Secret Places in Death Valley: The Boxcar Cabin

[@kittyfanatic1980]

awesome that they allow folks to stay in the cabin free of any charge in exchange for upkeep. nice place for a bit of rest and relaxation from the world. i wonder if the park service or rangers upkeep the maintenence either that or just good honest REAL folks whom fix a bit here and there as they pass by. every bit counts and keeps these places standing and free to the public for years to come:)

[@AbandonedMines11]

geoffrey walker Volunteers maintain the cabin on a regular basis. Yes, anybody can stay at this cabin. There is no cost, no waiting list -- it's on a first-come-first-served basis.

[@GarryStebbings]

Thanks Frank, looks quiet cosy, especially in bad weather.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Garry Stebbings You're right about that, Garry! Would be fun to spend a night here during the winter when there's a few feet of snow on the ground. However, I prefer Death Valley in the summertime.

[@Big_John_C]

Thanks for sharing your adventures, our family enjoys your videos

[@AbandonedMines11]

roguesquatcher I appreciate you and your family taking the time to watch these videos of my adventures. Thank you very much for that!

[@SuperBellyflop]

There is also an old communication box and water pump at the mouth of a canyon in the middle of death valley as well. Pump works and water is good. it was a really fun thing to stumble across.

[@Seabeejim133]

Thank you Frank,, love the cabin and areas.. Nice place for solitude and a regathering of the mind.. I love the quiet especially.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Jim Hatch Thanks, Jim! Yep, very desolate and quiet out at this cabin. Arriving there when the rainstorm started was an extra bonus. I've been in Death Valley countless times but have never seen it rain there. This was a first.

[@KowboyUSA]

We used to have 4 rental cabins constructed from old narrow gauge rr boxcars very similar to this one. Brings back old memories.

[@jamesavery9581]

I love old cabins.I prefer an old rustic cabin up in mountains better than a mansion in a city.Peaceful,quiet,and far away from civilization.Throw in a old wood stove and there you go.True tranquility.I've lived in many of them in the mountain's of Kentucky.Ain't nothing better.A piece of heaven on earth.

[@AbandonedMines11]

+James Avery I agree with everything you said! This particular cabin is pretty remote but very easy to get to. I stayed in it a couple times over the last couple of years, but it was always in the summer months. In the winter months, this area does get snowfall and gets quite cold. I don't think I'd like to be there in the winter.

[@jamesavery9581]

I agree with that.It probably does get rather nasty at times.And wood looks sparse in that region.Enjoy it while you can.Thanks for posting it.Cheers !

[@abelowther7531]

James Avery totaly agree with you

[@o2wow]

Nothing like the smell of the desert after rain. The lizard was thinking, "Oh crap, a human, I'm gotta go, no wait, it's Frank, Frank The Mine Guy! Hey, get my best side for the video.

[@o2wow]

@vfxardist wet soil, sage and some of the other plants change the smell.

[@jonblake9163]

Congrats, you've experienced the beauty of America whilst many ignore them and just doesn't even care. Keep going!

[@astr0al3x]

The Boxcar cabin looks like it is in good shape. Perhaps there are folks like Jeff who don't just trash artifacts and old structures after all. Good video!

[@1Daddoz1]

Cool video! Amazing that it still exists. The end of the video is also pretty cool when the lizard gives us all a "wink" as the video closes. Thanks for sharing your adventure with us. I guess the one "thumbs down" vote is from a person who doesn't really love western history. I will never understand why anyone would give this a "thumbs down". Jealousy? Ignorance? Anti-gun? Too much time on their hands? Who knows...

[@kevins1114]

+Viper GTS There are trolls whose lives are so empty and lame that all they do is thumbs-down every video they click on. Most trolls don't even watch the videos, they just click thumbs-down. A lot of it is because they're too lazy to do anything themselves, and can't stand to see others who have lives, doing anything interesting. Another thing trolls are miffed about is their having to wait until their mothers go to work to get on the 'net to troll. They use their mothers' computers - too lazy to work to buy their own. It must really suck to be like that.

