The historic town of Goldfield attracted hundreds of attendees seeking entertainment, food and prizes during its 17th annual Goldfield Days event.
The three-day event, which ran from Aug. 4-6, brought people from the local area and surrounding areas such as Tonopah, Carson City and beyond seeking land, property and fun. The annual festivities surround Esmeralda County’s land auction for properties delinquent on their tax payments.
“It’s nice to see people that are interested in the location and the things we have to offer,” said Mark Stezaker, president of the Goldfield Chamber of Commerce, which coordinates the event.
Dozens lined the parking lot on the north side of the courthouse in Goldfield at 233 Crook St. at 1 p.m. on Aug. 5, with some arming themselves with a paper sign that had a number drawn on it. Bidders flipped their number up if they wanted to jump in the action on one of 17 properties and one mining claim.
Properties sold from about $1,700 up to $13,000.
The big bidder was Red Roberts from Carson City, who bought two pieces of property that sit beside his Goldfield Hotel at U.S. Highway 95 and Columbia Avenue. Those two parcels set Roberts back nearly $16,000.
LaCinda Elgan, Esmeralda County clerk/treasurer, said three properties weren’t sold at the auction. Those properties will get sent to next year’s event.
Goldfield Hotel
Following the land auction, a large crowd started to form at a building across the street from the western side of the Goldfield Hotel on Columbia Avenue around 2 p.m. There, hundreds of the hotel’s original interior doors went up for auction.
The doors were donated by Roberts to the local radio station and historical society.
Carl Brownfield, program director at Radio Goldfield/KGFN 89.1 FM, who was the auctioneer for the doors, said roughly 100 to 125 doors were sold.
Bidders paid upward of $75 for some of the doors, some fetching even more than that.
“We’re very happy with what we sold today,” Brownfield said. “There are hundreds of people out there that would like a piece of Nevada’s history, and this is authentic Nevada history.”
Brownfield said the proceeds from the first 50 doors sold, with accompanying hardware, go to Radio Goldfield and the Goldfield Opera House. The remaining money will be split between Goldfield Broadcasting and the Goldfield Historical Society.
Many doors are still available through Brownfield by calling 775-485-9923 or 702-241-1901. Sharon Artlip can also be contacted. She is selling hardware for the doors at her Goldfield Art and Business Services shop at 306 Crook Ave.
Fun times
Other businesses also thrived during the festivities in Goldfield.
Jim Barrere, of Team Barrere at Lisa Bond Real Estate in Pahrump, was one of several vendors that lined up along Highway 95 and side streets around Goldfield looking to profit from the festive weekend.
Barrere said this was his first year at Goldfield Days, but there seemed to be a lot of interest.
His team focuses on real estate in several areas in Esmeralda County and Nye County: Pahrump, Goldfield, Carver, Round Mountain and Tonopah.
“Hopefully we’ll sell something this weekend,” Barrere said.
Jeremy Daeseleer, owner of the Hoist House Tavern at 300 N. Columbia Ave., said he brought in live entertainment including King vs. Cash and a live DJ.
Dozens of people flocked to the location to check out the bar and classic cars in front of the Hoist House.
Classic cars such as Corvettes, Monte Carlos and El Caminos lined the front of the tavern.
A small bump on Friday left the establishment without power from thunderstorms that brought hail and heavy rains to the region, but that didn’t stop the show.
Daeseleer said he fired up the generator and kept going.
The chamber also raffled off a gold bar, which they paid more than $1,200 for, on Saturday evening. Stezaker said they collected more than $2,000 from the sale of raffle tickets.
Attendees also enjoyed ghost tours at the Goldfield Hotel and other activities all weekend.
Contact reporter Jeffrey Meehan at jmeehan@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes