Mercur Utah Ghost Town: Land for Sale and History | UTLocal

FreeBuying or selling in Utah? Olivia's clients get My Home Booklet free: warranties, home records and maintenance reminders in one easy app.

Ask Olivia See the App

Looking for land and properties near Mercur, Utah? The listings below search active MLS properties around this historic gold mining ghost town in the Oquirrh Mountains, refreshed every morning at 9:00 AM.

Where Is Mercur, Utah?

Mercur sits at the head of Lewiston Canyon on the west side of the Oquirrh Mountains in Tooele County, about six miles west of Cedar Fort. The townsite is on private mining land today, making it one of Utah's harder-to-reach ghost towns.

Mercur History

Gold was discovered here in 1870, and the first settlement, Lewiston, saw a brief gold rush that peaked around 1873. Silver brought a second boom, producing over a million dollars in bullion before the ore gave out and the town went quiet by 1880.

The area was reborn when Bavarian miner Arie Pinedo found cinnabar deposits containing gold and mercury in 1879. By 1891 Mercur was the site of the first successful use of the cyanide gold extraction process in the United States — a breakthrough that changed gold mining across the country. The town was later destroyed by fire, rebuilt, and eventually abandoned as the ore played out.

Barrick Gold reopened the nearby Mercur Gold Mine in 1985, and the site has since gone through reclamation. The surrounding Oquirrh terrain offers open land and mountain scenery for buyers looking for remote Tooele County acreage.

Buying rural land near Mercur? Access, water rights, and mining claims matter more than square footage out here. Olivia Pelton sold 120 acres in Duchesne County in 2025 and can help you check a parcel before you commit. Ask Olivia about a Mercur-area property.

More Real Estate Guides Near Mercur

See all of Utah's historic townsites at Utah ghost towns for sale.

Mercur Area MLS Listings, Updated Daily

Listings are sorted newest first. Click Save Search to get new listings near Mercur by email, and unsubscribe anytime. Found one you like? Send Olivia a quick message to set up a showing.

Recent Real Estate Activity Across the Wasatch Front

Olivia Pelton has helped buyers and sellers across the Wasatch Front since 2017, with 156 homes sold.

Olivia Pelton

11/2/2021

Near W Moreland Cir, West Jordan UT

Showed this home in West Jordan, UT to our client and they liked it enough that we wrote an offer to buy.

Map — Near W Moreland Cir, West Jordan UT

Writing an Offer in West Jordan UT

Olivia Pelton

11/2/2021

Near S 5385 W, West Jordan UT

Our client came back to this home in West Jordan, UT, liked it again, and we wrote an offer to buy.

Map — Near S 5385 W, West Jordan UT

Second Look and an Offer in West Jordan UT

Olivia Pelton

11/2/2021

Near South 170 East, Sandy UT

Showed this home in Sandy, UT to our client and they liked it, so we put together an offer to buy.

Map — Near South 170 East, Sandy UT

Offer Written for My Buyers in Sandy UT

Olivia Pelton

10/27/2021

Near W 1650 N, Lehi UT

Completed the final walkthrough today on a home in Lehi, UT that we helped our client purchase.

Map — Near W 1650 N, Lehi UT

Final Walkthrough for My Buyers in Lehi UT

Olivia Pelton

10/25/2021

Near North Sun Peak Drive, Vineyard UT

The appraiser visited my listing in Vineyard, UT today, one step closer to closing for my sellers. Appraisal is the point where the buyer’s lender confirms the value, so it…

Map — Near North Sun Peak Drive, Vineyard UT

Vineyard Listing Under Contract

Olivia Pelton

10/21/2021

Near S Morning Star Way, Sandy UT

Another showing in Sandy, UT. Every home we tour helps my clients sharpen what they want in their next place.

Map — Near S Morning Star Way, Sandy UT

Showed a Home for Sale in Sandy UT

Tagged Mercur UT Real Estate Guide