The tiny community of Gabbs, which is about 100 miles east of Carson City, began as an early mining camp known as Brucite, named for a locally occurring element, before being founded around December of 1941 as a company town for a magnesium production plant. The town was called Gabbs in honor of a paleontologist who had studied fossils in the area. World War II increased the demand for magnesium, and the tiny community swelled with workers. Within just a year of its formal establishment, Gabbs had a police force, jail and school district. By 1943, the cluster of settlements, which included North Gabbs, South Gabbs and Tent City, also enjoyed a library, city hall, parks, tennis courts and a steady stream of local newspapers. However, the plant soon closed its doors and the population of Gabbs dwindled accordingly. A succession of nearby plants followed in the years to come, and the majority of the work force in Gabbs is in the industry even today.

Today, Gabbs is a quiet community, where visitors to the region will find Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park situated about 23 miles to the east of Gabbs. The park offers a unique look into the life and times of the early 20th century mining town of Berlin. Historical structures, such as old mining cabins, still stand. A trail leads to the Fossil House, which features displays of ichthyosaur remains. These giant marine reptiles lived 225 million years ago.