Location: Esmeralda County, NV Map
Found: 1880's
Official site
Gold Point Ghost Town, an unincorporated community in Esmeralda County, southwestern Nevada, is a remarkably preserved snapshot of the Silver and Gold Rush eras, blending authentic Wild West remnants with a quirky, lived-in vibe that sets it apart from fully abandoned sites. Originally settled as a modest ranching and mining outpost in the late 19th century, it evolved into a bustling camp known as Lime Point and later Hornsilver before being rechristened Gold Point in 1927 following a gold strike that briefly revived its fortunes. At its 1930s peak, the town supported around 300 residents amid a frenzy of mining activity, complete with saloons, a newspaper, and sturdy frame buildings. Today, with a tiny population of 6–12 hardy souls—many involved in its upkeep—Gold Point stands as one of Nevada's best-preserved ghost towns, featuring about 50 weathered structures along a dusty main street, including a historic saloon, a museum housed in the old post office, and rustic cabins available for overnight stays. Situated at an elevation of approximately 5,400 feet in the remote high desert of the Walker Lane structural belt, the town offers an immersive escape for history enthusiasts, ghost hunters, and off-grid adventurers, evoking the isolation and resilience of frontier life under expansive, starlit skies. Accessible via graded dirt roads off State Route 266, it's roughly 30 miles southwest of Goldfield and 8 miles from the highway, drawing visitors with its uncommercialized authenticity—no chain stores or crowds here—while tourism supports ongoing preservation. As a living ghost town, it hosts quirky events like chili cook-offs and paranormal weekends, making it a unique blend of past and present in Nevada's vast, arid expanse.
Gold Point's timeline is a classic saga of boom, bust,
and improbable revival, mirroring the volatile mining history of the
American West. The area traces its roots to 1868, when early prospectors
and ranchers first established a presence amid the silver-rich hills of
Esmeralda County, though significant settlement didn't take hold until
the 1880s. A small camp called Lime Point formed near the current
townsite, supported by sporadic mining and ranching, with a post office
operating briefly in the decade. The early 1900s brought renewed
excitement from the Tonopah and Goldfield booms, drawing prospectors
back to the region. In 1902, a major silver discovery revived the camp,
renaming it Hornsilver after the valuable horn silver ore. By 1905, the
Great Western Mine Company had staked claims and uncovered a rich vein,
spurring rapid growth: in 1908, Hornsilver formalized as a town with
permanent buildings, the launch of the Hornsilver Herald newspaper, and
an official post office. The population swelled, but progress stalled in
1909 due to legal disputes over claims and the high costs of milling
low-grade ore, leading to a temporary exodus.
Mining flickered back
to life in 1915 with resumed operations at the Great Western Mine, but
it was the 1920s that marked a golden turn. In 1922, New York Giants
owner Charles Stoneham purchased the mine at a receiver's sale,
investing in infrastructure. Then, in 1927, local rancher J.W. Dunfee
struck gold on his homestead claim, prompting the town's rename to Gold
Point and a fresh influx of miners. The 1930s represented its zenith:
over 300 residents lived here, with two dozen buildings erected,
including homes, a school, stores, and the bustling Horn Silver Saloon.
The Great Western and Dunfee mines produced substantial gold and silver,
sustaining the community through the Great Depression. World War II
halted gold mining via government order to prioritize other metals, and
post-war efforts were smaller-scale until a 1960s cave-in at the Dunfee
Shaft forced permanent closure. By the 1970s, Gold Point was largely
abandoned, its buildings scavenged or crumbling. A pivotal revival came
in the late 1970s when a group of enthusiasts, including current
caretakers like Herb Robbins, began restoration efforts, transforming it
into a tourist draw. Today, it endures as a semi-living town, with
mining relics like the old stamp mill ruins evoking its industrious
past, and its history preserved through oral tales from long-time
residents.
Gold Point occupies a stark, high-desert basin in the southern Great Basin physiographic province, within the seismically active Walker Lane—a zone of faulting and extension between the Sierra Nevada and Death Valley. At coordinates 37°21′17″N 117°21′54″W and an elevation of about 5,384 feet (1,641 meters), the town perches on a gently sloping alluvial fan amid sagebrush plains, piñon-juniper woodlands, and rugged volcanic hills of the Silver Peak Range to the west. The climate is typically arid continental: hot, dry summers (90–100°F days), cold winters (20–40°F, with occasional snow), and minimal precipitation (under 6 inches annually), fostering a landscape of eroded badlands, dry washes prone to flash floods, and distant views of the White Mountains to the west and Death Valley's shimmering salt flats to the southeast. Geologically, the area's riches stem from Miocene-era volcanism and hydrothermal activity that deposited silver, gold, and lead in quartz veins within rhyolitic tuffs and andesites—exploited via the Great Western Mine's shafts and adits that scar the nearby slopes. The site's remoteness, 200 miles north of Las Vegas and 150 miles south of Reno, amplifies its isolation: no paved roads penetrate the core, with access via 8 miles of well-graded but dusty gravel from NV-266 (Lida Junction), passable by standard vehicles in good weather but requiring high-clearance for side trips. Surrounding BLM lands teem with wildlife like coyotes, kit foxes, golden eagles, and free-roaming wild horses, while natural features include hidden waterfalls in canyons, Indian petroglyphs on basalt cliffs, fossil beds, and petrified wood scatters—offering a raw, untamed backdrop that enhances the town's ghostly allure.
