The Long Way
Nye County
A person uses a hammer and chisel to break rocks outdoors.
Plate I. Prospecting during Otteson Brothers Royston Mine Tours. From travelnevada.com
An excavator operates in a rocky ravine while people work around it.
Plate II. Excavator and visitors, Otteson Brothers Royston Mine Tours. From ottesonbrothersturquoise.com
An excavator bucket digging into rock.
Plate III. Excavator bucket and rocks, Royston Mine Tours. From ottesonbrothersturquoise.com
A hand holds a large piece of turquoise rock outdoors.
Plate IV. Turquoise specimen, Otteson Brothers Royston Mine Tours. From ottesonbrothersturquoise.com
A person uses a rock hammer to chip away at a rocky outcrop.
Plate V. Prospecting for turquoise, Otteson Brothers Royston Mine Tours. From travelnevada.com
A hand holding a rock specimen with bright blue turquoise.
Plate VI. Turquoise rock specimen, Royston Mine Tours. From greatbasinsun.com

Otteson Brothers Royston Mine Tours

Tonopah, Nye County, Nevada.

Details

Map. Tonopah, Nye County, Nevada. Larger map
Where
Tours depart from Giggle Springs Gas Station, 182 N. Main Street, Tonopah, NV 89049. Directions
When
Tours available year round Monday through Saturday (excluding holidays); tours are given at the Montezuma Royston mine.
Season
Year round, Monday through Saturday, weather permitting, excluding holidays.
Getting there
The mine is 26 miles outside Tonopah, Nevada; five of those miles are dirt roads; AWD, 4WD, or high-clearance vehicle recommended.
Fees
Half day $150 per person; all day $300 per person; children 13 and under dig free; prices subject to change.
Hours
Morning tours at 8:00 a.m.; afternoon tours at 1:00 p.m.
Access
Tours meet at the Giggle Springs gas station and caravan to the mining site in your own high-clearance vehicle; bring your own rockhounding tools, water, sunscreen, and snacks; gloves and closed-toe shoes recommended.
Walk-in or reserve
No same-day bookings; the tour form requires a date and tour time.
Phone
(775) 482-4592
Website
ottesonbrothersturquoise.com
Managed by
Otteson Brothers Turquoise.
Established
Royston turquoise discovered by Lee F. Hand in 1902.

Notable Events

  1. 1902Lee F. Hand, a well-known Nevada turquoise miner, discovered Royston Turquoise in 1902 and controlled over 30 claims in the Royston District, originally four old turquoise claims: Bunker Hill, Easter Blue, Oscar Wehrend and Royal Blue. ottesonbrothersturquoise.com
  2. 1944Lynn Otteson leased his first Nevada mine, a Royston claim, from Lee F. Hand, mining it part-time while traveling back and forth from Colorado. ottesonbrothersturquoise.com
  3. 1960In the summer of 1960 Lynn Otteson moved his family from Colorado to Tonopah, and the family has mined claims in the Royston District ever since. ottesonbrothersturquoise.com
  4. 2002After years of struggle, a breakthrough discovery of high-grade turquoise in 2002 let the Ottesons re-invest in their business and buy equipment for harder mining. pvtimes.com

People

  • Lee F. Hand, Nevada turquoise miner who discovered Royston Turquoise, held over 30 Royston District claims, and leased a claim to Lynn Otteson (discovered Royston Turquoise in 1902).
  • Lynn Otteson, family patriarch who leased the first Otteson Royston claim and moved the family to Tonopah (1944 first Royston lease).

Sources

  1. ottesonbrothersturquoise.com/tours
  2. ottesonbrothersturquoise.com/our-story
  3. travelnevada.com/mines-prospecting/otteson-brothers-turquoise-mine-tour
  4. tonopahnevada.com/otteson-turquoise-tours
  5. greatbasinsun.com/article/972,otteson-brothers-turquoise-offers-mine-tours
  6. ottesonbrothersturquoise.com/contact-us
  7. instagram.com/ottesonbrothersturquoise/?hl=en
  8. facebook.com/Ottesonbrothers
  9. pvtimes.com/tonopah/nevada-mining-family-strikes-turquoise-on-reality-tv-show-73800