The Mining Town of Goldfield

Goldfield, named for the ore mined around it, was once Nevada’s largest city and the state’s biggest economic and political power. With the discovery of gold in 1902, Goldfield would become a rare, post-1900 major gold strike. It also experienced one of the largest gold rushes (and subsequent crashes) in western history.
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#goldfield
#miningtowns
#ghosttowns
#nevada

[@adventureswithchristian6967]

My favorite town in Nevada thank you for the wonderful video.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mrsm513]

Scrolling I came across this video, THANK YOU! I live in Goldfield, I appreciate you not dissing it. It certainly isn’t for everyone, but that’s what I like about it...

[@BackRoadsWest1]

You're very welcome and thank you for commenting! I've defended Goldfield several times in comments, like people upset with the 25 mph speed limit. Oh please, haven't they been to any other town - they all are 25! I also end up defending Barstow a lot too. You guys have a great town to visit. Keep up up the great work preserving America's past!

[@byronbrasher8118]

Wow. The scenery was amazing. Definitely makes us want to get a razer now. Lol. Thank you so much for sharing. Blessings guys. Stay safe

[@joethomas5983]

Beautiful tour. Perfect for us with cabin fever in the big city. Thanks.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

My pleasure. I hope our tours reduces the fever a little!

[@jtcbrt]

Nicely done. Goldfield has been featured in several films. The hotel is prominent in Vanishing Point (1971), Cherry 2000 (1987), and several episodes of Ghost Adventures. The town was also the birthplace of Hollywood actor Brad Dexter, one of the original Magnificent Seven.

[@jimsimonds6638]

In 1907, my Grandfather, Grandmother, Father, and Aunt were in Diamondfield, NV which is about 3-4 files NE of here. I have quite a few photos of that area which my Grandmother took.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Thanks for the comment. Nice to have the photos. How funny: I was just reading about Diamondfield Jack in Nevada magazine this morning. Have you heard of him? Naturally, he founded Diamondfield.

[@mycardamit]

Really nice video ! Thanks makes me want to go there to take a look also .

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Thank you! A trip there will be worthwhile, especially if you include Tonopah (I need to do a video on that town someday).

[@mousetreehouse6833]

Thanks so much for allowing this New England couch potato to tag along on this fascinating town tour! If you ever get around to going back, I wouldn't mind seeing more of the cemetery - I think we of the northeast enjoy poking around graveyards🤨😄, especially when we were younger, before cable tv!😁 Thanks again!

[@BackRoadsWest1]

You're welcome. Part of the reason I create these videos - armchair touring! Thanks for commenting.

[@davidsandall]

I have trucked through a lot of these places, now more to look for from the road. Thanks.

[@HjellumInc]

Seriously contemplating on moving there from Woodland, CA. I was up there on Independence Day (the same date that this video posted) and am deciding on a time-frame of actually doing a move. So tired of California's taxes and immoral laws. Thanks for another reminder of how awesome that town is!

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Well, if you move to Goldfield, it's a long drive to a Costco! However, Tonopah does have a nice grocery store. We were in your shoes 5 years ago and why we now live in Utah.

[@sleddy01]

I'm curious what you mean by immoral laws.

[@josephcagiano3055]

The best advice you can take is to get out of Cali. The 2nd best advice to take would be to avoid moving to Goldfield. Trust me on this. There’s stuff you won’t know about unless you live there. And if you buy property there you’ll be stuck with it and regret it big time for many reasons. I speak from experience

[@mrsm513]

@@josephcagiano3055 no way. There are people constantly looking for property in Goldfield, in fact housing is currently scarce. Right now is a great time to own here, not as great if you’re on the buying end...my family have been here since the 80’s. It’s a great place with mostly nice people.

[@tomfrazier1103]

I live in Hawaii, which has a lot of Nevada, mostly Vegas connections. It's sometimes wannabe .California, otherwise has a higher cost of living. Some people "Just don't like it" here and leave. I do, and am doing sorta OK.

[@judyberends4586]

So interesting .I am happy I just found your wonderful channel. Thank you.👍👍

[@lowelllarsen5947]

Very detailed tour- well done!