[@sc120o2]

Reminiscing! Nostalgia : ( Beautiful place.. So nice to know these places still exists, thank you for letting us know.

[@rogueproductions9011]

This is a nostalgic one, I remember watching this back in 2015

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks for your comment! I believe this cabin is still around and available for use. I haven’t been out there in probably five or six years, though.

[@rogueproductions9011]

@@AbandonedMines11 very interesting! I haven’t been out this way in 4 years. Last time I went was January 2020 and saw the Gunsite mine which you explored

[@vector6977]

What are the GPS coordinates of the cabin?

[@grandprismatic]

On a re watching binge Frank.... thanks for the videos as per usual. Ben

[@anthonywstanton]

Thank you for the way cool video! I was there years ago and I am glad the vandals have not retured! Also I always carry when exploring the desert.

[@attackhelicopter9149]

when i was young, my mom knew this abandon cabin in the woods, a legit log cabin too. there wasn't really anything in the place except a hole in the roof. when we came back there a few years later, part of that land was bought by some log company and made a gate with locks on it. i always think about that cabin once in a while. bet they either tore it down or let it continue to stand there.

[@trainzguy2472]

It may have been constructed from pieces of wood that came off of an old railcar, and the foundation might be the original chassis, but the sides do not bear the patches where the massive loading doors on either side would be. All boxcars have large, square sliding doors on either side, but this cabin doesn't have any visible areas where those doors used to be.

[@RobFarrowATV]

Thanks for the tour Frank! Wish I had explored more of Death Valley when I was there but I had no clue where to start!

[@AbandonedMines11]

Rob Farrow No problem, Rob! You and your motorcycle would've had a great time traveling the entire 95-mile (153 km) Saline Valley Road that runs north to south through a large part of the park. I drove that route a couple years ago in the summer and loved it -- very remote and nobody around for miles and miles (kilometers and kilometers). If you ever get back down here, I'd recommend traveling the Saline Valley Road.

[@RobFarrowATV]

Exploring Abandoned Mines in CA, NV, and AZ Thanks Frank! I'll be looking for mines also! :-)

[@joshuahull9982]

Exploring Abandoned Mines and Unusual Places Pretty amazing it's as rich in wildlife as it is. Amazing little cabin.

[@fnordhorn]

Resident Lizard at end was nice. Look like the outhouse could a new roof. If I did not live in the east i might spend one weekend with some of my Vet Buddies just doing general clean up to places like this AND WE would NOT use paint inside at all. The writing on the walls is HISTORY!!!!

[@goldmining12345]

That looked very inviting. And the way the lizard kept moving his head made me laugh!

[@AbandonedMines11]

***** Thanks, Ben! If you ever get out here, the Boxcar Cabin is a great place to stay. And there are plenty of lizards, too.

[@goldmining12345]

Exploring Abandoned Mines in CA, NV, and AZ I have another question, were there any other nice cabins like that within a miles distance?

[@briandavis1402]

I am surprised you open with raining in the Desert. When I worked at Death Valley Junction we had rain. After that there were Bugs, snakes, millipedes, scorpions and every kind of creepy crawly you can imagine. The next morning Toads and things in the Great Puddles. Very Miserable until the water Dried Up. We got a chance to hike in, the road washed out 30-40 years ago (1973), to 3 maybe 5 Cabins perfectly preserved in the hot-Dry desert of Death Valley. Desert Rats had probably used 2-cabins for building material. Since they were Single Blanket Prospectors, they borrowed but damaged nothing; AS It Should Be Now! I have always loved Death Valley, First Time I actually saw the Milky Way, WOW You could almost reach out and touch the stars.

[@W7DSY]

Hey Frank, good vid. Two things: The Santa Cruz decal on the window was fun to see. I lived there for 30+ years before moving here to AZ. Also, behind the cans at which you were shooting, looked like another prospect dig, yes?

[@AbandonedMines11]

Stan Jefferson That probably was another prospect site behind the cans that I was shooting at. There are a few of them scattered in the vicinity of the cabin. Thanks, Stan, for watching and commenting!

