Salt pools were discovered here in 1862.  Long camel trains were used to transport the salt to the Comstock Lode in Virginia City.  It was considered cheaper than shipping in salt from San Francisco.  After only one year, salt discoveries at Sand Springs in Churchill County, caused the loss of Rhodes largest customer Virginia City.

Rhodes continued to supply salt to Aurora, Belmont, and Belleville.  Borax was also mined here in 1881, and shipped to Alameda CA.  In 1881 a railroad station on the Carson & Colorado Railroad was constructed here, and a post office was established in 1893.  By 1911 Rhodes was abandoned.