Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Hidden in the Mojave Desert near Clark Mountain, not far from the Nevada stateline, lies the forgotten townsite of Rosalie, California, also known as Valley Wells. In the late 1800s, this remote outpost was built around a copper smelter tied to the nearby Copper World Mine, where workers hauled ore across the desert and tried to turn it into profit.
Today, almost nothing remains. No buildings, no streets, just scattered ruins, piles of black slag, and holes in the ground that the people who lived there once called home. That is the only evidence left of an operation that briefly brought life to this empty landscape.
In this video, we explore what’s left of Rosalie, uncover how it got its name, and take a closer look at why this Mojave Desert town didn’t last.
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Hidden in the Mojave Desert near Clark Mountain, not far from the Nevada stateline, lies the forgotten townsite of Rosalie, California, also known as Valley Wells. In the late 1800s, this remote outpost was built around a copper smelter tied to the nearby Copper World Mine, where workers hauled ore across the desert and tried to turn it into profit.
Today, almost nothing remains. No buildings, no streets, just scattered ruins, piles of black slag, and holes in the ground that the people who lived there once called home. That is the only evidence left of an operation that briefly brought life to this empty landscape.
In this video, we explore what’s left of Rosalie, uncover how it got its name, and take a closer look at why this Mojave Desert town didn’t last.
○ Gear we use: amazon.com/shop/sidetrackadventures
►Join us on Patreon: patreon.com/SidetrackAdventures
►Please subscribe for weekly updates showcasing some of our adventures: youtube.com/channel/UCdueDRFYPVgzPAAOM_bxVWA?sub_confirmation=1
►Also please follow Sidetrack Adventures on Instagram: instagram.com/sidetrackadventures
►Music in this video is from Epidemic Sounds; use our link for a free trial: share.epidemicsound.com/v927fj
