River Mountains Loop Trail

What is that big black pipeline along the trail???

 
 
 
 

BMI water pipeline MM13 102409

BMI Water Pipeline along Trail 102409

October 26, 2009 -  I get this question every once in awhile, so here is the answer.  No it’s not oil or sewage.  It is the first water pipeline in the Las Vegas Valley.  Built during World War II to provide water to the Basic Management Industrial complex in Henderson (BMI).  The pipeline still provides all the water needs for the BMI plants and a portion of Henderson water needs also.  Basic Water Co. operates and maintains the pipeline. Near trail mile marker #13 is a water guzzler providing water for wildlife and a very large cottonwood tree sometimes referred to as the “Magic Tree” by local riders.  BMI, Basic Water co. and LandWell Development have been long time trail partners in the development of the River Mountains Loop Trail.  Approximatley ten miles of the trail is located within the BMI water pipeline corriodor.  So as you hike, walk, run and ride along the pipeline you are riding along a historic pipeline which brought the first Lake Mead Water to the Las Vegas Valley.

 
 
 
 

BMI pipeline MM13 102409

BMI water line MM 13 102409

BMI WATER PIPELIEN GALLERY:

Three Kids Mine site along Trail

Jan.29th, 2009   Three Kids Mine is part of Southern Nevada’s mining history. It is locate near Lake Las Vegas at trail mile marker 9.0 to 10.5.  There are several deep open pit mines where manganese ore was mined then processed in a mill on site. Mining was activity from around 1917 until the plant was closed in 1961. The site has sat idle for 48 years. It was used in two movies over the years and has been an eyesore for most of the 48-yrs.  Plans are now afoot to clean up the area and turn it into a master planned development of some 1250+ acres.  The development is currently known as “Lakemoor Canyons”.  The project is in the planning, review, approval stage and will require many permits. The actual clean up of the site is about 12 months out if all goes well.

Three kids mine unger/RJ photo

Three kids Mine Unger/RJ photo

History:

The following is an except out of the Review Journal dated May 12, 2005. The article is written by A.D. Hopkins and talks about the Merle Frehner family history….
During World War I the Three Kids Mine, the remains of which are visible southeast of Sunrise Mountain, was producing manganese ore. Harry (Frehner) hauled the ore to the Las Vegas rail yards behind a 10-horse team pulling three heavy-duty freight wagons and a feed cart, hooked one behind the other. “When reaching the east end of Fremont Street, Harry drove straight up the center to the depot, then south to an unloading platform. Crowds of people would line the sidewalks to watch the long outfit go up the street.”  This would have been between 1914 and 1918.

 
 
 

Three Kids mine site today RJ Photo 11-08-09

The following notes and statements come from an article printed in the “MINING CONGRESS JOURNAL dated October 1944….”The three Kids Mine near Las Vegas, owned by the Manganese Ore Company, wholly-owned subsidiary of The M.A. Hanna Company, has proved to be the largest open pit deposit of good grade manganese ore available in America, Vice President M.C. Lake of the ore company said in a recent statement.”

The millling plant next to the mine was owned and operated by the Defense Plant Corporation and as of this writing had produced several thousand tons of high grade manganese nodules. The plant had not yet reached full production according to the article.

Other items of interest from the article are: 1.) Part of the process involved leaching a processing pulp …”in a series of seven thickeners, the first two of which are acid-proof construction and 250 feet in diameter, thus making them the largest acid-proof thickeners ever constructed.” 2.)The “manganese sulphate salt which is roasted in a rotary kiln 360-ft. long and 11ft 3 inches in diameter, to yield a calcine of Manganese oxide and sulpher dioxide gas.”
The article from the Mining Congress Journal also had multiple photos of operations at the mine….Steam shovel loading dump trucks;beginning of the open pit mine operation; Drilling being done by churn drills and rock drills; mining pit with stock piles of ore and mill.

Movies:
Do you know the names of the two Hollywood Movie productions that took place at Three Kids Mine????

The first one I’m still researching. It was filmed after 1961 and involved the blowing up of the mill/plant during filming. I’m told it was in the early 1970’s? Does anyone know…please help me out.

The second film/movie was released February 5, 1987. It was shot entirely on location in southern Nevada. A major battle scene and shoot out occured at the Three Kids Mine site. The name of the movie is “CHERRY 2000” – a 1987 science fiction cult film starring Melanie Griffith and David Andrews. My personal review of movie would make it a “B” movie, acting was not so hot, plot was ?; but the scenery of Southern Nevada was great. The Three Kids Mine shots show some of the remaining structures from the mining days. The big 250-ft concrete thickeners look like alien structures in the film. The movie pops up every now and again on HBO, don’t waste your money renting a DVD.

 
 
 
 
 

Cherry 2000 Movie Poster 1987

Cherry 2000 Movie Poster 1987

The River Mountains Loop Trail:

The trail will front the Three Kids Mine site along the south side of Lake Mead Parkway from the tunnel underpass east to the commercial buildings. At this location the trail will cross to the north side via a tunnel and then follow the BMI waterline right-of-way east for about one mile. The trail will pass under Lake Mead Parkway at the far eastern edge of the Lake moor Canyons development.  This trail alignment is currently under design. We expect completion by end of 2009 2010.

THREE KIDS MINE PHOTO GALLERY:

 
 

 

 

RMLT construction status

Building trail in actionI was looking at some old reports on our web site and I was quoted as saying we would be done hopefully in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and now I’m saying spring 2009, let’s make that 2010.   Things happen and when you are dealing with three Federal Land Management agencies, NDOT, private land owners, utilities etc. need I say more. Out of 22 planning segments we only have four to complete. These four are funded 100% and in various stages of design/construction. The next segment to be built should be  Boulder City’s segment #5, which will connect Henderson to Boulder City and vica versa is currently at  40% completion with one-mile paved. We expect this bid award in June 2008. The next segment after that will be segment #14 connecting Henderson to Lake Mead NRA along Lake Mead Parkway/Lakeshore Drive,  however; Boulder City’s segments 3 & 4 are at 75% 95% design and may just  will go to bid before Henderson Segment #14.  For those who don’t know the last agency who completes the last segment buys ( Streaks, beer, gifts, Mtn. bikes for all). We hope to throw a big party to celebrate the completion sometime in 2009 Spring 2010. 

It is now March 17th, 2009 and I just modifed this post again.  Segment #5 is underconstruction, but  NDOT issues have slowed construction down. The area through Railroad Pass is very rocky and the Right-of-way is very tight between the highway, the railroad, and underground utilities.  Were are still shooting for completion and hoping for a celebration ride/hike in late May or early June 2009 …this year.    Segments 3& 4 should go to bid any day now., with possible completion by late Fall/early winter 2009…I hope.:)  Segment #14 the last one is in design at 30%. We have property and right-of-way issues past Three Kids Mine and BMI water line corridor. This segment is scheduled for a late fall design completion, follow by bidding and “hopefully” construction start before years end.