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One of those early buckaroos was Harry L. Wilson, who was born and raised in the Surprise Valley community of Fort Bidwell, and later worked cattle for an enormous, multi-state ranching operation before partnering with a couple of friends in 1925. \u201cThey bought homesteads that eventually became consolidated as the Virgin Valley Ranch,\u201d says Julie Wilson, granddaughter and third generation to operate the Royal Peacock Mine.<\/p>\n
The appeal of these pretty gems wasn\u2019t the reason Harry L. Wilson purchased the nearby opal mine, which they later named the Royal Peacock, in 1944. It was all because of his wife, Mabel. He was all about the cattle and the horses, but she liked the \u201csparkle and bling.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond the beauty of the opals, this entire region is a world of its own. \u201cThe Virgin Valley is remote, but it was genuinely nestled in the boondocks in the 1950s. My grandfather lived on the ranch before Highway 140 connected Virgin Valley with Lakeview, about 100 miles to the west,\u201d says Julie. \u201cIt was a time when Modoc County\u2019s Surprise Valley towns of Cedarville, Fort Bidwell and Lake City were the nearest watering holes. There was no electricity until 1968 or telephone service until 1970. For years, my grandparents operated a cattle ranch and raised horses. It became surrounded by the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, which was created in 1931.\u201d<\/p>\n
Changing Times<\/h2>\n
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When the refuge eventually expanded, cattle were no longer permitted on the land. This required the Wilsons to sell 1,600 acres of the ranch, which was the largest inholding in the area, to the Nature Conservancy. But they still had the mine and the remainder of the ranch.<\/p>\n
Born in 1932, Julie\u2019s father, Harry W. Wilson, naturally fit into the rhythm of this stunning landscape. He met his future wife, Joy Wimer, during their high school years in Cedarville. Julie comments that after they were married in 1953, her mother\u2019s initial impression was, \u201cI thought he brought me to the end of the world.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
In the first few decades, there was some early small-scale commercial leasing and public fee digging. It wasn\u2019t until 1973 that Julie\u2019s parents shifted the focus of the mine, introducing more people to these beautiful gems. The couple is even responsible for petitioning the Nevada State Legislature to recognize the black opals from the Virgin Valley as the Nevada State Precious Gemstone. There is now an exhibit at the capitol building in Carson City.<\/p>\n
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\u201cOver the years, millions of dollars of opals have been extracted from the family mine in Virgin Valley, which has more than 200 private claims,\u201d Julie notes. To this day, the mine remains family-run with a keen focus on welcoming other families to this beautiful locale with the opportunity to find their own opals.<\/p>\n
Growing Up at Royal Peacock<\/h2>\n
\u201cAll you find is yours to keep,\u201d says Jake Anderson, Julie\u2019s son who started working at the Royal Peacock in 2010 and has been a key figure in the mine\u2019s operation since Julie\u2019s father passed suddenly in 2016. Jake also runs their 500-acre alfalfa farm located a couple of hours from the mine.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a young boy growing up (Jake) would go stay with his grandparents, Harry and Joy, playing in the dirt at the mine with his brothers,\u201d says Julie.<\/p>\n
Spending so much of his childhood at the mine, Jake was privileged to be mentored by his grandfather who taught him how to read the layers of the hill, along with the \u201cins and outs\u201d of operating a mine. \u201cThis allowed Jake to gain the knowledge of the past and the best ways to help people be successful in digging,\u201d Julie notes One of Jake\u2019s earliest significant discoveries was finding his first black opal when he was 14 years old. \u201cI used to think fossilized wood was worth a million bucks,\u201d he says, but one day when he and his brother were messing around, he broke a limb cast that was loaded with fire. Being immersed in the mine throughout his life, and understanding the satisfaction of finding these gemstones, allows Jake to help others experience the same thrill of discovering something truly special.<\/p>\n
Through the tutelage of his grandfather, Jakes says he learned, \u201cYou\u2019ll find (a treasure) when you least expect it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Continuing a Legacy<\/h2>\n
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These words of wisdom turned out to be especially true for Jake when it came to meeting his wife, Cassie. In August 2020, Jake took a trip to the Spectrum Sunstone Mine in Plush, Oregon, and happened to meet a family from Washington. He immediately hit it off with Cassie as the couple worked together looking for sunstones, but ultimately, Jake and Cassie found a treasure in each other. Before Cassie\u2019s family left for their next mining adventure, Jake gifted her with an opal from his family\u2019s mine.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Royal Peacock was my family\u2019s second stop,\u201d says Cassie. She and her family traveled to the mine, leaving Jake to continue his effort looking for sunstones, but were pleasantly surprised when they woke up the next morning with Jake parked outside of their lodging. The running joke in the family is that Jake claims, even to this day, that his phone broke, but others think it was a plausible excuse.<\/p>\n
Regardless of the phone functionality, Jake discovered his ideal mate. Cassie has gemstones in her blood.<\/p>\n
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\u201cMy parents got me started when I was seven,\u201d she says when they visited Crystal Park in Montana looking for amethysts and crystals. \u201cIt\u2019s incredible what the earth can create. I\u2019m so blessed to have been able to become part of this family.\u201d She\u2019s equally smitten with the terrain in this remote country. \u201cIt\u2019s an oasis out there, that\u2019s for sure. It\u2019s absolutely beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Continuing a Legacy<\/h2>\n
From this serendipitous meeting, the two married and continued the family legacy with the birth of their son, Sterling HB Anderson, the fifth generation of the Royal Peacock Opal Mine. \u201cIt just means the world to me.<\/p>\n
I am still in shock,\u201d says Jake.<\/p>\n
Julie admits she was wondering whether Jake would ever meet anyone and continue the legacy of the family mining business.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen he met Cassie, it changed our lives forever,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
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With a focus on the future, the entire family strives to make the mine viable for generations to come. Julie always has an eye on annual improvements to the mine and the campgrounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery time she says, \u2018Here\u2019s what I was thinking\u201d (almost daily) to the crew, we all know we are in for a new project,\u201d jokes Cassie. As Julie looks to the future, her intent is to hand over the torch to Jake and Cassie, allowing her to make time for things she has always wanted to do, but never had the time.<\/p>\n
A Place for Nature<\/h2>\n
Besides a premiere opal mine, their family\u2019s legacy is a place of beauty and serenity. Jake says if folks like wide open spaces and the ability to see for miles upon miles, this is the place to be. There are also exceptional bird watching opportunities, trails for ATV adventures and hiking routes throughout the area which are favorites for those searching for a time to unwind. However, it is important to note that there are many active mining claims, which make it important to not trespass.<\/p>\n
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Julie also notes that they are blessed with rare dark skies for those who wish to experience the stars as few can anymore. With less than 80 percent of Americans able to see the Milky Way at their homes, looking up at the stars without light pollution is something few people forget. This is just another special aspect of this place they call home.<\/p>\n
With their roots sunk deeply in the opal-rich earth, Julie, Jake and Cassie, along with their hardworking crew, look forward to the future. They are proof that treasures come in many forms, and for this family, what is most precious is being together in the place they were meant to be.<\/p>\n