Today the site of Estey City is not available
to the tourist for it lies within the boundaries of the restricted
White Sands Missile Range. During the turn of the century, however,
there was promise that Estey City was to become an important
copper mining town. David M. Estey of Michigan was the controlling
force behind the Estey Mining and Milling Company that owned
about three hundred claims in the district. Operations began
and by 1901 the town had about 250 citizens and a rosy future.
But the future was short lived. The European panic of 1901-1902
forced copper prices downward and by May of 1902 Estey City was
all but gone. A short time later, copper was once again in demand
and the town had a re-birth until 1910 when it finally became
a ghost town for good
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