Jacob City
Jacob City, UT was a small mining town, born in 1865, when several men discovered rich ore in Dry Canyon, just north of the city of Ophir. During Jacob City's prime times, there were an estimated 300 population, and the town had several stores, a hotel, a school, saloons, and gambling houses. The mines were successful for almost 40 years, when they began drying up in the early 1900's though one of the largest mines, the Hidden Treasure, was worked into the 40's.
The Dry Canyon road to Jacob City is steep, rocky, and narrow. A high clearance light 4x4 truck or ATV is required to access the town from this direction. The canyon is a beautiful haven in the desert landscape. Most of the canyon is open to public recreation, though several patented claims exist in the area. Please respect private property. There are two main ways to access Jacob City; just off the main road to Ophir, and out from Stockton. The Stockton route is much easier to drive, offering a climbing view of the valley as you rise into the mountains. Both routes are open and will take you directly into the city, provided the snow is not too deep.
The Hidden Treasure Mine was the first mine opened, and holds the greatest amount of history for the area. The Hidden Treasure Mine became famous when, in 1989, a 10-year old scout named Josh Dennis became lost in the mine. He was exploring without carrying his own light and became separated from his group. He blindly crawled up a stope to the roof where he sat for five days before finally being rescued by searchers accompanied and guided by John Skinner. Skinner's grandfather was the mine superintendent, and Skinner, a mining historian and explorer, had vast personal knowledge of the mine's workings. Skinner had been repeatedly turned-away by authorities though he was practically an expert on the mine. He even attempted to enter the mine from an adjoining mine in Ophir canyon but could not make the connection due to a missing 90ft. ladder. Finally he was allowed in, as a bulldozer sat idling in front of the mine portal waiting to bury Josh, dead or alive, inside the mine. Skinner and the searchers searched three locations John had identified as probable leads, and the third yielded the dehydrated and disoriented but very much alive Boy Scout. This event was also responsible for the permanent destruction of the haulage tunnel portal, and Josh became one of a few poster children for the dangers of abandoned mines.
Location
40.388956° -112.271941° @ 8500'
