The Ghost Town of Metropolis - Nevada's Garden of Eden

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In theory, a town should be able to thrive anywhere in the world, so long as there's enough water to sustain it, right? That's what Harry L. Pierce wanted to prove in 1909, by creating a 40,000 acre, 10,000 population city in the middle of the Nevada desert, but getting the water out there turned out to be a whole different problem.
Operating with the Pacific Reclamation Company of New York City, advertising an already thriving city with orchards and farms, and partnered with the Mormon Church, Pierce was even quick to secure a railroad contract with the Southern Pacific Railroad to have a train line to the city built within the first year of its life.
The nearby Bishop Creek was dammed using rubble from the 1906 San Fransisco Earthquake, and water diverted to the town. The town began to flourish, but ranchers downstream, now deprived of the water they relied on, sued the Pacific Reclamation Company. The company was forced to limit Metropolis' water consumption, and the town began to dry up. Famine, disease, and infestation of wild animals tool its toll on the town until fire finally gave it a death blow.
Now, even most of the streets have disappeared beneath the dust and sagebrush, but the Lincoln Hotel and the old Metropolis Schoolhouse ruins have become iconic among the ghost towns of the west. The arch for the school still stands as a grave stone for this ambitious town.
Metropolis is located in Elko County, Nevada, a few miles north of Wells.

[@alishaandemilyhunt3049]

My family migrated to Metropolis during this time in the promise of owning a farm. My great grandmother went to that school and she ended up staying there and lived on a cattle ranch her entire life. She and most of my family are buried in the cemetery. We always take care of the graves and make sure it looks nice out there. We no longer live in the area, but it’s a part of us and we will always treasure our time on the ranch in Metropolis. There is a time capsule out there with names and stories of Metropolis…my great grandmother also wrote a book about Metropolis.

[@privatesender5281]

Hi alishaandemilyhunt3049! It is a small world indeed. My great grandmother was shot and killed in Metropolis on July 4th, 1925. She is also buried in the cemetery. She was visiting her daughter Mrs. William Barrows when she was accidently killed.

[@larry4834]

thank you.

[@zoompt-lm5xw]

Had he built brothels, casinos and entertainment venues instead of farms and churches he would probably have built a real Metropolis in the Nevada desert

[@anishapoorwakispotta7754]

😂😂😂😂

[@gl5616]

No kidding !

[@just.in.]

You mean like every other Nevada town that's not called Las Vegas or Reno

[@virginiaviola5097]

Touché 😂😂😂

[@ytcensorhack1876]

Somewhere in the sprawling metropolis...batman & superman wr unemployed

[@The88Cheat]

This a HUGELY underrated channel. I love it.

[@davidweyant9356]

I HIGHLY agree. It's a gem.

[@curtisv7114]

That was a really well done historical video. When I watch videos of people touring ruins this is exactly how I always want to see it presented. I particularly like that you included a bit of history and you did things like the overlay of what the town would have looked like compared to the ruins. You should do this full time, you rock at it. Awesome job!!

[@katienguyen1643]

Totally agree !

[@thornishhen]

My 5 year old son has totally gotten into the concept of "abandoned streets and towns", and we watched this video tonight after dinner. I agree with many of the other comments: you've put together a very good video! He wants to watch more of your videos as "after-dinner video treats". Keep up the good work!

[@CharlieTheAstronaut]

9:59 the covered up Swastika with "Windows XP" got me giggling

[@spacecat85]

same, and the comment abt "so many reminders of the distant past" followed by the win xp startup sound made the whole scene perfect X'D

[@jackprier7727]

"The desert is hot and dry" in most imaginations, but THIS desert is mostly freezing cold, water mostly arrives as snow, and there are many, many below-zero (F) days and nights. Growing season is about 90 to 110 days between frosts. Long, very windy and cold Winters define this desert.

[@thenevadadesertrat2713]

Those are the "High Plains" I believe as depicted in several movies. (High Plains Drifter). Clint Eastwood was sitting on that horse, he wore a heavy coat, a hat and was freezing. Pretty accurate of the climate. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Nevada was 52F below zero. I think it was around that area. Maybe Mountain City. It gets really cold and stays cold.