[@cowboygeologist7772]

I haven't been there in years;thanks for posting.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

You're welcome. I was just thinking the other day how great of a mining town Goldfield is compared to so many others in the Southwest.

[@iliaazizie8437]

Great Job. thanks for sharing your videos

[@BackRoadsWest1]

You're welcome, and thank you!

[@user-pp4nd7vw8m]

Learned more in your 23 minute video than 2 whole days of touring there! Thanks!

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Excellent! Thanks for commenting.

[@porcupinebob7907]

Super cool videos!, I subscribed and sent your website info to lots of my friend who also live here in Northern california! Thanks again! ;o)

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Porcupine Bob, glad you enjoyed and found our videos helpful. If you have any questions on any of our travels, please don't hesitate to leave a comment. Thanks for commenting!

[@mikefitchNYC1971]

Awesome video!

[@mobiltec]

That was a dang good tour...

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Dang, thank you!

[@mrsm513]

Mobiltec, your name is familiar from Abandoned & Forgotten Places/Footage. Mr M owns (one of) the RV parks in Goldfield

[@mobiltec]

@@mrsm513 Oh I didn't know that. Which one?

[@mrsm513]

@@mobiltec Goldfield RV, the one with the trees. On Fourth St behind the Post Office.

[@mobiltec]

@@mrsm513 Thanks Mrs M... I'll stop by and take a look next time Im in Goldfield. My good friend who is also a ham radio operator like I am is Malek. You should know him. He owned a trading post type store there with all kinds of jewelry that his wife Jody made and had that big metal train tressle brought over. He sold the store to a lady and I can't remember her name.

[@RTA266]

Thanks for the video, going through the area on the way to Vegas or back to N. Nevada it has a cool vibe and feeling of years past , but that was in the 80's and early 90's, no car art then which was good. It still seems a lonely place now as then

[@1WillyK]

Back in the early 80's a friend and I were traveling from Las Vegas to Gold Run, CA where he was from when his car threw a rod a few miles outside Goldfield. As we sat on the side of the road a pickup pulls up and two Hell's Angels climb out and ask us what's up. When we explained what happened they offered to take one of us into town to get a tow truck. So my buddy stayed with the car and I rode into town sitting in between these two bikers, which was interesting. They dropped me off at the only garage in town where the only mechanic there seemed to be, well, about a half a bubble off plumb. We got the car into town and called his parents who owned a garage in Gold Run and had a flatbed tow truck. However, they wouldn't be there until the next day. Back then there wasn't much except the buildings on the main drag. and a ton of building foundations. Not much to see or do although the mayor actually showed us around a bit and gave us some of the history. We ate at, if memory serves, was the only cafe. Our waitress was this cute 18 year old girl whose family had just moved to town from LA. And boy was she desperate to get out of there and I couldn't blame her. She all but begged us to take her with us, which as two young guys, were intrigued but we knew there was no way that was happening. Finally, we had a few beers in the local bar and then spent the night freezing our butts off in the car as it was winter and there was no lodging to be had. His mother showed up early the next morning and we were gone.

[@LuckyBaldwin777]

You're lucky it happened back then. You'd have to get two tow trucks now, 1 from Nevada and one from California and swap the car at the Gold Ranch Casino's parking lot. BIG fine now for operating a tow truck out of state if you get caught

[@SaintsPurgatory]

@@LuckyBaldwin777 lmao you can't beleieve this line. Seems made up the way a fiction writer puts it down on page. That's why I call bs. Anyone that goes into that much detail is either lying or repeating a story verbatim they saw somewhere else. Total crapola.

[@LuckyBaldwin777]

@@SaintsPurgatory "lmao you can't beleieve this line." I like to trust people until I can prove they lied to me then I never trust them again.

[@augustarcher6407]

I guess Im asking the wrong place but does anyone know of a method to get back into an instagram account?? I was dumb forgot my login password. I appreciate any help you can offer me.

[@bobbyskyler2465]

@August Archer Instablaster :)

[@debscreepy]

Cool video! In here in Goldfield now filming.

