Poeville

Poeville is a ghost town in Washoe County, Nevada, sitting on the slopes of Peavine Mountain. The site traces its origins to 1862, when John Poe — a promoter from Michigan who claimed a connection to Edgar Allan Poe — turned up rich gold and silver veins in the area. Poe boldly compared his find to the Comstock Lode and drew wider attention by exhibiting extracted ore at the 1864 state fair. The mining camp that grew around his claims was known as Poe City before taking the name Poeville; prior to 1863 the area had gone by Peavine. The town was formally established in 1864.

Today Poeville is a quiet historical footnote on the mountain. Visitors drawn to the site will find a remote, high-desert setting more than any dramatic standing ruins. It rewards those interested in Nevada mining history and early settlement, and the open terrain makes it suitable for photography and sightseeing. Access and conditions vary by season, and winter months on the mountain can be hazardous.