Towns and Nature: Ghost Bonanza, ID: Preserved Yankee Fork Bucyrus-Erie Gold Mine Dredge

A 2024 street view driver went North on Yankee Fork Road, but not far enough to go past the dredge.

James Clint Housley, Sepo 2016

YankeeForkDredge (This is a photo page, and it took a while to load.)

We can see part of the bucket chain above. The view below is of the back and of the conveyor that deposits the tailings.

The 988-ton dredge floated on a pond. "The dredge bucket line had seventy-two, eight cubic foot buckets and could dig to a depth of 35 feet. Eleven feet of water was required to float the dredge.....As the dredge worked, it continuously dug into its own pond in front and filled it in with tailings at the back." [WesternMiningHistory]

Western Mining History posted
Located adjacent to the Idaho ghost town of Bonanza, on a tributary of the Salmon River, is the idle Yankee Fork gold dredge. The dredge is described as the largest in Idaho, and one of the best-preserved dredges in the West. More photos of the Yankee Fork dredge: https://westernmininghistory.com/1784/yankee-fork-gold-dredge/

Jason McGary: If you go in the summer time they will give you tours through the inside

Suzi Harvey Cartwright commented on the above post
Very cool to visit

Zach Pace commented on the above post

Peter Farina commented on the above post

RJ Jackman commented on the above post
Worth the drive.

max dude, Oct 2019

Nathanael, Jan 2020

This is the screen that separates the gravel from the silt.

Wendy Kopecki, Jul 2023

These are the sluice boxes.

Chyanne Finders, Jul 2025

Adam Knox, Jun 2023

And to feed the rock chute, rotating screen and sluice boxes, we have the bucket chain.

Matthew Moretti, Jun 2025

Shane Johnson, Jul 2021

The bucket chain is driven by a big bull gear, a 50-to-1 drive train and 200 horsepower AC motor.

Todd Buell, Aug 2022

Brian Miller, Jun 2021

The electric motor is driven by two Ingersoll-Rand 7-cylinder 350hp diesel engines, each of which was connected to a 440v 3-phase alternator.

David Anderson, Aug 2023

Looking the other way.

Greg Bailey, Sep 2023

Several cables were needed to move the booms and the dredge.

Nathanael, Jan 2020

This explains how cables moved the dredge. However, I don't think the diagram is correct. I think the stern line should slant to the left to another anchor rather than tying to the bow line.