Both the Horseshoe and Willie W. Lodes were operated by the same owner. Although they contained valuable gold, it was very difficult to access. In 1938, ground water flooded the Horseshoe mine shaft. The cost to purchase the equipment and to drain the shaft was more than the gold in the mountain was worth. Although the Willie W. Lode was still accessible, the owner could only afford to keep up operations when both mines were producing, so both mines were abandoned.