[@jackprier7727]

@@thenevadadesertrat2713 Yeah, the Ruby Mts to the SW reach 11,385 and catch a lot of cold storms, the valley is just less than a mile high where the cold air pools every night. "Nevada" is Spanish for "Snowed" and it is apt-

[@lawrencet83]

Very well done! I hope you do more videos of deserted towns of Nevada and California.

[@adrianboulter1906]

that old school looks like an old world building, half the ground floor is underground. in the old picture when it was intact, you can see half the ground floor windows are underground

[@jaye1967]

I do find it interesting how many buildings, especially hotels, burned down in these old towns. I wonder how much of this can be attributed to lack of sprinkler systems, more widespread smoking, the use of oil lamps, early electrical, and how many are "accidents".

[@mvd4436]

Yeah. It must be all of the above. Everything seemed to burn down back then

[@katydid5088]

Having lived in houses where kerosene and gas lamps/candles were a necessity everyday, accidents with fire or refilling and maintaining the canisters every day is honestly not at all surprising. Candles, even with a hurricane lamp shade, can and often do tip over. If you don't keep water, a fire blanket, or sand near by it's VERY easy to have a fire get out of control.

[@ninjitsutotal]

As a historian, I simply love your channel!

[@SeriosProductions]

That intro ALONE deserves a like! Great content, bud!

[@misconstruedadventures2592]

That's it. You've inspired me to establish a town in the desert. I'll call it Metompoolis.

[@DerpyPossum]

“Don’t think that...there won- th- y’know...y’ can just get it. Cuz you can’t, y’know, someone’s gonna sue ya’!” -Tom Lynskey, 2021 oh wait someone already quoted that...oops.

[@christophermarcelo2215]

I dont mean to be offtopic but does someone know of a tool to log back into an instagram account?? I was stupid lost my account password. I would love any tips you can offer me.

[@DerpyPossum]

@@christophermarcelo2215 i don’t care how off-topic it is, robot’s have no place here!

[@zaynemaxwell5169]

@Christopher Marcelo instablaster =)

[@MiKeMiDNiTe-77]

Wow the Windows XP written in the wall gave me an idea of how old this place really is...THIS PLACE IS ANCIENT, THEY USED TO USE WINDOWS XP HERE!!!!

[@Robertlynschultz]

I live outside Elko NV... and have been meaning to get out to Metropolis but never made the time to, life and making a living gets in the way sometimes. Thank You for this reminder to go see this place, spring (the best time to do exploring in Elko County) is right around the corner!

[@katienguyen1643]

I have been watching exploration of abandon places for awhile now. Came across your channel today and have been binging. You are truly a gifted story teller. I love that you add the historical aspect of these places, and current updates. Making the video a complete viewing experience. Subscribed !

[@torreyintahoe]

When I'm out hunting in the Nevada outback, I'm always blown away that people lived there over a hundred years ago.

[@jeii8841]

100 years 😆 🤣 😂 lol. You should visit Europe or Asia and your talking about 1000s of years old. In the UK some people are still living in houses that were originally built over 200 years old!!

[@robbymariani]

@@jeii8841 in the US some people live in homes that are 400 years old :)

[@Eidolon1andOnly]

@@jeii8841 Childish to compare Europe and Asia to a country and continent that was only settled by Europeans a few hundred years ago.

[@jeii8841]

@@Eidolon1andOnly vacuous comment 😆 lol

[@Eidolon1andOnly]

@@jeii8841 Yes, your previous comment was vacuous indeed. Imagine not giving any kind of intelligent thought to the relative history of the state of Nevada, then childishly mocking how young it is compared to countries or regions which are undoubtedly older. Nevada first became part of the US as a territory in 1848, and a state in 1864, so 100 years is more than half of its life as part of the US. Would you be so foolish to try to humble a person who says "I just turned 90 years old today, and I'm blown away by how long I've lived, and what a life it has been." by responding with something like "😂😂🤣😂😂 You think 90 is a long time, just look at my grandmother in the UK who turned 110 last week, or the Buddhist monk in Tibet who's 118. I heard the oldest any person has ever lived was 122. LOL!" What's the point in trying to turn anything into a spitting contest? Simply immature.

[@carlpeters1278]

Nice presentation. I've been there a few times as I live in the Elko area. It's a fun location to metal detect.

