BIG CREEK – Big things are happening at the Sunshine Mine.

For the first time in more than two decades, the Sunshine Mine is moving steadily toward sustained production, marking a significant milestone in one of the Silver Valley's most historic mining operations.

After years of rehabilitation work, technical studies and exploration, Sunshine Silver Mining & Refining Co. is now advancing major infrastructure projects and feasibility studies aimed at returning the mine to production by late 2028.

"Since 2011, we continued to slowly rehabilitate the surface and underground facilities while also conducting two underground diamond drilling campaigns and performing internal technical studies along the way," said Nick Furlin, operations and technical services manager at Sunshine Mine. "Once enough information was obtained, the investor group made the decision to push forward with beginning the final feasibility studies and making return-to-production plans."

The company currently employs about 150 people, including 110 workers trained for underground operations.

According to Furlin, several major projects are underway simultaneously. The historic mill is being deconstructed to make way for a modern replacement, while a new portal is being developed on the south end of the mine yard to improve access and ventilation to upper underground workings.

In May, the mine completed one of its most visible upgrades, replacing the historic 1916 Nordberg double-drum hoist at the Jewell Shaft with a new Seimag-Techberg double-drum hoist equipped with a secondary egress hoist, which Furlin explained, came with a multi-million-dollar price tag.

Additional work includes extensive underground rehabilitation and development, as well as a full refurbishment of the Silver Summit hoist currently underway.

The company is also undertaking three major feasibility studies covering the mine and mill, an antimony plant and a silver refinery. Those studies are expected to be completed in 2027 and will help guide the operation's long-term future.

The renewed investment comes after years of care-and-maintenance work and growing confidence in both the resource and market conditions. As market conditions for metals improved, the company decided to pursue an initial public offering and raise additional capital to strengthen its plans to return the mine to production, Furlin explained.

It's been a quarter-century since the Sunshine sustained full production. In December 2008/January 2009, a restart was briefly attempted, but those efforts fell short.

Current plans project a mine life of approximately 24 years, though company officials hope ongoing exploration and definition drilling will continue expanding that timeline.

"We hope to continue to add to that life span," Furlin said.

While much of the focus at Sunshine Mine is on the future, company leaders recently took a day to celebrate the people helping drive the operation forward - as well as the people who support them from home.

In August, the mine hosted its annual Family Day event, welcoming more than 220 employees, family members and guests to the site.

The event marked the sixth year Sunshine has hosted Family Day. What began years ago with gatherings of roughly 20 to 30 people has grown substantially over the past two years.

"Family day went great," Furlin said. "Everyone had an enjoyable, albeit hot, day going through the new hoist room, looking at equipment and the mill demolition. We had a treasure hunt that the kids loved."

Guests were given opportunities to tour areas of the operation, including the new hoist room and active project sites. The day also included a meal catered by local pitmaster Garren Taylor and Guaranteed BBQ.

For mine leadership, the event serves a purpose beyond simply bringing people together.

"Mining isn't the easiest job to have to take your kid or family to work day," Furlin said. "So it's really special to have the families and kids on site and watch all the employees showing off the pride they have in their jobs, the equipment they use and giving the families a hands-on tour of what they do at work."

Furlin said Family Day also recognizes the support systems behind the workforce and helps strengthen the site's culture.

"In addition to providing the opportunity for our employees to show their families what they do, we feel that being able to take a minute and enjoy each other's company, celebrate our achievements and say thanks to the families for being the behind-the-scenes support to everything we do, on and off the job, is paramount to keeping the site culture inviting and safe," he said.

Family Day isn't the Sunshine's only outreach event. The mine also hosted a Big Creek Day, where they invited residents of the gulch to come up to the site, look around, grab a bite to eat, and ask questions, address concerns and understand the plans for the mine's future.

As Sunshine Mine works toward its late-2028 production target, the company hopes its investment in both infrastructure and people will help lay the foundation for the next chapter of the storied operation's history.