In 1935, this dam submerged entire US town under 60 feet of water; nearly 90 years later, falling lake levels are bringing the 'ghost town' back to life

Hoover Dam Construction: For decades, St Thomas, Nevada, remained hidden beneath the waters of Lake Mead after the construction of Hoover Dam transformed the Colorado River and submerged the historic settlement.

Now, as Lake Mead's water levels continue to decline, the former Mormon town has emerged once again. Its old streets, foundations and building remains are visible, allowing visitors to walk through parts of a community that was once around 60 feet (18 metres) beneath the lake's surface.

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According to a report cited by TOI, the reappearance of St Thomas offers a remarkable glimpse into the history of the town and the dramatic changes in Lake Mead's water levels.

How St Thomas Became A Town In The Nevada Desert

St Thomas was founded in 1865 by Mormon settlers who established a community near the Muddy River.

The settlers developed irrigation systems and attempted to turn the surrounding desert into farmland. Their early plans included growing cotton and creating a supply route between California and Utah using the Colorado River.

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Life in the area, however, proved difficult. Extreme heat, pests such as mosquitoes and scorpions, and conflicts with local Indigenous tribes created challenges for the settlers.

Cotton also failed to grow as successfully as expected. Many of the original settlers eventually returned to Utah in 1871, following a dispute over whether the land belonged to Nevada or Utah, according to information from the Moapa Valley Chamber of Commerce's St Thomas website, cited in the report.

St Thomas Grew Into A Busy Community

Despite the departure of many early settlers, St Thomas continued to develop as new residents moved into the area.

Agriculture expanded, while mining became an important part of the local economy. The town also became a freight stop on the railroad.

By 1918, St Thomas had businesses including a grocery store, cafe and hotel, according to the Moapa Valley Chamber of Commerce.

At its peak, the town had around 500 residents.

Although St Thomas did not have electricity or indoor plumbing, it had many features of an established community, including a school, post office, shops, a church and other businesses.

Hoover Dam Put St Thomas Under Threat

The town's future changed dramatically after the United States Congress approved the construction of Hoover Dam in 1928.

President Calvin Coolidge signed the Boulder Canyon Project Act, authorising the dam project.

The enormous structure would transform the Colorado River and create Lake Mead, a huge reservoir intended to store water for the growing American Southwest.

But the reservoir would also cover the valley where St Thomas stood.

Residents were compensated and gradually began leaving the town as the water approached.

Lake Mead Began Flooding St Thomas In 1935

Lake Mead began filling in 1935, but St Thomas was not completely abandoned immediately.

The town's last resident, Hugh Lord, remained until June 1938.

As the water reached his home, Lord reportedly paddled away from the property.

When Lake Mead eventually reached its highest level, the tallest building in St Thomas was approximately 18 metres (60 feet) below the surface, according to the US National Park Service (NPS).

The town's school classrooms and ice cream parlour disappeared beneath the reservoir, while only the tops of some cottonwood trees remained visible above the water.

‘In The End, It Was Water That Forced Residents To Flee’

The history of St Thomas has a striking irony, the same water source that attracted its first settlers ultimately forced them to abandon the town.

Christie Vanover, a public affairs officer for the National Park Service, highlighted this contrast in comments cited by the Water Environment Federation.

“Personally, I am fascinated by the history of the town.”

Vanover noted that the first residents had arrived in the desert because of its rare water source and connection to the Colorado River.

“In the end, it was water that forced residents to flee.”

St Thomas Reappeared As Lake Mead's Water Level Fell

The town remained underwater for decades.

Then, in the early 2000s, Lake Mead's water levels began falling significantly. St Thomas reemerged in 2002, revealing sections of the old settlement once again.

The exposed remains included streets, foundations and fragments of buildings. Despite years beneath the reservoir, the basic layout of the town remained recognisable.

The reappearance turned St Thomas into a striking example of how falling reservoir levels can reveal landscapes that have been hidden underwater for decades.

St Thomas Has Emerged Several Times Before

The town's disappearance and reappearance are not entirely unique to the current period.

According to Vanover, the second-longest period during which St Thomas remained exposed lasted for slightly more than nine years, from July 1963 to November 1972.

Former residents and their descendants have also used earlier periods of exposure to hold reunions at the former town.

Reunions were held in 1945, 1963 and 2012, according to the information cited in the report.

Lake Mead's Falling Water Levels Expose Historic Ruins

The reemergence of St Thomas is closely linked to the continuing decline in Lake Mead's water level.

Vanover said that Lake Mead had reached its lowest elevation since the dam began filling at around 1,074 feet (327 metres) at the time discussed in the report.

Historical records from the US Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation show that water levels around 1,080 feet (329 metres) have also occurred in years including 1956, 1964, 1965, 2010, 2011 and 2014.

These fluctuations determine how much of St Thomas remains visible.

Lake Mead Drought Has Wider Consequences

The reappearance of the ghost town is visually fascinating, but the falling water level also points to a much bigger issue.

Lake Mead's declining levels have affected the reservoir's ability to support hydroelectric power generation. The drought also poses wider concerns for water supplies across the region.

At the reported level of 1,040.5 feet, Lake Mead was at only around 27% of its capacity.

This means the disappearance of water from the reservoir is not simply revealing an old town. It is also reflecting prolonged pressure on one of the most important water reservoirs in the American Southwest.


Inputs from TOI