On a recent trip through Death Valley, @Goste and I spotted some structures just off of the highway. We had to stop and check it out, and after doing some research it turns out this place has some cool, albeit unfortunate history. I will keep my write up vague as specific details would make this place too easy to find.
This cement plant was built in the early 40s by and was intended to serve as a processing center for a nearby quarry, capable of turning out 80 tons of cement daily. Marble would be crushed at the quarry before passing through a 150'x10' rotary kiln, and then to another rotary cooling cylinder. From there, it would be passed on to a grinding mill to complete the product. A single 1100 horsepower diesel motor was to power the entire process.
With only one month left until completion, a fire broke out, completely destroying the blacksmith shop, machine shop, storage house, and main office. This fire caused an estimated $30,000 in damages, equivalent to $552,795 today. Despite such a hard blow, the plant fought to rebuild, but unfortunately had a difficult time sourcing parts for their equipment. Eventually the entire project was scrapped, however the company continued mining operations in the area, going so far as to purchase an additional 360 acres to secure water rights.
80 years have passed and these ruins remain, sentenced to a life of baking in the harsh sun. A concrete monument to the cement that never was.
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