Lake Mead’s declining water levels have revealed the long-submerged remains of St. Thomas, Nevada, a desert town that vanished beneath the reservoir nearly a century ago. Once hidden under approximately 60 feet of water, the ghost town’s streets and building foundations have resurfaced, allowing visitors to explore what was left behind.
The rise and fall of a desert settlement
Established in 1865 by Mormon settlers, St. Thomas was built near the Muddy River on land believed to be fertile and promising. Early inhabitants developed irrigation systems to transform the arid landscape into productive farmland. Although some of the original settlers departed after a few years due to a jurisdictional dispute over whether the land belonged to Nevada or Utah, the town continued to attract new residents.
At its height, the community was home to around 500 people. Despite lacking electricity and indoor plumbing, St. Thomas operated as a fully functional town, featuring a school, post office, stores, a church, and various local businesses.
The town’s fate was sealed in 1928 when the United States Congress authorized the construction of the Hoover Dam. This monumental project aimed to control the flow of the Colorado River and provide water storage for the expanding American Southwest. The resulting reservoir, Lake Mead, was destined to flood the valley where St. Thomas had stood for decades.
As the reservoir filled, the town slowly disappeared beneath the water, effectively erasing a unique chapter in Nevada’s history. Now, with water levels receding, the submerged ghost town has reemerged, offering a glimpse into the past and a tangible connection to the region’s transformation over the last century.