Gold Point, as the townsite is known today, developed from a mining camp formed 1868 known as Lime Point that was west and just around the corner of the current site. Originally the townsite was called Hornsilver after the discovery of a type of silver ore known as hornsilver. Silver was mined from 1915 to 1927 until a large gold discovery was located. From that point on more gold than silver was being mined and the townsite was renamed as Gold Point. Gold Point is located 30 miles southwest of Goldfield, eight miles off SR 266, at an elevation of approximately 5,400 feet. After gold mining declined, Gold Point became a ghost town but was never officially abandoned, someone has always lived there. Several of the current residents have been restoring some of the old buildings over the years. Today, the old townsite consists of numerous original 100 year old plus buildings, including the original post office. Visit Gold Point - rich with Nevada history.

Tourism

In a place where chukar and chipmonks outnumber humans 20 to 1 and Jack and Pygmy Cottontail rabbits stop traffic, a well-preserved ghost town continues to exist. The old townsite is a living history lesson with about 50 buildings still standing including former State Senator Harry Wiley's home, (an attachment to the original post office that now serves as a museum) along with the original Hornsilver Townsite and Telephone Office that has been turned into a private saloon by the owners. The Museums are generally open most weekends for guests and large groups. Memorial Day Weekend in the past served as Gold Point Memorial Daze celebration hosting an annual Chili Cook-Off, Dutch Oven Stew contest, Flag Ceremony on Sunday with loads of prizes & drawings, food & drink, games for all ages all weekend long, and live music all day and through the night. For a few days of the year, the population soared to 500 to sometimes 800 guests.



This website is just a person non-commerial site. I enjoy history and try to put something o n the web at times. Again non-commercial. I make zero money !! I by experiene stay way from LINKS as they all go dead and if I am not around ine ends up with a site with dead stuff. Sometimes it eems some links might be desird so I add such. Sych as the following link. Go to their wbsite as to info and present events and news etc. Some might scream about no links aS THEY GET AD REVENUE FROM HITS SO ?? (nobody has screamed from Gold Point !!)


For more information on Memorial Day events in Goldpoint, go to their website at www.goldpointghosttown.com

Generally the population is 7 to 10 full time residents. Guest services are available by reservation year round, including electric hook-ups for RV's. Call (775) 482-GOLD (4653) for more information and events schedule. One can take a prearranged guided tour of the town and mill site or explore on your own the remains of as many as 16 old mining camps and hundreds of mine sites within a short drive. Keep your eyes open for the abundant wildlife. Nearby nature sites include waterfalls and watering holes frequented by Pronghorn Antelope, Bighorn Sheep, wild horses and burros. Indian petroglyphs, fossils, petrified woods, and a breathtaking view of Death Valley National Park from Big Molly are also available. Gold Point is truly a "friendly ghost town".

The Senior Transportation Progra

The Senior Transportation Program provides weekly service to Seniors 60 and over and to those under 60 on a space available basis and for a fee. Trips are provided to Tonopah Senior Center for hot meals, grocery shopping, banking and medical appointments. Long-Distance Medical Trips are available, please call the office before scheduling to ensure you are going on the day Senior Transportation is scheduled (Tuesdays to Bishop, Wednesday's to Pahrump, Thursdays to Las Vegas, Fridays to Hawthorne, Fallon, Fernley or Reno. Monthly Nutritional Shopping trips and social trips are scheduled on Mondays: First Monday - Pahrump, Second Monday - Las Vegas, Third Monday - Bishop. For further information please call 775-485-3406.

ESMERALDA COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT STATION 4 - GOLDPOINT Herb Robbins - Captain HC 71 Box 3023 Gold Point, NV 89013









Hornsilver, Nevada ? Look at old map near Lida, Nevada. A railroad line to Hornsilver ? Later this settlemnt became Gold Point. I can not fit the whole history of Nevada on this website but try to audit some old railroads in Nevada. --plus some obscure Ghost Towns...


Goldpoint (Limepoint, Hornsilver)


Beginning around 1868, lime was discovered here resulting in the camp of Limepoint. After 1880, silver was discovered, but it wasn't until 1908 that high grade hornsilver was discovered, resulting in a rush to the site and a name change to Hornsilver. (Chlorargyrite is the mineral form of silver chloride also known as cerargyrite and, when weathered by desert air, as horn silver. ) A little over a month later, Hornsilver boasted a population of 700 and 220 frame buildings, tents, and shacks After 1930, more gold was being mined than was silver, resulting in the final name change to Goldpoint. WW II drew away most of the miners and most operations ceased around 1942.

