Overview

In the 1900s, the Excelsior Company was formed to produce sandstone blocks for use in building construction. The company opened a quarry in the Calico Hills in 1905 that employed up to 15 men. Workers cut and stockpiled 10-ton blocks, and then used a massive tractor, resembling a train locomotive, to haul two blocks at a time to Las Vegas.

The Big Devil Wagon, as they called the tractor, consumed about 400 gallons of crude oil per day, and it became too expensive to operate the quarry in what was poor quality sandstone. The quarry was abandoned in 1912. For a historic photo of the operation, see a photo in the UNLV collection.

Sandstone Quarry is located about 2.7 miles out the Scenic Loop Road. Drive out to the Sandstone Quarry Trailhead, then walk about 500 feet north to the quarry. The information signs and huge stone blocks can't be missed.