Also known as the Salt Basin Cabin, Bob and Ward's cabin is a little wooden cabin in this isolated valley at the northern base of the Avawatz Mountains. The cabin is named for two desert enthusiasts, both now deceased, who maintained it for years.
History
Salt Basin sits within what was once a 2,450-acre mining property belonging to the Avawatz Salt and Gypsum Company. Formed in 1912 by Herman Henry Kerckhoff of the prominent Los Angeles Kerckhoff family, the company held 50 mining claims covering deposits of gypsum, rock salt, celestite, and talc. Kerckhoff planned to transport gypsum to Los Angeles for the building boom then underway, and in 1917 formed the Amargosa Valley Railroad Company to construct a 16-mile rail line connecting the mines to the main railway. World War I made financing impossible, and the railroad was never built. Without it, large-scale mining never materialized.
The cabin may date to this early mining period, though I haven't found records confirming its origin. Also, see the nearby Sheep Creek Springs Cabin.
These days, the cabin is available as a first-come, first-served camping spot and receives many visitors each month. The place is furnished and has two bunk beds (that sleep four), a table, a wood-burning stove, and a kitchen area that is usually stocked with extra supplies. There is a water tank on the roof that supplies water to an outdoor shower, but I haven’t tested it to see if it works.
Be aware that there are mice here, and they will visit you at night. And besides stealing your food, they carry the risk of Hantavirus.
We've come here many times over the years, and even though the cabin gets heavy visitation, it is well cared for and in good condition. Please follow Backcountry Cabin Etiquette and keep it in great shape.
