Oreana by 1866 had two mills located here, and they were used to crush ore from the Montezuma mine at Arabia. A smelter was also contructed to process the crushed ore. By 1867 the townsite had a post office, hotel, general store, boarding houses, restaurant, blacksmith shop, livery stable, and several saloons.

By 1868 more bullion was being shipped from Oreana than any other place in Nevada. Mounting debt and a tax default forced a total shutdown in 1869. New owners aquired the facilities in 1870-1871, but also had debt problems. The mills operated intermittently during the 1870s until the smelter was destroyed by fire.