In 1910, Flora Lockheed  (AKA Loughead) was assigned to cover a news story for the San Francisco Chronicle regarding the discovery of precious opal in Virgin Valley, Nevada.  According to Gem and Mineral magazine (8/69)  "She not only found the task to her liking, but filed mining claims and for years afterwards, she was regarded as the most celebrated opal miner of that region."  Undaunted by the extremes of climate, isolation, and primitive accommodations, Mrs. Lockheed thrived.

Flora Lockheeds two sons, Allan and Malcolm later founded Lockheed Aircraft.  Mrs. Lockheed pointed out that the family name had been changed from Loughead (mis-pronounced "Log - Head")  to Lockheed (the correct pronunciation), primarily for commercial reasons.

In 1913 the Laughead brothers built the "Model G, flying boat".

In 1916 the brothers moved to Santa Barbara and started Loughead Aircraft Manufacturing Company, later, Lockheed Aircraft.  Malcolm left to start his own business called Lockheed Hydraulic Brake Company, later, Bendix Brakes.  Allan Lockheed died in 1969. 

According to the article, "Opal Mining Adventures" by Bob Halahan,  Opal Express, Jan.2000   ( http://www.opalsociety.org )

"Mrs. Lockheed convinced a wealthy woman from Santa Barbara named Mrs. Hammond - then owner of the Rainbow mine - to finance her in the mining and the managing of the mine...  Even in her eighties, Mrs. Lockheed mined all over the valley and left old newspapers in the mines she worked.  That was her "calling card".  These newspapers were later found by the present owners in the tunnels that she had dug..."

Mr. Ledford, Mrs. Lockheed's brother also worked the opal mines beside his sister. 

To quote the article, previously mentioned, from Gem and Mineral magazine (8/69):

"One can only speculate why this lady would for months each summer leave her luxurious mansion and servants, provided by her wealthy sons, to live under rugged conditions in a tent, along with the torrid heat.  She would hire a few men to work in her mines, set up her camp and drive her luxurious car.  Few of her workmen stayed long under the conditions.  At the time, this slight woman, weighing no more than 100 lbs., and close to 80 years of age, wearing a heel-length dress, and a bonnet, would be seen scurrying around, carrying on the mining as best she could." 

An incredibly spunky lady, Australians called her the "Opal Queen", a name still used to describe her today . Always to be remembered as the woman who took on a man's job and helped make Virgin Valley what it is today, Flora Lockheed passed away in 1948. 

In 1954, Glenn and Bea, and Keith and Agnes Hodson purchased  the Bonanza opal mine from Mrs. Lockheed’s grandson and Mr. Mark Foster.

On a warm morning in 1973, Keith Hodson was scraping the surface of the Bonanza Mine in preparation for some fee- digging customers due that day, when the blade flipped up what Keith originally thought was an empty beer bottle carelessly discarded by a prior customer.  Climbing down from the bulldozer, he was surprised to find that the "trash" was actually an opal weighing more than six pounds!  Unfortunately, the dozer blade had broken the opal into several pieces.  Named the Bonanza Opal, it was filled with brilliant flashes of fire.

The Hodson family obtained a patent for the Bonanza Opal Mine in 1980, and sold the mine in 1988. It was purchased by Lloyd Olds and Dick Leger in June of 1988 and became a corporation in July of 1992.

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 Contact Information:

  May 20 - Sept 30
Bonanza Opal Mines, Inc.
P.O. Box 127
Denio, Nevada 89404
Millsite: 775-941-0111
Secretary: 775-941-0121

October 1 - May 19
Nadine Carey, Secretary
Home: 541-383-1700
If not at home, calls are automatically
forwarded to cell phone

Nadine1700@aol.com