[@spreadcreekjr1731]

Great video

[@elflordsjourneys]

Excellent video, I need to get down there,as far as the car forest, it's no,worse than 7 magic mountains south of vegas.😀

[@michaeldvorak8140]

Ahh yes, God’s glory is experienced in this magnificent place. During the late sixties, three buddies and I hiked over Kersage pass and ended our exploration at Whitney Portal. The back country was remarkable, very hard going, but an extremely worthwhile endeavor.

[@jakealan1822]

Glad I got to visit this place before restorations began.

[@sondrabowers4837]

Thank you for interesting tour.

[@eryk415]

The High school has new windows in it now! 🖤 I love Goldfield and Tonopah, I go once month and stay at The Clown Motel. Idk it's like the ghosts keep callin me back 😳

[@sherylbeasley4938]

Interesting place, haven't been there in years.

[@scvandy3129]

It's apparent that about 80% of the tall, city building seen in the vintage b&w photographs are long gone. I mean, we saw courthouse, high school and hotel -- that's it. Wow. Were the dozens of others leveled one at a time or en masse? Perhaps the bulk were lost at once in the two mammoth fires. Interesting to see and comprehend how large the cemetery is. All those thousands of resting places and no one left nearby to visit on Mother's Day, Father's Day, Veteran's Day, etc. Basically, forgotten. Regarding the four railroads -- were there four separate lines or did some of the companies share stretches of tracks? A simulated railroad tracks map laid over a contemporary over view, bird's eye view of Goldfield and nearby would been interesting and a welcome addition to this video -- to some, anyway. Thank you, 'BackRoadsWest1.'

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Thanks for commenting. I believe there were 3 separate railroad lines from different areas - 1 from the north and 2 from the south. The 4th was a short line to the various mines and ran over 2 of the existing longer lines. Not sure exactly though, more research would be required. Yes, it would be nice to have something like that and compare the old dirt roads that remain today. Not sure if such a map is available.

[@cliffcurtistruth]

You seem to have missed some important stories regarding Goldfield. First it wasn't fires that ended the city. It was flash floods. There are pictures showing water coming as high as storefront windows. There exists an incredible giant pit which can't be seen from the highway and is known to have several safes full of gold lost in it (washed away in the floods). You can see the pit by driving to the top of the mountain on the dirt roads.

[@davidellis5141]

15:48 ! Fantastic " International Car Forest " 😎

[@thatisartnotpffft6368]

Needs more tire bushes lol.

[@tomfrazier1103]

Honouliuli Oahu is almost our ghost town. It's about to be paved over by housing tracts. The old Shokai closed.down in 2006, razed in 2012. The then owners bought it in 1920, and it may have been built earlier

[@helenabrus191]

Used to visit these small towns when I lived in Las Vegas but never knew much of the history of the towns. Thanks and Happy Independence Day! 13:02 - what's a headframe?

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Google it! It is a tower typically standing next to a mine shaft that pulls up ore carts (elevator cars) from underground.

[@jerryprice5484]

I believe the hotel in Goldfield was where Clevon Little had his radio station in the film "Vanishing Point (1971)

[@lindaspriggs419]

Great tour. The car forest is kind of silly dumb. Is the cemetary haunted?

[@cliffcurtistruth]

Since this video was made, a huge gold deposit (vein) was found and the highway was moved over to accommodate mining underground. GPS through the area will show you traveling off track.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Yes, they were repositioning US 95 when we shot this video in 2020 in preparation for the open pit mine. We'll see how Goldfield fairs in the next few years...

[@rodeldiaz4105]

At 6:56, you will see a sign, left side of the Esmeralda County Courthouse that says that there was a boxing match happened here in 1906 between Gans and Nelson and lasted for 42 rounds... Check that out...

[@BackRoadsWest1]

It's covered on our blog post supporting the video: www.backroadswest.com/blog/goldfield/

[@alicehallam8247]

With all the city lots and land around it, Goldfield must still be very well-loved. There us rarely any real estate listed for sale there. 🙂

[@BackRoadsWest1]

The few people we talked to during our visit, the place is well-cared for.