[@sujimtangerines]

Is the arch still there? This is one of the few ghost towns we've not visited & we'd love to see it.

[@Squidy666]

That "Windows XP" sound you put over that graffiti had me in stitches

[@andrewmaher8409]

…And quite prophetic considering that Bill Gates is now scheming to build his own city in Arizona.

[@Quasihamster]

Interesting to get this recommended while watching Cait Doughty's video on the St. Francis Dam disaster.

[@__-jt4tv]

Good combo, though! Caitlin Doughty's another titan of quality content! :D

[@Quasihamster]

@@__-jt4tv Oh yes! I love her channel to death! I heard even the grim reaper has subscribed to her! Not kidding, I'm dead serious!

[@David-fm6go]

10:00 Now you are just making me feel old. I still use xp regularly though not for sensitive things. I've cloned the same XP install across eight hard drives in my 2005 computer. I also have towers with 98SE, Seven and now Ten with my recent ryzen build.

[@Furhling]

why do you still use xp?

[@David-fm6go]

@@Furhling The Ryzen build is my primary computer now. As for xp I have a lot of 2000s software and the XP computer was my primary computer for 12 years. Part of that was when I got my Windows Seven computer in early 2012 it had a bad ram stick and at first the problem was misdiagnosed until 2014 and because of money issues it was 2017 before I got more sticks for it and it became my sensitive bills and online shopping computer around that time. I also became one of the pry it from my cold dead hands types with regard to XP after support was dropped in 2014. It's now basically a retro machine.

[@romancandlefight1144]

They did well to be granted enough water for 4k instead of the 10k they requested.. I'd have probably awarded nothing if I were the judge

[@Doc-zg3xm]

Good video. I have been to a few ghost towns and an unfortunate relatively new addition to many of these sites is the disgusting "tagging" that you find. Which detracts from the experience.

[@unfurling3129]

Degenerate minds & morals engaging in aggression. They're actually happy it upsets us.

[@sweetreamer5101]

People like that are like dogs pissing on the wall. The dumber a person is the more they want to scrawl their idiotic message wherever they can.

[@jameslawlor8826]

Really interesting, never heard of this before. Great video Tom.

[@nighthawk7863]

I think there is another place you should visit. It was a subdivision near St. Louis international airport that started getting houses demolished around 2002 (maybe 2000) when runway 29 and 11 were built and there is pretty much nothing left except for the streets and one single house. I think it would be a pretty interesting place to visit.

[@haroldcounts7460]

I saw your statement on part time explorers about the expansion of lambert airport. I remember when the state began to buy up land for the expansion. My folks lived in berkley across from kinlock. 😀

[@lvsqcsl]

A good friend of mine actually demolished some of those houses. I think that would make an interesting video!

[@haroldcounts7460]

@@lvsqcsl i agree. I like the history of st. Louis county. Kinlock used to be huge and if im not mistaken the airport itself was originally in kinlock.take care n stay safe😀

[@kenshin891]

There's an area like this in Berea, OH near Hopkins Airport. Though in that case the planned runway never ended up being built for multiple reasons

[@brianbommarito3376]

Nice video, Tom. Also, congrats on your recent marriage. Also, sorry to hear you’re not still in charge at Titanic: Honor and Glory. You’re a marvelous storyteller, and I feel like it won’t be the same without you over there. Still, I’m sure things will turn out all right for them and for you.

[@xr6lad]

Why would you want to be associated with that mess .

[@andreabioletto711]

People get killed out there. But at least you got the brothels in Wells! Major fault line near there

[@PartTimeExplorer]

Nevada's circle of life

[@Jack-bv1re]

Awesome video Tom! Everything you cover is always so interesting to me, I hope to go on the adventures you do some time soon.

[@wormswithteeth]

Great vid. Can we get permission to save the arch if it gets pulled down?

[@toriidawdy8456]

This is such a good piece! Love for the subject matter and solid research is always a good formula. Our humble narrator and his fetching partner are good company on this visit to folly of venture capitalism.

