Hidden in a dense forest about a mile above Lake Mary (in the Mammoth Lakes area) lies a mysterious mill site dating back to the late 1890s. Although the passing years have not been kind to the mill, old foundations and a few unique mill artifacts remain today. The site can be reached with a short moderate hike, or incorporated into a more ambitious hike to any of the lakes accessed by the popular Duck Lake Trail.
Skelton Mill photos courtesy of Southern Mono Historical Society
History
The Mammoth Lakes region experienced a short-lived gold mining boom in the late 1870s, resulting in the founding of several mines and small towns above today's town of Mammoth Lakes. The Mammoth Mine, which was the largest operation in the area, ceased all operations by 1881. A few nearby mines, such as the Monte Cristo and Lisbon, continued large-scale mining for a few more years before closing. By the early 1890s, only a few small operations remained, employing arrastras or small mills. The Skelton Mill, located further up the mountain between Arrowhead and Skelton Lakes, appears to have been the largest of these small-scale operations.
Very little historical information is available about the mill beyond a few short mentions in old mining journals, as well as a couple of obscure old photos.