[@pablol5472]

All your videos are very good but the one about Triple Junction clearly has a different focus. If you would indicate which of your other vids are oriented to geology / wildlife / urban planning as opposed to tourism I would very much appreciate.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

All our videos are about educating people about a place, road trip or hike. Goldfield is about a place. Triple Jct is about a region. Some videos go into details of history or geology to help the would-be visitor understand what to experience when they arrive (if they go). Does that help answer your question? I may not fully understand your question.

[@pablol5472]

In my mind, only Triple Jctn (out of 3 vids watched so far) is truly educational while Goldfield is a sightseeing toolkit. ET Hwy begins with a great explanation about military planes production and testing facilities, then becomes a road trip vlog. Triple Jctn is of interest even to people with no solid plans to visit the place (me :-) or no nostalgia of a place they visited before. Goldfield and Area 51 are decidedly travel oriented.Don't get me wrong: all three are outstanding in images, video features and voiceover, etc. They target different audiences.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Yea, most are travel oriented. Triple Jct was created after hearing much interest in the SW Utah area and why the landscape looks the way it is. Other videos we produced that include some educational aspect you may enjoy are the Rochester Panel kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZ7MZX2FhpaFldk and the 3 videos we have on traveling along the San Andreas Fault (kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZnGgWhvgLh_kJI and kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6e6p3uXlrJ9pK8). There's also one on German wine kzbin.info/www/bejne/oH-Vk2lmfJqjhrc

[@australiantruckspotting8883]

There’s plenty of old mining towns like this in Australia

[@BackRoadsWest1]

And New Zealand. Your towns are equally interesting. Thanks for commenting.

[@Tony-um2el]

You Tube isn't running adds these are 40 minute infomercials

[@lorichristman3802]

My father was born in Goldfield in 1916. His parents met and married there.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Wow, that's cool!

[@justinacase2623]

Spent some time in Goldfield, beware of the speed limit change on that Highway in and near the town's. Also it is very dusty, and the fine dust/sand will get everywhere! In addition to the visitor center ,go into the court house, lots of history to see there as well. Up the road in Tonopah at the hotel/ casino they have the Chuck Norris suite! Rumor is he had a medical emergency there and was airlifted out.

[@Massiveminion]

Wasn't there a scene in the movie "Vanishing Point" (1971) with Cleavon Little as the blind clairvoyant DJ guiding muscle car driver Kowalski across the fruited, lol, plain of Nevada via the car radio shot from that hotel in Goldfield NV? That building sure looks familiar, movie wise.

[@FRANTHESCRAM]

Yes. I have the movie. That is the famous hotel where super soul dj’d from.

[@markfrench8892]

I beg to differ, but Virginia City in it's heyday was much larger then Goldfield. And the railroad that served Goldfield was The Tonapah & Goldfield Railroad.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

It's all available out there (books or internet) Virginia City was bigger in its heyday of around 1865. Goldfield was bigger around in its heyday around 1905. As mentioned in the video, the Comstock Lode of Virginia City made much more money. However at the time, Goldfield certainly attracted a lot of attention but for a short period.

[@kennysherrill6542]

I just bought an older model Jeep Grand Cherokee, after the rich guy bought a new it was used as a hack around his ranch. I'm cleaning it up and going to go see places like this, if you really want something you can find away. See you in Goldfield. 😀

[@robc.5745]

What might be the population of Goldfield? Nice tour.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Thanks. Here's a link to the stats: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldfield,_Nevada

[@tanilivengood3367]

The car Forest is cool. Thanks for sharing

[@andyamysarizonaadventures5450]

That artist car thing ruined part of the authenticity of a ghost town!

[@BackRoadsWest1]

It's outside of Goldfield. Tourists & photographers love it. Different strokes for different folks.

[@haroldtakahashi8875]

💛...seems like quite a few tremors around there lately...

[@taco472]

The cars , who paints or tags the cars , visitors or local artists? It’s kinda weird cool.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

It's someone that lives in town. They own the property and I'm sure there are guidelines. What was nice to see was no offensive street art or stickers. So someone is watching over things.

[@randywestfall1679]

Those cars buried by the front end is a take off of a some Cadillacs that were buried near Amarillo, Texas in the early '70s. Those at first were not graffitied but the last time I saw them they were covered in graffiti. I am sure by now they are almost rusted to the point of being dangerous to be around.

