Historic New Hampshire Mine Faces Uncertain Future

In an article revealed in 1963, the New York Occasions reported that New Hampshire’s Ruggles Mine — already 160 years outdated — can be opening its (metaphorical) doorways to vacationers. The mine was famed for its deposits of varied minerals. A New Hampshire Public Radio report from 2019 famous that guests had been inspired to hunt out “one of many 150 minerals within the mine: quartz, garnet, mica, aquamarine” and take some house.

Now, nonetheless, the way forward for the mine is unclear. Writing for Atlas Obscura, Sarah Durn traced the circumstances which have led so far, and contemplated the place the mine would possibly go from right here. The uncertainty over its future as a vacationer attraction started in 2019, when the mine’s proprietor — then 91 — bought the house for $500,000 to an organization referred to as Exciglow.

As Durn’s article explains, the mine required some renovations, together with steps required to maintain guests secure. The mine lay dormant for some time, and was not too long ago listed as being up for public sale once more on account of chapter proceedings — an public sale which was later canceled.

It’s nonetheless unclear what the destiny of the mine can be, although — Exciglow might nonetheless reopen it. It might additionally stay dormant, or the location might have a really completely different future. For an area with an extended and storied historical past, that ambiguity might be troublesome to soak up.