Some night sky light painting at the abandoned Elizalde Cement Company ruins, located south of Beatty, Nevada.
10-22mm, 3m18s, f/8.0, ISO 100
The history of these buildings is a mixture of legend and rumour. Some sources say the buildings were constructed in 1936, others give the date as 1941. The land was possibly acquired in a land swap with a Phillipino company in exchange for land at Subic Bay in the Philippines. Another source claims the operation was started by the wealthy Elizalde family at a time when there was a great need for building materials like cement.
The reasons for abandonment are also unclear. One source says the operation became a logistical nightmare and it was shut down, with an option to restart at a later date. The advent of World War II put an end to that possibility. Another source claims the plant was constructed by 45 men, then burned down 2 months after completion. The Rhyolite ghost town caretaker claims the plant had exporting issues with the Phillipines and shut down the same year it opened.
There has also been some discussion about whether a railway line operated from the operation into Beatty. Satellite maps reveal what appears to be the remains of a railway line between these locations, though the tracks are long gone.
Reports have suggested the rotary kiln and other equipment were still located within the plant as late as 1951.
Sources: ghosttowns.com, panoramio.com, wikimapia.org
