{Click on an image to enlarge, then use the back button to return to this page}
This page last updated on 06/05/2018
This page last updated on 06/05/2018
 |
| (Fig. 01) |
History: It is very difficult to pin down when the area known as Nelsons Landing was first coined. Back in 1775 when the Spaniards discovered gold in this area, it was known as Eldorado. Back before the Colorado river was dammed up, the mouth of the canyon on the river became a steamboat landing used as a spot for steamboats who plied their way up and down the river delivering supplies for the mining camps in the area. This appears that it was created around 1861, the time of the gold rush to the area that created several mining camps and was originally coined Colorado City. After the building of the dam, Colorado City is now a ghost town located under Lake Mohave at the mouth of Eldorado Canyon. The largest mining community at the head of the canyon became called Nelson after Charles Nelson, a camp leader was slain in his home, along with four other people, in 1897 by the the renegade Indian, Avote. After the railroad came to searchlight, the town of Nelson was born near the head of the canyon nearest the road to the railroad, the post office of Eldorado was closed on August 31, 1907 and moved to Nelson. Over time the whole area from the town of Nelson all the way to the river became referred to as Nelson. The specific area known today as Nelsons Landing is about five miles east of Nelson at the downstream end of Eldorado Canyon and was established as a village and landing established on the Colorado River reservoir.
Description: The approach to the former site of the small recreational settlement of Nelsons Landing Marina and Resort is on a paved road the descends down, paralleling the Techatticup Wash. The picture in (Fig. 01) was taken in 2011 on a visit to Nelsons Landing area. Once you leave the paved road, you follow a well graded paved road down into the wash to a parking area that prevents you from driving to the mouth of the canyon at the river's edge. To reach the water you have to hike several hundred yards down the wash (Fig. 03). As you can see from these pictures, the cemented alluvial fan gravels in the canyon walls form a narrow slot through which the entire runoff from the canyon must run. The Eldorado drainage basin is comprised of three washes: Techatticup Wash on the north, Eldorado Canyon, and Eagle Wash on the south (Fig. 03). These three canyons merge into one major channel about one mile west of Nelsons Landing. The view in (Fig. 04) shows the town and marina prior to the flood. Place cove is shown west of the town on the picture. (con't below)
 |
| (Fig. 02) |
 |
| (Fig. 03) |
 |
(Fig. 04)
|
of rain over Eldorado Valley and moved southeast to Nelson. In one hour it provided half the annual precipitation for the area. Waters from the 22-square mile area (Fig. 3), the Eagle and Techatticup washes joined those of Eldorado Canyon in a narrow channel only a few thousand feet west of Nelsons Landing. Survivors reported that heavy hail fell for 15 minutes. The recorded 3.12 inches of rain created a floodwater that reached 20 to 30 feet at the narrowest point in the channel. It carried mostly gravel sized debris and a few boulders up to 4 feet in diameter. The result was that the flood demolished the small settlement and carried most of the town into Lake Mohave.
The muddy torrent crushed the restaurant, grocery store, and bar in about five seconds. Forty one people escaped in time, but nine others drowned. The 22-foot high wave of water and debris carried 38 vehicles, 23 boats, boat slips, trailers, cabins, the restaurant, and a store into the lake. 31 homes were damaged or carried into the lake. Pictures (Figs. 05 & 06) show some of the damaged homes that weren't carried into the lake.
 |
| (Fig. 05) |
 |
| (Fig. 06) |
A geologist reading the rocks along the sides of the canyon, where there is cemented debris from many past floods, would have known that this would be a prime location for such an event. Ironically, a year prior to this flood, the National Park Service had warned the inhabitants of Nelsons Landing of the danger of living in this narrow canyon.
Return to ... Nelsons Landing & Place Cove - Summary Page.