Goldfield fighting back

But the ghost isn't quite ready for the grave just yet.

That little office on U.S. 95 just west of the Esmeralda County Court house is home to the Goldfield Chamber of Commerce. It moved in after 11 years as part of Virginia Ridgeway's Gloryhole Gift Shop. But that was a block off the main drag through town.

"Now we have a location on the highway," said Ridgeway, one of the town's 450 residents and president of the chamber. "Anyone driving on the highway can stop and not have to find it."

Gold brought 20,000 people to the area 91 years ago. The population faded as quickly as the mines did. Today, it's little more than an annoying speed zone for motorists barreling along the highway between Reno and Las Vegas. Locals drive 26 miles to Tonopah to shop.

Ridgeway hopes the revitalized chamber will encourage people to stop, visit some of the 53 places on its walking tour, and maybe attract a new shop or two.

"Most of the people would like to see small business come here for our children to be able to stay in town," Ridgeway told the Nevada Appeal. "We don't want large growth but we want small growth."

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