[@gamer4vr638]

Nothing more beautiful than desert rain.

[@oldfrogdivin8534]

Man I miss the desert! thanks for uploading....

[@ADITADDICTS]

So nice to see a rare gem like that preserved and not annihilated by special needs visitors. Thank god you got those cans when you did!! They're like zombies, one or two's not much of a worry, but when your surrounded by them, your in a tight spot!

[@jerettashewmaker5021]

Really loved the video,nice job !

[@AbandonedMines11]

+Jeretta Shewmaker Thanks, Jeretta! The rare, summertime rain storm was kind of cool to capture on video. Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment.

[@BrettHoustonTube]

I love this place. I saw your card there last June when I was there a few sweltering days.

[@azdesertdog]

Nice 5 star accommodations. Nice place to stop. Thanks for the our.

[@kamandalu]

death valley is a nice/desolate area, must be very quite when you stay alone overnight in that cabine!nice vid. thx

[@AbandonedMines11]

kamandalu It was very quiet. In fact, I didn't even sleep inside the cabin. I prefer to sleep outside under the stars. The only time I would sleep in a cabin like that would be if it was raining or if it was wintertime and very cold. There was no moon the night I was there, so it couldn't have been more perfect.

[@ronniecardy]

Wonder how they moved it there. Such a nice place to go to and rest after a long drive or hike

[@jamesoconnor3562]

So is there a railroad a foot, or did this box car just fall from the sky? How did it get there?? No apparent railroad tracks, ties, jacks, ect.

[@lianneinjapan]

how hot was it when you went there? It was 131F when we went to death valley!

[@craigslistrro709]

Cool video frank... Im surprised that cabin hasnt been destroyed.

[@casperhowell8738]

Death Valley is chock full of mines, You ought to try and check some of them out!

[@AbandonedMines11]

Casper Howell Already have! Been in a few of them out there. This cabin is just outside the park boundary but many people consider it to be "in Death Valley."

[@Dutchly]

On Saline-Waucoba Rd. or Saline Valley Rd, one of the two:-) Been there several times in the 80s.

[@winkerdude]

After watching many of your videos you have finally showed a place I have been to. I was baffled by the screen door type latch on the OUTSIDE of front door until my wife pointed out it was probably to keep the burros out. Marrying someone smarter than yourself is not a bad thing.

[@AbandonedMines11]

winkerdude Yes, I had a problem getting the front door open, too. No joke. It's a great place to camp at for a few days. I felt lucky to be there when the rainstorm was happening.

[@dianeschneider1611]

Totally cool! I don't think I could brave staying the night.

[@daylightbigboy]

I have noticed from your videos that there appears to be a few of these old miners cabins that are kept up in livable condition. Do you know who stays in them, what they are for, and who takes care of them? Thanks again.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Streamlined Steamroller Yes, there are a few old miners' cabins here and there. The cabins really are leftover relics from the mining days and were previously lived-in by miners. The cabins are now maintained by volunteers. There was a somewhat formal, organized program several years ago called "Adopt-A-Cabin" where volunteers would formally "adopt" a certain cabin and take care of it on an ongoing basis. That program has folded, however. Cabins are still maintained by volunteers but there is no formal organization or structure like there was with Adopt-A-Cabin. Anybody can stay in the cabins on a first come-first served basis.

[@docmccoy1928]

what a great place. Would be a welcome sight if you needed a place to stay

[@AbandonedMines11]

Doc McCoy It was a pretty nice place to camp at. I had driven past this cabin once or twice in the past but never stopped to check it out -- until now. Definitely is one of Death Valley's best secret places.

[@giuliom8520]

In the 1940's, a prospector from Beverly Hills who was a doctor originally, was sinking a shaft in the mountains above furnace ranch and fell into an ancient network of tunnels built by an ancient and unknown civilization. These ancient tunnels go under all odds Death Valley and Southern NV. Can you look into finding an entrance to the ancient network of tunnels and exploring them? There are things in them, according to the legend, that would cause history books to be completely re-written. Please look it up, find, and explore those tunnels.

