The Backyard Traveler: Historic Goldfield set to auction its past

Ever wanted to own an historic turn of the 20th century hotel-complete with ghost? Or a 1908 commode? Or, perhaps, just a plot of empty, sagebrush-covered land?

They're all for the taking at Goldfield's Millennium Land Rush Festival, scheduled for June 9-11.

The three-day event is a combination public land auction-town parade-raffle-street dance-street vendors-BBQ-and-fireworks-display that is being held in the historic mining town of Goldfield, once Nevada's largest community.

The idea for the festival came about after Esmeralda County District Attorney Harold Kuehn and county clerk/treasurer De Ann Siri noticed that the county held the deeds to nearly 200 parcels of land due to delinquent taxes.

Kuehn, who is also president of the Goldfield Chamber of Commerce, said no effort had ever been made to sell the parcels, some of which the county had been holding since the early 20th century.

"I saw this as foolish since the property taxes help to fund county government," he added.

The result is a massive land auction to sell about 180 parcels. Eighty-six of the parcels will have a minimum bid of less than $1,000, with the cheapest parcel starting at $207.92, and the majority in the $500 to $600 range, according to Kuehn.

The prize parcel, however, will be the Goldfield Hotel. Constructed in 1907-08, this massive four-story brick building rises 56 feet high and can be seen from miles away.

The hotel was once the most luxurious in the entire state with an elevator, overstuffed, leather lobby chairs, crystal chandeliers and other elegant features.

It was initially financed by one of Goldfield's largest mining consortiums, the Hayes-Monette Syndicate, at a cost of more than $250,000. Shortly after is completion, it was sold to George Wingfield, who controlled most of Goldfield's mines and was an influential political and business force in Nevada during the first quarter century.

While the hotel managed to stay open until the 1940s, it has not operated for several decades. In the mid-1980s, the structure was partially restored by a San Francisco developer but he ran out of funding before the job was finished.

Kuehn said that the hotel is estimated to be 85 percent completed. Minimum bid for the property has been set at $426,760.26.

In addition to the land auction, the county will also auction more than 30 antique items, most from the hotel. For example, you can bid on a 1908 clawfoot bathtub from the hotel, Esmerald County cancelled checks from the years 1907-1922, or leather-bound early 20th century law books.

Tours of the Goldfield Hotel-said to be haunted by a female ghost-will be offered throughout the weekend by local psychic and historian Virginia Ridgway.

The community of Goldfield traces its beginnings to three miners, Tom Fisherman, Harry Stimler and William Marsh. In about 1902, Fisherman discovered gold in the mountains south of Tonopah.

He shared his find with Stimler and Marsh, who joined him in mining the site. Word of the discovery quickly spread and within a few months a thriving mining camp had been established.

The site was originally called "Grandpa," supposedly because Marsh declared it was going to be the granddaddy of all mining camps. Interest in the camp was modest until 1903, when additional gold discoveries were uncovered. The following year, a townsite was plated, which was named Goldfield.

Goldfield boomed from 1905 until about 1910, when it entered an extended period of decline. At its peak in 1907, the town had a population in excess of 20,000 and a developed area that covered more than 50 city blocks.

A disastrous flood swept through the town in 1913, destroying dozens of buildings and accelerating the town's downward spiral. In 1923, a major fire in 1923 swept through much of the town's commercial district.

Today, Goldfield remains one of the most vivid reminders of Nevada's early 20th century mining boom period. In spite of disasters and neglect, more than 100 of the town's historic buildings have survived more or less intact.

And now you can own a piece of it.

Godlfield is located about 230 miles south of Carson City via U.S. 50 and U.S. 95. For more information about the Millennium Land Rush call 775-485-6352.