Journigan’s Mill

Journigan’s Mill. Desert Dreams. , Roy Journigan acquired this mill site in Emigrant Canyon shortly after passage of the 1934 Gold Reserve Act caused the price of gold to jump from $20 to $35 an ounce. His strategy was to operate a custom mill for local mines, so both he and the mine owners would profit by hauling higher-grade ore to smelters, thus cutting transportation costs. By acquiring water rights to four local springs to the southwest and piping the water to the mill, he increased the mill's capacity and his profit margin. In 1939, Journigan sold the mill, which continued to operate under several different owners until the late 1960s. , The scattered remnants of Journigan's Mill pay homage to the ingenuity needed to succeed in remote desert areas. , Concrete footings, cyanide tanks, and foundations for the mill and several houses are all that remain of what was one of the largest mill operations in the park between 1930 and 1950. , Warning: Your help is critical to protecting this historic treasure. Journigan's Mill is a time capsule; the buildings and debris present both a safety hazard and offer critical information toward understanding their history. Use caution exploring the area. Please leave everything as you find it, to give the visitors who follow you the same experience, and to preserve the historical evidence. , Use caution when visiting historic mining sites. Collapsing tunnels, unstable buildings and refuse heaps are potentially hazardous. , Stay Out - Stay Alive.