[@genewalsh3154]

Do you ever see anyone using a metal detector on your travels??

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Rarely

[@genewalsh3154]

BackRoadsWest1 interesting I bet there is a lot of coins all over the place in goldfield not to mention a gold nugget or 2

[@marilynguinnane4663]

Poor beleaguered Nevada. Well, some parts are worth visiting, and hey, I live in Reno, which is fine. But a car park where cars are jammed upside down in the dirt? Um. And the other car mess --- ? Good grief, somebody bring in a garbage truck. If you have pride in your town, plant trees and shrubs and flowers. Show that you're actually civilized. If the Earp brothers were alive today, they'd be saying: "What were we THINKing, moving here? What a dump." Don't yell at me, Goldfield people. Plant trees, instead.

[@georgerobinson349]

it's about the history Marilyn. I think the Earp brothers would be just fine with it the way it is, perhaps without the cars. Great video!!

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Remember: one man's junk is another man's treasure. Who knows if the Earp's wouldn't have enjoyed the "dressed up" cars. Heck, cars weren't even around during most of their lives!

[@marilynguinnane4663]

@@BackRoadsWest1 -- Uh-huh, but "TACKY' is tacky. Small wonder Europeans call us Eurotrash. I'm serious. If intelligent life saw those upended cars they would without question shake their heads and exit as fast as their space vehicles could take them.

[@genemauguin2274]

What makes a ghost town? Goldfield is alive and well! Just go into Esmeralda County building and ask county clerk if Goldfield is a ghost town. Goldfield is very much alive and well.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Yes, it is very much alive and well thanks to its residents. There are so many historical towns in the Southwest referred to as ghost towns, even though they have a significant population. I think everyone simply loves the "tone". I think even the visitor center in Goldfield prides themselves as a "ghost town", but I prefer the term "historical mining town".

[@GaryYoung-eq1ph]

American pickers might visit someday.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

There's lots for the Pickers to pick through in Nevada

[@dday9257]

Never could see what the big deal is about a bunch of junk cars stuck in the ground covered with graffiti. It’s an eyesore.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

One person's eyesore is another person's cherished art.

[@xxxanxiety69xxx73]

ifunny is trying to buy the town

[@johnrettig1880]

I've been to Goldfield twice . Once when I missed the turn off to Rachel Nevada . He second time was after some one told me that I was almost halfway to Las Vegas and turned around . I didn't stop in Goldfield because I didn't see a Restaurant or anything else hat was open for business . Artwork or...... Creative junk pile

[@eustacecourage7478]

Has anyone seen a living soul in this town other than the videographer?

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Yes, there are people that live there and they are very passionate about preserving Goldfield. We talked to several of them during our visit.

[@mrsm513]

Me, I live here. Lovely little place isn’t it!

[@PennilessPolitics]

So a three hour drive from Vegas? Looks like the perfect place for social distancing. votus.us

[@speedspeed121]

It shouldn't take a quarter of the video to get started.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

I'm sorry, are there video production rules I'm supposed to follow? Most people like to have background info before they see where they're going.

[@speedspeed121]

@@BackRoadsWest1 I get it. But a quarter of the video is too much.

[@jeffevans3193]

Not much to see

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Maybe not with your eyes! We sure saw a lot in Goldfield.

[@tbugher62]

There is nothing too see,its basically an old town with nobody there,nothing but junk.

[@mrsm513]

@@tbugher62 it’s all in the eye of the beholder

[@seanmikhael1767]

Junkyard "art" is tacky and an eyesore, especially when you're trying to enjoy historic scenery.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Other people think it's great. Everyone has their own views and perspectives. The car forest is away from view of town and the road, so someone had some forethought on that.

[@HairyBowls]

That so called art installation is junk crap

[@billhosko7723]

Gads... Awful music - stopped watching.

[@BackRoadsWest1]

Hmmm, and other people have asked me where I got the music because they liked it so much. Why would you find it necessary to comment if you don't like the music? Don't you understand that different people like different music and one can't please everyone? Have you ever thought of turning the volume down or muting? Sounds like you're a shallow thinker.