I have not been to many "ghost towns", but I have seen a couple. Still, this does not make me an expert, but almost every time my wife and I visit family in Mesa, we like to ride out and take a stroll through Goldfield.
Established in 1892 when a fairly large amount of gold was discovered in the area, Goldfield has had its ups and downs. The first find petered out in about five years, and although another set of investors used newer equipment a few years later to get more gold, that also ran out, and in 1926, the town died a second death.
It was, in it's day, a fairly desolate and isolated area, and without the gold, there was not much to attract the visitor. However, in 1966, Robert F. “Bob” Schoose, a long time ghost town, mining, and treasure-hunting enthusiast made a trip to the Superstition Mountains. He instantly fell in love with the area and established a home in nearby Mesa, Arizona.
Eventually, Bob Schoose decided that he wanted to own a ghost town. However, after inspecting the site of the actual town, he was only able to find a few remnants of the original Goldfield. He did not let this deter him and finally purchased a five acre site which was the location of the old Goldfield Mill.
Not having a "real" ghost town, Bob set out to create his own.
Over the years, businesses have been added which give at least the sensation of being in an old town. Even the most casual observer, however, can easily recognize that the "town" is actually not much more than a set, and not even a very realistic one. It is actually a setting dotted with ancient appearing artifacts which gives the illusion of a ghost town of the old west.
Even so, for the city slicker wanting a glimpse of the Old West, the child, or the adult who still remembers old Saturday morning westerns with Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, or Rex Allen, can still stir up some of the old feelings just by wandering down (or up) the dusty street.
There is a reconstructed mine tunnel, a narrow gauge railroad, and several sellers of modern, though often old-appearing, souvenirs. There are places to eat, and, as I did recently at my wife's request, the visitor can get a sepia-toned photograph in semi-authentic western garb.
All in all, I would not put the Goldfield Ghost Town at the head of a list of "must visit" places, but, if you are in the area and have nothing to compare it to, or if you just want to get a feel for the past, it's worth a visit. After all, it's free to walk the streets and watch the weekend gunfights. Don't forget to pick up a bag of the Golden Carmel Corn Nuggets or the Churro Nuggets (my personal favorite) at "Mother Lode Mercantile".
If you DO choose to visit Goldfield, one thing you really should do is visit the museum and take your time looking over the exhibits. They are about as real as it gets. Hey! If nothing more, you will at least be able to say you saw Doc Holliday's coat!
You can learn more by visiting the Goldfield Ghost Town website.