[@jbmbryant]

I lived in the Mojave desert for many years and rain in the summer (July, August and early September) is usually the case; especially mid to late August. I sure like your videos. They're very well done and presented.

[@bluecheeseranch]

I wonder how all of this is found

[@gage5484]

What make'n model of handgun was that?

[@RJM1011]

Wonderful to see thank you Frank. :)

[@wampuscat1831]

Spent time out there in the early 80s most old shacks was busted up snake nests..

[@KrisN]

Hey Frank! Another great video! Few questions though: what is the camera you use to record your videos and how do you light your videos? A flashlight or something different? Thanks

[@phoenix5ish]

Death Valley.. Very inviting😂😂any spooky sightings?

[@AbandonedMines11]

Nope, nothing spooky at this site as far as I could tell.

[@W7DSY]

Exploring Abandoned Mines in CA, NV, and AZ I think Frank has had enough 'spooky' after the Horton Mine.

[@candysantillo3325]

Very enjoyable.Thank you

[@AbandonedMines11]

+Candy Santillo Thanks, Candy! Glad you liked the video. This cabin is quite a unique place, and anybody can stay there if they want. It's on a first come first serve basis. Thanks for watching the video and taking the time to leave a comment - I appreciate that very much!

[@candysantillo3325]

+Exploring Abandoned Mines is this something that you do often?I just love this kinda stuff

[@KavensWorld]

I watch your videos with my son. @ 1:13 you pan past a stuffed tiger that looks like his. lol made us laugh

[@AbandonedMines11]

Kavens World Thanks, Kaven, for watching! There were a lot of things in the cabin -- books, toys, games, utensils, etc. -- but it is surprising that you saw something that was identical to something your son actually owns. Glad to hear that you and your son enjoy the videos. It's comments like that which keep me motivated to produce more videos! Thanks!

[@mattadrev471]

do you get to all your locations in that non-4x4 car?

[@AbandonedMines11]

Matt Whitmire Matt, My Toyota has been to hell and back, yet it still runs great! I've had no problems with that car. The only major repair was a leaking oil pan in the second or third year that I owned it. The car has close to 280.000 miles on it, and it's still going strong. If a mine is too difficult to get to, I'll just hike the rest of the way in. Not uncommon for me to hike three miles or so one way to reach a mine entrance. Or climb up a mountain.

[@MAC3451]

Which video is it where u heard the radio go off in the cave

[@terrylee6224]

p MO

[@Joebummy]

Plan on going there in the next few days here

[@Revival_Channel]

I love the last look of that lizzard

[@AbandonedMines11]

Those lizards can be quite interesting to observe. Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for commenting!

[@robmcnew9074]

That is a cool place to stay for a night.

[@ravenmckinnon5526]

Any info on who brought it there? Who owns it? Etc

[@AbandonedMines11]

I believe one of the miners who worked the nearby mining claims a long time ago is the one who brought the boxcar to the site and made it into a cabin. Inside the cabin there is an informative plaque that explains the cabin’s history, but I can’t remember what it said. I know there are a couple websites devoted to it, so if you search on Google for “boxcar cabin“, you should find those websites that might have answers to your questions. I haven’t been back to the cabin since I made this video, so it’s been quite a few years! Thanks so much for stopping by and watching this older video of mine, Raven!

[@otgexploring]

I always stop when I’m Im The area drop off water and some times bags of chips

[@AbandonedMines11]

That’s very cool that you do that! It is a nice cabin. Whenever I stay at this cabin, I never sleep inside of it. I prefer to sleep outside under the stars like I always do. I’m not into cabins, tents, or other forms of shelter when I’m camping.

[@otgexploring]

@@AbandonedMines11 that's the best way to camp in my opinion.

[@TheGuitarist122]

I saw one of my notes i left! Love that place!!

