Quick and Easy Ghost Town Loop in B & W

From Big Pine, we headed out 168 to connect with Highway 266.

Right on the highway are the few remains of Palmetto that had been a prosperous silver town, but it is interesting to climb around.



And broken dreams



Then off of 266 before one reaches Highway 95 there is a dirt road that goes to Gold Point that used to be a ghost town. Part is still a ghost town, but the mine has reopened, and private ownership has made Gold Point not what we think of as a Ghost Town. It also didn't have a very friendly feel.

An example of some of the rebuilding that has taken place.



But there was one nice Yin-Yang sign



We proceeded to Goldfield before we went to visit Silver Peak. We thought that after Silver Peak, we would stay in Tonopah, but there was not a room to be had. There is a big solar project going on north of town and the rooms are filled with workers and this will continue for probably another year. So if you plan on being near there, be sure you arrange for a room ahead.

So, at one hotel the lady called the only small motel in Goldfield and we got the last room at the Santa Fe Saloon and Motel.



Decent rooms --- big, clean, basic, and they say there is WiFi, but it didn't work. The lady running the Saloon and motel warned us that the room doors automatically lock when one goes outs, and then warned us that she closes at 8:30 and she would not be back until 2:30 the next day, so hang on to the key!

Goldfield is not a complete Ghost Town as there are a few hundred full time residents. It is a friendly place and some people do live in the old time houses.



And like all these places, there is a lot of old equipment around --- I just liked this piece.



And the local diner was taken over a year ago by a really nice lady. Her daughter Carrie, is the waitress and source of all kinds of information. The food was quite decent and the service and conversation great!





The last owner, I guess only had 1/2 a diner and a large farm up in the loft area growing a very profitable crop before the authorities discovered it. BTW, there are gas pumps there, but no gas in town.

Carrie said the town was going to be a boom town soon. According to her, in 2014 they are going to re-route highway 95 a couple of miles north of town as there is a HUGE amount of gold in that area and they are going to do an open pit mine. I checked some of this out and read that yes, they have known about gold under that highway since at least 2001, but back then gold was under $300.00 an once.

In looking forward, the old grand hotel in town is being restored; but I guess the upper floor will be reserved for people involved in the paranormal. And like all changes, there are people in town who are NOT happy about the idea of an open pit mine right there! It will be interesting to follow. Oh, in the past I have posted pictures of the GREAT junk art cars that used to be along the highway, but the owner died and his daughter has them rather crammed on her property in town. They just don't show off as well.

We drove west into the mountains to visit Silver Peak as we have a friend who works there. Like most workers, he is there for 12 days and then 12 days back home. Since that mine has re-opened, the town is quite a mess. There are lots of old campers, trailers, around that house the workers. But we are not sure if this boat is being used as housing as it sure is out of place in town!



Since some of workers live in some of the old houses, this little charmer is on the market.



While this old post office is not being used as they have a temporary building next door, they still have the sign.



Everywhere you can see all the electric lines etc. --- not picturesque in any way, but there are some roads out of there that we want to explore another time.

At Silver Peak they are mining lithium which is important, but it sure lays waste to the surrounding area. They pump it up and then it settles out in large ugly ponds.







Our last ghost town was Candelaria, seven miles off of Hightway 95. In its day, I guess there were 11 saloons, a school, and no church. The closest water was about 9 miles away and brought to town by mules.

Behind the old bank, one can see the mined mountain.



Just another old building.



There was one person there, a bottle hunter and he said there used to be more there to see but a lot was ruined when they re-opened the mine in the 1980s. BTW-- in our area, they have really cracked down on bottle hunters big time which is not a very popular policy around these parts.

And to end this, at Candelaria, someone had lined up these bottle necks that I just found colorful.



Thanks for looking. Nevada is such an interesting place.

THANKS ---

Tonopah

Thanks again ...

Thanks to both of you.

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaT

Thanks TW.

Igor, I agree and I am happy you saw it. I took this picture because to me it looked a little robotic, a bit capable of being alive, and like something that maybe traveled there with ET.

Thanks

[Edited on 11-7-2013 by DianaT]

It seems there are constants in the world.

Thanks

Thanks Bubba!