[@bethbartlett5692]

It worked for Las Vegas, and the best Apricots I've ever eaten are from Las Vegas Trees. With particular "Sun Screens", they come on a roll and can be used to filter the Sunlight. Under these you can grow Tomatoes, beans, peppers, and more. The dirt obviously requires added dirt and mulch. But I would not recommend attempting gardens without a natural water source. Olive trees grow fabulous in the Las Vegas Valley. But Vegas has the correct focus for its success, how they are doing it now is questionable, but in the 1950's - 1998, it was done well.

[@thenevadadesertrat2713]

I am in Boulder City. My grapefruit crop is ready to be harvested. I grow those in addition to oranges, figs, pears, pistachios, peaches. Stone fruit does really well in this climate. The only problem are the borers. Once they attack a tree you might as well get rid of it. All my trees are dwarf except for the pistachio. I harvest at least 125 - 135 good size grapefruit each year, a bushel of pears, several pounds of figs. Pears do really well here to and so far have been proven immune to borers. Many crops grow in this climate. Oh, I forgot my grapes. They are labor intensive, grow like weeds and are subject to fungus, leaf hopper and other infestations. Another problem are birds. They love to eat fruit.

[@davidweyant9356]

What's going to happen when Lake Meade drys up?

[@xr6lad]

@@davidweyant9356or doesn’t.

[@nicolasjimenezq369]

The best way to inhabit the desert is from the edges, not from the center of it. That way you go conquering it meter by meter.

[@titanicman9329]

Next up you should visit the abandoned parts of Detroit

[@pinkiesue849]

may be dangerous! But fun...

[@HoldOffHunger]

Great video, such a creepy setting, btw, love your Indiana Jones outfit.

[@allanfifield8256]

Props for the outfit!

[@champagnesylvie-lavieenfra1378]

✅ Hello from a french visitor who dream to visit your wonderful country ✅You live in a sooooo amazing country. I love America and his people✅God bless you all ✅

[@filipdemski8303]

10:48 WOW! I was blow away! I absolutely enjoyed this video! Thank you Tom!

[@scm50able]

Great information , which would have lost for ever but for this documentary. Thanks.

[@morningstoke]

Cool video. How horribly constructed a lot of these old buildings were blows my mind though. The fact so little remains on the structures in old towns is interesting to me

[@tse90723]

It would be very interesting to metal detect the area

[@TheTriplelman]

wow great historical narration, thanks

[@onrycodger]

I'm glad I stumbled upon your channel. Most interesting and will be watching for sure.😊👍👍

[@ChrisHaefner]

I really hope they aren't actually considering tearing down the arch

[@unfurling3129]

Governments are full of inept people, it is a real possibility no matter how much we care.

[@grinningtiki220]

That would be a bummer

[@AndyHappyGuy]

Nice video!

[@Nassault]

If you're ever in Southern California, I would love to see you dive into the Channel Island's State Park. Quite a lot of shipwrecks on those islands, many of which I have been too, some on remote beaches, random propellers, underwater wrecks - which in its own right is something I know you'd proper enjoy. Meanwhile on the island, the history of ranches, mining, all demolished navy sites, plane wrecks and some crazy family tales (the Lester's), the native Chumash, tons of history. I've been and stayed over several nights on each of the islands in the park, look into it, and if you ever need tips I have done the trip over a dozen times, and have a ton of juicy notes and geotags from around the area. Those islands are my favorite, such a juicy bit of America. Love this content, and I imagine the stunning views in your videos would compliment the islands beauty so well.

[@conmckfly]

Lot of Great Whites around the Channel Islands.

[@michaeldesilvio221]

The government doesn't want anyone traveling around looking at stuff anymore?

[@kikufutaba524]

I love your videos and stories. Thank you for sharing these experiences with us.

[@Fossilsunleashed]

the one giant doorway looks very old older then the lies it actually shows again two different builders

[@pinkiesue849]

the brickwork hanging onto it is one clue!

[@jessidade2039]

Just found your channel. I'm already hooked. I've been very interested in the historic west. Subscribed, Your New Fan Miss Jessi

[@pineycolada3075]

I love these ghosttown videos, thank you

[@leighsayers2628]

Always fabulous videos ..just love this channel .. From Australia..

[@lorengordon9626]

If you go down almost any old mine in desert country you'll almost always hit an underground river. There are thousands of underground rivers all across the USA.