BRADLEY'S STRIKE AT HORNSILVER

Capt. J. F. Bradley, ex-sheriff, and also the only Republican in the State Assembly from Esmeralda county, has struck it rich in the Red Top claim owned by the Great Western Gold Mining Company at Hornsilver. He secured a lease on a block of the ground in a little gulch to the west of the main find some 800 feet, a few weeks ago. It appears to be the biggest find yet made in the Lime Point section of Gold Mountain, and as a result that new little town of Hornsilver is growing so rapidly that nothing like it has ever been seen in this section of the county. One month ago today the first tent was pitched on the ground, and by actual count there were 210 frame and tent houses there yesterday. -Tonopah Daily Bonanza, May 13, 1908

The Silvermines Corporation which owns and controls fifteen mining claims in the Hornsilver Mining District, is now erecting a milling plant of 100 tons daily capacity to treat the large tonnage of ore now in sight in this company's property. It is expected that this milling plant will be placed in operation by June 1st next, or shortly thereafter. -Tonopah Daily Bonanza, March 9, 1917.

Enough gold was being dug up to warrant a name change.

TO CHANGE NAME OF HORNSILVER

The first discovery made in the Hornsilver district south of Goldfield was of hornsilver ore, but later developments proved that it was a gold camp. Now an effort is being made by W. E. Sirbeck and others interested in the district to have the name changed from Hornsilver to Goldpoint. The original designation was Limepoint. -Reno Gazette Journal, September 30, 1932

Things had definitely slowed by now, but work was still being done.

CONDITIONS GOOD AT OHIO MINES GROUND

Reports from the Ohio Mines Company at Goldpoint are to the effect that conditions underground have never been better. -Reno Gazette Journal, January 13, 1940

Leasers at Goldpoint and scattered sections of the county accounted for a limited amount of gold ore during the year and the Ohio Mines Company at Goldpoint continued on a regular production basis. -Reno Gazette Journal, January 14, 1942

BLOCKED ROADS ARE RE-OPENED

Roads to Goldpoint and Lida, which have been closed because of deep snowdrifts, have been opened by the highway snowplow and mail is again going to these districts. -Reno Gazette Journal, March 6, 1944

After the war, things picked up a little bit-- for a while, anyway

NEW SYNDICATE HAS EQUIPMENT FOR GOLDPOINT

Machinery Has Been Delivered At Property

The Goldpoint Mining Syndicate reported this week that three truckloads of machinery have been delivered on the syndicate's property at Goldpoint. The equipment, most of which came from Mineral county, is practically new, and consists of a hoist, compressor cars, track, and pipe. -Nevada State Journal, January 18, 1946

In the Goldpoint district Ohio Mines Co. is reportedly planning to resume mining and milling of gold-silver ore, and operation of the Nevada Gold mill custom ore is said to be contemplated by Charles L. Richards of Reno. -Los Angeles Times, March 20, 1950

A "reliable source" circulated the report in Goldfield that one of the biggest ore strikes in recent years has been made at Goldpoint. -Reno Gazette Journal, December 15, 1962

And then there was one...

Mrs. Ora Mae Wiley, the oldest and only permanent resident of Goldpoint. She is the widow of the late Senator Harry Wiley and hers is the story of the desert lover. -Nevada State Journal, October 31, 1965

POST OFFICE Hornsilver - May 16, 1908 - October 16, 1932

Goldpoint - October 16, 1932 - January 12, 1968

NEWSPAPER Hornsilver Herald

WHAT IS

Home of the famous Goldpoint Bed & Breakfast, where you can stay in a rustic cabin and enjoy family-style meals. We made a brief cruise through the area just to see what there was to see. Many old buildings, vehicles, etc. Worth a visit!


Disclaimer: We search for HISTORY as a hobby. Endless souces. Much can come from others neverless endless sources. Does this website sell anything ? NO Donations ? NO. This is non-commercial. I consider my websites under copyright. Again..no money here !! Educational.



go back