Nevada State Prison was a penitentiary located in Carson City. The prison was in continuous operation since its establishment in 1862 and was managed by the Nevada Department of Corrections. It was one of the oldest prisons still operating in the United States. The prison closed its doors on May 18, 2012.

On Sept. 17, 1871, there was a breakout, when 29 tough, hardened criminals overpowered their guards and escaped into the rugged country along the eastern front of the Sierra Nevada. The leaders of the plot planned it perfectly.

It was a warm, quiet Sunday and the only guard inside the prison cell area was Volney Rollins. After the inmates finished their dinner, Rollins arrived to escort the convicts to their evening lock up when the prisoners attacked him with improvised weapons. Rollins was locked in a cell and the inmates escaped by cutting a large hole in the plaster ceiling. They broke into a storeroom to steal guns and ammunition and then overwhelmed the other personnel on duty at the time, including the warden and other guards who had joined in the fray.

At the time, the prison warden was Lt. Governor Frank Denver, (the Colorado city is named after his brother). Warden Denver lived in a small apartment within the prison walls with his wife and daughter.

When the escaping prisoners rushed down the stairs toward Denver’s apartment, the warden bravely confronted the men with his puny derringer. The Lt. Governor got off one shot before the desperate convicts rushed him.

Denver was struck in the head and face. When he fell to the floor, a convict grabbed the warden’s pistol and shot him with it at point-blank range. Denver did survive.

Among the participants in this bold escape were all members of the gang that had committed the first train robbery on the Central Pacific line in November 1870. Known as the Great Verdi Train Robbery for the location of the holdup in the Truckee River Canyon, the bandits had nabbed more than $41,000 in the heist (worth 2.3 million in in today's dollars).

In their raid on the prison armory, the convicts seized three rifles, four double-barreled shot guns, several handguns and nearly 3,000 rounds of ammunition. By now, the alarm of a massive prison break drew more guards to the scene. A guard shot several of the prisoners before he went down with three bullet wounds and with in a month, would die from his wounds.

Another guard fell wounded from the withering gunfire. Two more guards took up the fight until they ran out of ammunition; one was shot and one of them continued to fight the prisoners bare handed as they ran from the prison yard. The first fatality occurred when Matt Pixley, the owner of the Warm Springs Hotel located next to the penitentiary, was shot and killed as he rushed the prisoners firing a revolver.

Nevada's first Territorial Legislature met in the Warm Springs Hotel in 1861. Nevada became a state in 1864.

After the intense gunfight, where nearly a dozen convicts and several prison staff were shot and wounded, the prisoners fled into the desert taking their injured. To avoid capture, the escapees split up into groups and took off in different directions.

Led by Charlie Jones, a convicted murderer who was familiar with the rugged topography there, they figured it was the perfect location to hide out from the lawmen. As they headed south, the prisoners stole four horses and provisions along the way. Near the Walker River, the convicts ambushed an 18-year-old Pony Express rider named Billy Poor. The young man was on his first mail ride when he ran into the escaped criminals who wanted to steal his horse. Instead of letting the teenager go, however, Jones shot and killed him.

That cold-blooded murder of a local boy incensed the citizens of and a posse was sent in hot pursuit. When the posse caught up with the escaped prisoners at Convict Lake, a firefight ensued.Two deputies were shot and killed. A new posse was formed and eventually all but one of the convicts - Charlie Jones - were captured.

Despite rumors that he had been shot by other inmates for killing Billy Poor, a senseless crime that galvanized the local community against them, Charlie Jones was never caught or seen again.

First called Mt. Diablo Lake, Convict Lake earned its current name, in 1871, after a violent prison escape by 29 convicts being held at the Nevada State Penitentiary at Carson City.

Convict Lake is a picturesque spot located about 160 miles south of Carson City.

Convict Lake is a hub for outdoor activities. Fishing is one of the main attractions, with the lake being stocked regularly with trout. Anglers can fish from the shore or take to the water in boats, enjoying the serene environment while hoping for a good catch. Hiking is another popular activity, with trails such as the Convict Lake Loop Trail providing easy access to breathtaking views. This 3-mile trail circles the lake, offering glimpses of the rugged terrain and the crystal-clear waters from different angles.

For more adventurous hikers, the surrounding mountains offer challenging trails leading to higher elevations and more spectacular vistas. In the winter months, the area becomes a destination for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The nearby Mammoth Lakes area also provides additional recreational options, including skiing, snowboarding, and mountain biking.