Tour long mine shafts and view mining structures that span multi-stories.
During 1915 and 1916, the Tyro shaft was sunk to a depth of 500 feet, and some drifting was done on the 200-foot level. Some ore was produced from small pockets near the surface. These owners failed to make a go of it and closed the mine.
During 1933-1934, W. E. Whalley and C. F. Weeks, lessees, built a road from the mine to the Katherine highway and began production from surface cuts on the vein. This is a unique mine as a portion is cut into the ground where the tunnels are cut into the sides. We describe this portion cut into the ground as a "gash".
Last production was in 1943. The structures inside the mine are in fantastic shape considering how long they have set without maintenance.
We started at Katherine's Landing near Bullhead City, but you can also get here from Sleeping Princess 3.0 - 4.0. The road is rated 2.5 either way, although the Katherine's Landing side is slightly easier.
The first right hand spur coming from Katherine's Landing takes you to a much smaller, strangely slanted, mine.
View from the slanted mine.
Follow the track and use the waypoint to find the entrance to Tyro Mine. Look to the right of Jayne and you can see a spot of light from the outdoors.
​There are hangers in the ceilings every few feet. It would be romantic to think this is where miners hung their lanterns, but since the mine was operating in 1943 they were more likely holding electric wires for lighting.
The mine forks a short way in. We visited the left fork first and found this impressive structure spanning several levels.
We looked down into the structure but could not determine how far down it went. There are ladders between the levels but we did not test them out.
Continue along the left fork and come to the bottom of an ore chute with ore still in the chute and on the ground.
We went as far as this opening in the left fork. Ore was brought in from a large gash in the surface. We call this one the "inner gash". There is a wall of rock between this one and the "outer gash".
We retraced our steps and took the much shorter right fork. The structures were not as impressive but still were very interesting.
This fork looks out into the outer gash that is visible from the main road. It is possible to enter the mine through this opening, but the one at the waypoint is much easier.
There is much more to the mine than we show on this site. I walked into the outer gash from the road and found two more openings. The vertical one on the right side did not interest me a bit. The horizontal one on the left left side could be entered. I walked it a couple hundred yards and then turned around after finding nothing of interest. The air was stale so it likely is a dead end.
Opening on left side of outer gash.