[@jasonyoung5923]

Hey, I know you I've talked to you before. Haha that's cool, right on. Good to see your doing ok and having fun. Use to do stuff like that. Miss it, exploring is a pursuit of endless meaning. Keep exploring

[@1JUSTGOTLUCKY1]

What a great historical video!! Thank you for your efforts!!

[@sonyequator6852]

USA is big big country, and had huge financial capabilities. rather than my developing country. With the advance technology to day nothing impossible to build the green land to that dry land. China Already built a very very long canal, hundred KMs from south to north. To irrigated the fast land. That's why now china had plenty agricultural such vegetables export. . They build also Re greening the deserted sand land. Must be USA could do so... Then it could boost the local economy...rather than spending Billions dollar for war like in the middle east. Great video, thank' for sharing.

[@unfurling3129]

Many politicians actively work for forces that OPPOSE nation building

[@illmerica322]

The shit that those Mormon pioneers went through is just nuts, and the fact they were doing it because they had to flee the east as there was a shoot on sight order in place so they had no where to go but west! Great history them Mormons, thanks for the video.

[@daetsmaj]

Very nicely put together. Thank you

[@rafenatho5406]

That pea shooter your sporting is super fun rabbit control device! I spent much of my youth roaming the Nevada desert doing my share of population control!

[@lvsqcsl]

I don't see a Superman statue. (I live across the river from Metropolis, Illinois.)

[@yvetteaguirre9522]

Windows XP-who else felt that nostalgia coming!?🙋🏻‍♀️

[@jasongrinnell1986]

Lol! Kinda like dialup.

[@gp123lIlI]

Its a joke, because they covered up a swastika and wrote windows xp

[@keith800]

A fantastic tale , how amazing how this town sprung up in the middle of nowhere and now returned to the desert again , I hope some one either rebuilds the arch or dismantles it and rebuilds it else where as a monument to the town and its people.

[@curious7188]

Thanks for the hard work man. I like your style of documenting. You do your research and provide your own investigations.

[@gregoryemmanuel9168]

You’re forgetting the native Americans who successfully lived and traveled through that desert landscape way before the mormons and other newcomers.

[@rkenzie5235]

This was so cool! I feel like the dry desert helped preserve what’s left…in many other places foliage and weather would have taken over

[@riverraisin1]

Absolutely true! in the desert southwest there is evidence plain to see of civilizations from around 500 to 1500 years ago. They do get swallowed up by Mother Nature, but in a very slow manner compared to wetter climates.

[@shaymorcormick8743]

Building at the bottom of an ancient salt sea isnt the greatest idea. I lived out in Nevada. Everyone that moves out there attempts to start a garden only to just give up. Only place I know where having more land is actually a curse

[@ArleneFerguson-h2o]

I grew up in Nevada and my Father always grew amazing gardens. Of course he was a Capricorn, like myself and we have 2 green thumbs. He had green thumbs, fingers and toes, but was born and raised when there was no social safety network. We come from tough stock.

[@RHTbluetrokadriver]

Really awesome video and well documented, thank you.

[@danielpollak6075]

The whole things fishy imo, who hauled away the ruins and why

[@captainAlex258]

the more I look at this the higher my feeling gets when youtubers will make a stupid video calling this place "abandoned clown school" I almost guarantee u thats gonna happen

[@AndyHappyGuy]

EXPLORING A GHOST HAUNTED CLOWN SCHOOL AT 3 AM 😯😦😧🤯 (GONE WRONG) 😬🤫 (GON SEXUAL) 👉👌(DIED) 🤮🤮🫀🫁💀💀😵😵

[@captainAlex258]

@@AndyHappyGuy exactly what I mean

[@eddiedority9503]

With the way prices are today no one else can't afford to build a city or a town.

[@KeithCindyPanama]

9:57. That window sounds xp is cool.

[@panzerabwerkanone]

A town so far gone not even Superman could save it!

[@rosiegirl2485]

You need to hit the Pocono Mountains! So many things that would attract you!

[@carolleenkelmann4751]

Ir is a pity that that beautiful archway could not be rescued somehow. "Unpicked" and rebuilt somewhere else.That would be ideal.

[@unfurling3129]

No. Leaving it standing in situ where it has meaning and genus loci is ideal.

[@skyleaffproductions.867]

Sweet bro I'm in spring creek I'm going to head out here soon to scope it out!

