St. Thomas Ruins

Description:

• After Hoover Dam was completed in 1935, Lake Mead began to form. The town of St. Thomas, a busy little community once located near the Colorado River, was submerged beneath the new lake's waters, where it stayed for over 60 years. In recent years, drought has taken a toll on Lake Mead, and in 2002, the waters had receded enough to reveal the ruins of St. Thomas. Some researchers believe St. Thomas will never be under water again.
  
  A dirt road just outside the Valley of Fire State Park will take you to what was once a lake overlook, but what is now the trailhead to St. Thomas. One of the most unusual things about this easy hike is looking down and seeing shells scattered around the path. Not that long ago, this ground was 70 feet underwater. In the years since St. Thomas has surfaced, the Park Service has paid the site increasing attention, even cutting away vegetation that once was as tall as most adults. Foundations, artifacts, old fence lines, and tree stumps now sit exposed for visitors to explore. History buffs will find ample information about St. Thomas, which was founded in 1865, on the Internet.
  
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