The History of Mining in the Morongo Basin
by Jim Wharff (edited)

     Mining in the Morongo Basin first started in the early 1870s in the Bullion Mountains, now part of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms area.  The Blue Jay Mine was one of earliest.  Miners began to be drawn to the Pinto Mountains and Dale Hills in the early 1880s.  Charley Wilson, aka Johnny "Quartz" Wilson, aka Chuckwalla Wilson and Tom Lyons located the Virginia Dale Mine, believed to be one of first of any sizable development in the area, around 1884.  Around the same time the Virginia Dale Mining District was formed.  At its peak the District had as many as 3000 miners in the area.  Mines such as the Oro Fino, Supply, OK, Los Angeles, Brooklyn and Gold Crown produced millions in Gold for their owners.

     A well was dug north of the district and the ore from the mines was brought there to be processed.  A small mining community sprang up around the well, which would soon become the Dale Judicial Township in 1897.  In 1900 water began to be pumped to the mines from Dale Lake.  Now the mine owners no longer had to bring the ore to Dale to be processed.  Soon all the town’s activities moved 6 miles south near the Supply and OK mines.  This community would be known as New Dale and would continue to thrive until 1917 when the owners of Supply and OK mines shut down operations.  New Dale dwindled in population until it was only used by passersby.  During the depression there was a resurgence of mining in the district but all mining was closed down by executive order at the beginning of World War Two. Today the Virginia Dale Mining District is a popular area for present day recreational mining.

     Located 10 Miles south of the Oases of Mara, mining in the Gold Park area was sporadic until 1905.  J.E. Schweng and his associates, known as the Gold Park Consolidated Mining Company, started important development which continued until World War One.  The Gold Park Hotel once located near the camp was moved to the 29 Palms Inn during the 192's and used as one of the cottages.   Notable characters such as Charles Wilson, (aka Johnny "Quartz" Wilson, "Chuckwalla" Wilson) and Bill McHaney prospected in the area around the turn of the century.  Hearing a story of a rich vein of gold somewhere in the Gold Park area, Bill McHaney made his home near the south end of Gold Park for 30 years while he searched for it.  Bill Keys owner of the Desert Queen Mine, now located within the Joshua Tree National Park, also owned a mine within Gold Park known as the Goat Mine.  Today Gold Park is a popular area to tour by four-wheel drive vehicle.

     Other mining districts such as the Rattlesnake and Washington were located within what is now Joshua Tree National Park.  The Lost Horse Mine was owned for a while by Bill and Jim McHaney. The Desert Queen Mine owned by Bill Keys and the Paymaster last owned by Orin Booth were a few notable mine within the boundaries of the Park. 

     Many weekend prospectors who live in the area enjoy recreation Placer Mining within the Dale Mining District.  Copper Mountain College hosts a placer mining course each spring.  Tours of the mining districts can be arranged through local tour companies, the First Class Miners Association and area Historical Societies.