[@NashmanNash]

"Also crickets,but they´re not cute"...that had me cackle more than it should

[@donaldrowe6047]

I really wish people would leave their spray paint cans at home.

[@УчитьсяучитьсяитакДалее]

That's amazing! Not a thousand, not several hundreds, but 70 years and nothing left of human civilization in this area. By the way, the idea of town-garden is still alive. In different parts of the world people lost their money because some persons decided to build their mythical sun-cities! Thank tou for your video!)

[@KingdomOfWaterloo2019]

Palisade is another great one to check out if you're ever in the area.

[@batmscot6149]

What happened to all the building material from the arch school etc?

[@grinningtiki220]

It was probably mostly wood with a brick facade. Built on the cheap and the extra cash pocketed by an unscrupulous contractor or manager. After abandonment a fire wipes it out along with alot of other buildings. Over time the place is looted slowly for souvenirs.

[@jaysonschor]

I wonder if there are people still alive that attended that school?

[@jaysonschor]

@@GeorgiaRidgerunner it closed around 80 years ago that would put kindergarters in their 80's I kind of doubt it.

[@JP-su8bp]

Solid vid, thanks.

[@thetruthexperiment]

Holy cow. I want old fashioned watermelon. With seeds and four feet long. Dang. Moder watermelon is so pale.

[@Concussed1.]

It makes you think about how many places have been demolished throughout time.

[@johnweide8822]

Looks like major frost damage to the masonry that is left. I thought it was always warm and dry there in Nevada

[@PartTimeExplorer]

They get some rough, long winters

[@markstott6689]

The only abandoned place in the UK that I have been to is Wharram Percy, Yorkshire (my home county). All that's left standing is the ruined medieval church. Wharram Percy wasn't short of water either. Beats me why anyone would want to live in a desert anyway.

[@pinkiesue849]

what happened to Wharram Percy?

[@markstott6689]

@@pinkiesue849 People were replaced by sheep and their houses demolished.

[@rodolfoayalajr.8589]

Thanks friend another educational Video. Amen 🙏

[@steveprentice4513]

From the beginning of mankind after the fall, it's all been about one thing, wickedness.

[@blueflagmusic]

How do brick buildings burn down?

[@friedpickles342]

Flammable material inside

[@unfurling3129]

Cover story when buildings must be removed from the historical record due to their inconvenient truth

[@lechatleblanc]

Jon levi and TARTARia community would like to look into this place a lot

[@unfurling3129]

Many of us are already here

[@pinkiesue849]

I am surprised there are no ruins from churches, since it was 95% Latter Day Saints. Enjoyable tour of this town!

[@kongruss218]

Apparently the town actually had no dedicated church building. The community used the amusement hall as a meetinghouse instead for services.

[@michelangeloboldri9893]

@Part- Time Explorer - can you create an IG as well? Would LOVE to see smaller but more frequent updates

[@PartTimeExplorer]

I've got one but should post more - it's hfx.studios

[@ericcutler5463]

I love your videos!

[@marsco25177]

Very well done and fun to watch

[@jakedeutscher]

So cool. Love those old ruins and I hope they stay for years and years

[@pierredecine1936]

Interesting Story I had never heard ...

[@cimmeron.3576]

Makes you think about how accurate the landscape is in Fallout New Vegas.

[@JedCurrie]

Good video thanks 👍

[@Jack-bv1re]

Hey Tom, what state do you believe the Schwalbe, the wrecked yacht you covered, is currently in?

[@PartTimeExplorer]

She's gotten a lot worse since my video. I'm hoping to see her once more before she's gone completely. I'll do an update if I can

[@Jack-bv1re]

@@PartTimeExplorer Ok, thanks for the response

[@jasongrinnell1986]

@@harvdog5669 Humboldt River. And not very hard to have wood trucked in.

[@colingallagher4848]

Question: can San Francisco be destroyed again, and if so, can the materials from destroyed San Francisco be used to create a dam near Metropolis again, just as they once were? Sincerely, a person who is not a fan of San Francisco and who is hoping that one day Metropolis will return to glory (but hopefully without typhus)

[@FormerlyEpicjcat]

its the day you uploaded the ss atlantic wreack video