[@frankgaletzka8477]

What a great place Thanks for sharing it Yours Frank

[@tylerakatank187]

its a wonder nobody has trashed that place

[@w9jim]

+tylerakatank187 Especially considering you can see it from the road.

[@jackboyd7741]

+tylerakatank187 I think the temperature and remoteness dissuades people like that. Death Valley as a whole is in the middle of nowhere and the actual cabin is even more remote, so you'd have to be a pretty determined vandal to go to all of that trouble for one cabin.

[@ralphhancock7449]

You mean, like leaving broken bottles from target practice?

[@daysleepnightread6905]

So beautiful... I could live there happily

[@AbandonedMines11]

+daysleepnightread It's a great cabin to stay at if you're in the area.

[@daysleepnightread6905]

Is it safe to stay there on your own?

[@AbandonedMines11]

daysleepnightread I would think so. I never had a problem when I was there by myself.

[@daysleepnightread6905]

Cool! Great channel. I've only been to Death Valley a couple of times, but I never really went exploring. I really want to! I always feel so energized and warm when I am there. I wish there were more jobs there because I would live there if I could. :-)

[@daysleepnightread6905]

actually I don't wish there where more jobs there because then there'd be more people and it would lose it's vast magic. I guess what I mean to say is that I wish there was a job for me haha :)

[@TheGuitarist122]

lol thats the fire pit i built and my ducks sticker on the door! was there in may that year and camped there for 5 days. also, it isnt grafitti. its a part of the cabin. like a time stamp over the years. and even tho its suppose to be a little bit of a secret spot, if you go please pick up after yourselves people.

[@Bobbybeb]

Great video!

[@AbandonedMines11]

+Bobby0345 Thanks, Bobby! If you ever find yourself in that part of Death Valley, that cabin is a great place to stay. It's actually not inside the border of Death Valley National Park; it's just on the other side.

[@messtime]

+Exploring Abandoned Mines This cabin might be on the other side of "Ballarat" ghost town. You might be able to hike from Ballarat to this cabin. I don't know.

[@owenward196]

I went there a few years back with my grandpa when I was 13

[@AbandonedMines11]

Cool! Did you guys sign your name on the wall or ceiling? LOL! Yes, it’s a great cabin to spend the night in even though the area isn’t all that spectacular or scenic.

[@Xenon-4300]

Where's the A/C?

[@recycledteenager7483]

Okay where you get the wood from you got a wood-burning stove where do you get the wood from

[@jroysdon]

Bring some from home.

[@chromacattiosv2]

1:13 anyone else notice the stuffed tiger? just me? I'm a nerd. I would love to visit this place if my family and I ever go to death valley. we only live an hour or two away, I believe.

[@toysofyourspecialtyt.o.y.s8718]

nice to see a sticker from my town down south...Santa Cruz..

[@RockerGuy0001]

Nice little place

[@ItsDarkRightNow]

so intresting! do more

[@sarjim4381]

Nice video. I strongly doubt that was ever a boxcar. The wood sheathing isn't right for boxcar construction and the ends don't match any type of boxcar construction I've seen. The pitch angle of the roof is also not characteristic of a boxcar. I assume it gots its name from the general boxcar shape rather than it being a repurposed boxcar. It's also about 75 miles of the nearest railroad, the now abandoned Tonopah and Tidewater. That makes it even more unlikely that a boxcar would have been moved this distance over nonexistent roads. The Buckhorn Boxcar is one of about a dozen Death Valley cabins maintained by volunteers. The Buckhorn had a new roof put on in 2015, right before you arrived, so that's why the roof wasn't leaking. It's a stark but interesting area.

[@evalevy2909]

It's there for anyone to use?

[@AbandonedMines11]

+Eva Levy It sure is, Eva! No reservations required. It’s on a first come, first served basis.

[@kittyvaughn76]

Well, this is cool!

[@ravenfeather7087]

Who does this belong to? The cabin and the property.

