Three interesting ghost towns in Nevada

Away from the "gambling Mecca's" Nevada has a lot to offer visitors who come to find the "Old West", and going into the interior of the state they will be rewarded with the opportunity to visit many deserted mining camps, as well as towns that have been abandoned, and are now referred to as "ghost towns". Sometimes this reference can be taken very literal, as many of these towns are said to have "ghosts from the past". These three I found intriguing.

1. Goldfield was once Nevada's largest city. With the discovery of gold in 1902, thousands of adventure-seekers poured into the city, looking to get rich quick. In a very short time the city became known for it's opulence, the kind of luxury seldom found in a mining camp, and was dubbed "queen of camps. The population grew to over 20,000 residents, and the mines produced large quantities of gold. In 1907 the town had three stock exchanges, three newspapers, and five railroads, but in time this changed, by 1920 the gold was almost gone, and the adventurers began leaving, soon there were only about 1500 residents, then in 1923 a fire devasted the town, wiping out homes and businesses.

Goldfield now has less than 500 residents, but those who come to visit can get a glimpse into the city's prosperous past - still standing is the famous Tex Rickard House; the opulent Courthouse; the Santa Fe Saloon, which dates back to 1905, and was once the centerpiece of the city; and the Hotel whose Lobby was panelled in mahogany with black leather upholstery, a gold-leaf ceiling, crystal chandeliers, and the first and only Otis elevator. It was said to be the most luxurious hotel between Chicago and San Francisco, and attracted the "cream of society". In WWII it housed the Army Air Personnel from the nearby Air Base, but in 1945 the hotel closed it's doors, while leaving behind the "ghosts".

1. Perhaps the most famous is "Elizabeth", she was a prostitute that the owner of the hotel visited often, when she became pregnant fearing the scandal would ruin his business, he lured her into room #109, where he chained her to a radiator and provided her with food and water, to await the birth of the child. She is said to have died while giving birth and the infant was thrown into a mining shaft. Now she paces the hallways of the hotel, dressed in a white gown, looking for her child. Many people claim to have seen her sitting in room 109, and some say

2. In the main dining room of the hotel the ghost "stabber" randomly attacks anyone who crosses the threshold, with a large kitchen knife. He has not actually hurt anyone, just frieghtened them.

3. The owner George Wingfield is said to haunt the hotel, the ashes and smoke from his cigars give away his presence - the strange part is - he never visited the hotel when he was alive and he died in Reno.

The way to Goodsprings lies at the Junction of US Highway 15 and State Highway 53, from which a road leads to Goodsprings, a town named after Joseph Good, who raised cattle there, before it became a mining town during the "gold rush era". After the mining ended, the town remained and is still active, so it is not truly a 'gost town".

The Pioneer Saloon was built in 1915, of stamped out metal, designed to resemble blocks, had a cherrywood bar - which was originally built in Brunswick Maine in 1860, and shipped all the way around Cape Horn to be placed in the Saloon. However due to loss and fire only one section of the bar arrived and is what now stands in the saloon.

This was a favorite place for the stars from Hollywood, among them Clark Gable and Carole Lombard. She died in a plane crash, on the nearby mountsain, on her way to meet Gable and it is said he sat in the bar for three days, after the tradegy occured.

Now-a-days bikers and tourists can be found around the bar - which is open 24 hours each day - where other wordly guests, not visible to the naked eye, also hang around. If and when you visit you will find the Saloon has not changed much since those olden days - the old pot-belly stove still heats the saloon, and sights of bullet holes in the walls, from heated poker games, plus the usual "ghost stories".

1. The spirit of Pail Coski, once a huge man who loved booze more than life, claimed he could beat up any two men simultaneously, is said to have been shot when he was found cheating at cards. Now they say his presence can be seen hanging around the darker parts of the saloon, dressed in antiquated clothing of the wild west, and bleeding from his side.

2. Then there is the full-body apparition of a kindly gentleman who sits at the end of the bar, making sure things do not get out of control.

Gold Point was founded in 1868 and was a thriving mining town, where gold and silver were exgtracted from the mines. Two thousand people once lived here, but now of the many stores, hotels and saloons, only 40 remain.

In the town are restored storefronts and cabins, which are a realistic backdrop for the "holdups, brawls and shoot-outs" performed in the town for visitors. The "old post office" serves as a museum, where the history of the area is on display.

Visitors can tour the hundreds, of nearby deserted mines and camps, go to a waterfall where wild horses and burros stop to drink, see Indian Petroglyphs and petrified woods, or just soak in the hot springs that abound. Sadly I did not find any ghost stories, perhaps all the tourists have driven them away. However combining it with as visit to Goldfields, only 30 miles away, will give you the ghostly apparitions.

Ghost Towns can be fun and educational, giving a look back, at what went before, hear the legends and visit what still stands. These three ghost towns are only a few of the many to be found - not far from the gaming meccas of Las Vegas and Reno, and soon to be the subject of another hub.