Gold Point's enduring charm lies in its tangible, touchable relics—about 50 structures from the 1900s–1930s era, many restored to evoke daily frontier life without the gloss of theme-park fakery. The heart is Main Street, lined with weathered wood-frame buildings, including the iconic Horn Silver Saloon (built 1905, now a lively B&B hub with a 1909 Brunswick pool table, shuffleboard, and antique TV/VCR for old Western movies). Adjacent is the old post office, repurposed as a free museum showcasing mining artifacts, period photos, and tools from the Great Western Mine—curated with personal anecdotes from resident "Walt," a local historian. Notable homes include the stately residence of former Nevada State Senator Harry Wiley (1920s), preserved with original furnishings, and scattered miner cabins with sagging porches and rusted relics like ore carts and assay equipment. On the outskirts, the stamp mill ruins and tailings piles from the Dunfee and Great Western mines offer a gritty industrial contrast, with interpretive signs detailing extraction processes. The one-room schoolhouse (1930s) and a few intact outbuildings add domestic flavor, while the cemetery—a short walk away—holds modest graves from the boom years, marked by wooden crosses and iron fences. Modern quirks include folk art installations from residents and the High Desert Drifters Western Historical Society's props for reenactments. Nearby natural sites, like Big Molly overlook for Death Valley vistas and petroglyph panels, extend the exploration, making Gold Point a multifaceted time capsule of mining heritage and desert ecology.
Gold Point invites unhurried, hands-on immersion in its storied past, ideal for those seeking solitude over spectacle. The primary draw is self-guided exploration: a 1–2 mile loop along Main Street and mine trails takes 1–3 hours, allowing visitors to peek into cabins, sift through museum displays, and hike to overlooks for panoramic desert views—bring sturdy shoes for uneven gravel paths. Saloon activities add interactive fun: shoot pool on the antique table, play shuffleboard, or swap ghost stories with locals over cold drinks (cash-only, BYO snacks). Guided tours of the town and mill site, arranged via the caretakers, delve into oral histories and hidden spots like underground adits (1–2 hours, donation-based). For overnighters, the B&B offers a cowboy fantasy: sleep in restored miner cabins with modern comforts (queen beds, linens, no Wi-Fi for authenticity), or camp/RV at the adjacent park with fire pits and vault toilets. Adventure seekers can off-road BLM trails to petroglyph sites, wild horse watering holes, or fossil hunts (free dispersed camping nearby). Stargazing is exceptional under Bortle Class 1 skies, and birding spots raptors and roadrunners. Events amp up the experience: the annual Memorial Day Chili Cook-Off features cookery contests and live music; Paranormal Weekends (fall) include ghost hunts with EMF meters; and the Day After Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner (November) doubles as a fundraiser. The vibe is welcoming yet raw—residents are friendly to respectful guests, but it's not kid-centric due to open shafts and wildlife (rattlesnakes, scorpions). Overall, it's a meditative retreat where history feels alive, punctuated by the occasional saloon jukebox tune.
Gold Point's survival as a vibrant relic owes much to community-driven stewardship since the late 1970s, when a cadre of preservationists, including current owner Herb Robbins (who arrived in 1986), halted further decay by salvaging materials from collapsing structures and fundraising through tourism. Revenue from B&B stays, saloon visits, and events directly funds restorations—like roof repairs on the saloon and schoolhouse, stabilization of mine headframes, and artifact cataloging for the museum—ensuring the site's authenticity without federal oversight (it's not a National Register site but qualifies via its intact streetscape). The High Desert Drifters Western Historical Society contributes through educational reenactments that raise awareness, while annual fundraisers, such as the November Turkey Dinner, target specific projects like adobe wall reinforcements. Challenges include desert erosion, seismic risks from the Walker Lane faults, and occasional vandalism, but the tiny resident population acts as vigilant guardians, blending daily life with maintenance. Broader support comes from Nevada's tourism boards and historical societies, with features in PBS's Outdoor Nevada series highlighting its role in state heritage. As of 2025, efforts continue apace, with no major threats reported, emphasizing sustainable visitation to balance preservation and access.
Access and How to Get There: Gold Point is a 1–1.5 hour drive from
Goldfield (nearest town with gas/hotels) or 3–4 hours from Las Vegas via
US-95 north to Tonopah, then NV-6 west to NV-266 south. From NV-266
(Lida Junction), turn west onto the signed 8-mile graded gravel
road—passable by 2WD sedans in dry conditions but high-clearance/4WD
advised for rain or snow; no RVs over 25 ft recommended. Coordinates:
37.3547°N 117.3651°W.
Fees and Hours: Free day-use entry year-round,
24/7 access (dawn-to-dusk suggested for safety). Saloon/museum: Daily 10
AM–sunset (seasonal, call ahead); B&B check-in 3 PM. Cabin/RV/camping
rates: $50–150/night (cabins $100+, RV $30 dry sites); book via website
or phone. Guided tours: $10–20 donation.
Current Conditions (as of
September 8, 2025): The town is fully open with no closures or incidents
this year—mild early fall weather dominates (70–85°F days, 40–50°F
nights, low winds) under clear skies, perfect for exploration as summer
heat fades and aspens hint at color. Roads are dry and accessible
post-monsoon, though dust is prevalent; recent Yelp updates note steady
resident presence (6–12 people) and positive saloon vibes. No fires or
floods reported, but Stage 1 restrictions ban open campfires—use grates
only. Wildlife active (watch for burros, foxes); saloon stocked for
weekends. Upcoming: Prepare for Memorial Day 2026 Chili Cook-Off
planning. Safety: Carry water (1 gal/person/day), spare tire, offline
GPS (spotty cell), and sun protection—altitude and exposure heighten
dehydration risks; avoid mine shafts. For emergencies, nearest services
in Goldfield (Esmeralda County Sheriff: 775-485-6308). Contact:
775-482-4653 (Walt Robbins) or goldpointnevada@gmail.com; check
goldpointghosttown.com for real-time alerts.