[@briandavis1402]

Oh Yeah a Privy, check everywhere before doing your business. My buddy found a Sears Catalogue 1908 in a privy with 23-pages missing. Of course he didn't climb down to retrieve the pages. Are you gonna go to Leadville / Titus Canyon - One Way? Could The Boxcar Be a Tonopah and Tidewater modified of course? Gosh, how the Desert Wind do sandblast the sides.

[@kasnitch]

love to see old places still providing respite in the wild .. nice bit of history there. thanks for documenting this. I sent a reply to your queries same day you sent. If you haven't read, it might be in your spam folder. I would be interested in your opinions on my take for such a situation. If you had contacted other people on the matter or will be doing so, you have my permission, if you wish to, to share my response with anyone you choose to. I would also like to hear what other folks you feel have warranted insights in the matter think as well. I have always believed in sharing of insight and knowledge with collaboration.

[@AbandonedMines11]

kasnitch I did receive your extremely lengthy reply but need to re-read it again. I'll send you a message soon with my reaction and thoughts. Thanks, though, for responding and giving me your take on the situation.

[@TRX450RVlogger]

Great stuff bud! I do always try to watch your Videos "F.Y.I." I just do not always comment. Would be such a cool little Cabbin; To bad people cannot just keep things clean and not put Graffiti on everything they go into seems like now days that is all people my age can do for some reason. Not me though!

[@RebelBama]

free night stay ??

[@NoelMorata]

Interesting to see it raining in Death valley and this cabin. It really is fascinating to explore and photograph. I'm sharing some of my favorite places to visit and photograph the park here travelphotodiscovery.com/death-valley-national-park/

[@gumdokim]

Haha he gave you that "what you talking 'bout" face @4:52

[@w9jim]

You didn't show the cool paint job inside the outhouse! :-)

[@AbandonedMines11]

+Jim Doss I looked in there and saw that someone had stuck a large branch or two right down into the toilet. They were sticking up out of the hole. Didn't look any further than that and moved on. LOL

[@dept.ofstem1752]

+Exploring Abandoned Mines So you're saying someone dropped a log in there?

[@johnparker7784]

Well if you ever run out of firewood all you have to do is grab your axe, walk outside and start chopping...oh wait. Thats the main reason the desert is no place to try to ride out a collapse.

[@buttdreads]

Holy fricking crap butt. This place looks interesting.

[@nicktriada1]

can somebody give a GPS coordinate of this cabin ?

[@jonmacdonald5345]

What Kind of Iron Were you Shooting that day sir? 🔫??

[@isoperuna2]

Cool place :-) i cant believe what im seeing here, a cool place that's not destroyed by buttheads, there is hope :)

[@-yeme-]

nice lizard

[@anyclipwithmrraven1030]

It was nice

[@AbandonedMines11]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Thank you for taking the time to comment.

[@denniss8644]

Are you SURE you should be target shooting out there? It looks like this cabin is within the National Park boundary and there are very, very few National Parks that allow shooting of any kind. I think you were breaking the law there.

[@AbandonedMines11]

+Dennis Salguero This cabin is NOT inside Death Valley National Park.

[@mechabradzilla5597]

That's a handsome lizard. ^_^

[@hardscorerockkssss]

why not take painting?it may worth some cash and you know if it is not worth any cash or not

[@kanekiken7700]

UNDERTAKER

[@dept.ofstem1752]

If it weren't for aliens, I would want to live there.

[@jamesedmond3351]

So much for secret

[@cuddles6938]

Yeah it's so secret it has new books inside, peoples signatures all over the place. I'm sure hikers probably know all about this place as a refuge from the changing weather. Not so secret after all.

[@moogily1]

i like the lizard

[@fredgardner2870]

cool

[@stryde_]

Why is this in my recommendation

[@TortureTestMagazine]

I've been here :)

[@Nikolaii2571]

This looked like an Alligator Lizard.

[@AbandonedMines11]

+Nikolaii2571 Finally! Somebody supplied the rest of us with the correct identification of this lizard! Thank you. I have no knowledge of reptiles, so I appreciate your input. Thanks again!

[@deadmetal8692]

Santa Cruz!