Tom Irwin, a gold prospector, discovered a gold bearing vein in the silver valley in 1879. Tom built a cabin near this mine. His cabin was used as a landmark for many years. Although Tom was the first person to mine a quartz vein in Shoshone County, he did not receive credit for that in the history books (quote):
"Tom Irwin, a gold prospector, discovered a quartz vein and built a cabin at Montgomery Gulch in the spring of 1879. This cannot be verified as the quartz mine cannot be found."
We do not know for sure who mined this mine, but know that Tom was in the area.
1905 – An example of what a hand-tram car looked like during the time that Crystal Gold Mine was being mined. Notice electricity going into the mine. (Not Crystal Gold Mine)
For some unknown reason, after much work had been done inside the mine, the hillside was blasted down to hide the mine entrance. This left tracks, a mine car and tools inside — a sure sign that they intended to come back. However, they never did, and the mine stayed hidden and lost for over a hundred years.
In the 1960’s the mine portal (entrance) was exposed during the building of Interstate 90. In 1991, the owner saw water seeping out of the hillside. Hoping it was a spring; he dug into the portal and discovered more of the mine. Soon after that, the property owner put a piece of plywood over it and kept it closed for years. In 1996, it was sold to Bill and Judy Lane, a retired miner and his wife, who uncovered the rest of the mine and rejuvenated it as a tourist attraction and RV park. They named it Crystal Gold Mine because of the colorful smithsonite crystals that coat the walls of the mine.
While cleaning out the mine and scaling the ribs (walls), Bill discovered some high-grade gold ore that was left behind. However, there is no record of how much gold or silver was ever taken out of the mine. Bill and Judy were devoted to educating others about gold mining in the Silver Valley until Judy passed away in 2010. Bill tried to continue on with the mine but his heart wasn't in it without her. He shuttered the property entrances with fallen trees in 2011 and took leave to warmer weather in Arizona.
In February of 2012, Raymond and Sherry Cropp found out that the property was again for sale. Ray was born in Kellogg, Idaho and had extensive family history of mining in these parts. Ray and Sherry purchased and reopened the mine in April 2012. After a decade of successfully running the tourist mine and RV park, it was time for Ray and Sherry to finally retire. Soon after retirement, Ray published the book The Crystal Gold Mine: In the Silver Valley of Idaho "The Big Blind Special!". This book traces the history, mystery, and skepticism that has followed this legendary gold mine.
In 2022, Crystal Gold Mine and RV Park was bought by the Dole family. Today, the Doles continue to share this one-of-a-kind attraction with folks of all ages.
An unnamed mine in Oregon, 1890
Miner standing with his dog in front of a mine portal similar to Crystal Gold Mine
Use of wooden tracks and mules at an unknown mine, circa 1880
A mine crew in Nevada around the same time that Crystal Gold mine was being mined
Dumping unwanted mine waste in the 1890s. (Not Crystal Gold Mine)
An unknown mining crew during the same time period. Notice that the men are holding candles for their source of light in the mine
