometimes signed as "Saddle Brown Road," "Diamond Springs," or "Pony Express Trail." Keep right and continue on this wide, unpaved road for another 16.8 miles to the camp. Most of this road follows the exact route of the Pony Express Trail as signed by the Pony Express plaques all the way to the camp. Enjoy, and take only pictures!
Status: Ghost Town
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Population: None
Founded: October 9, 1860
A ghost town site and Pony Express Station in central Eureka County, 37.3 miles north of Eureka.