Nevada Ghost Towns & Beyond

Travel & Stories by NVTami

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About

Hi, I’m Tami and I have been exploring ghost towns, mining camps and back roads for 30 years. If you love seeing and learning about some of the more unusual ghost towns and locations in Nevada, California and beyond, you came to the right place!

At 14 1/2, I got my driver’s license and first car. It’s an Idaho thing and seemed like a grand idea to teenage me. Even at an early age, I knew vehicles were magical, a combination of freedom and exploration.

In 2000, I married a third-generation Nevada ranch boy. He wanted to see more of the Silver State for our first vacation. Instead of the usual tourist guides, I purchased Stan Paher’s Ghost Towns & Mining Camps of Nevada. Using it as a guide, I planned a week-long Nevada ghost town adventure. As our family grew, our vacations focused on exploring the Nevada desert and ghost towns.

I raised my family and ran a business, focusing on others. As the family grew more independent, my husband told me this was my time to focus on myself. I was at a loss for how to fill my time. One evening, I announced to the family that my mid-life goal was to photograph every ghost town in Nevada and the eastern Sierra. Little did I know where it would lead me.

I was an anomaly compared to the women I knew. They purchased sports cars, took dance classes and headed to the wine country. I bought a Rubicon and pointed it towards the desert. I learned off-roading, recovery skills, wilderness first aid and self-protection. I traded dress clothes and heels for tactical pants and packer boots. 

Honey Badger is a 10th-anniversary Rubicon. She earned her name because she didn’t care what our travels threw at her. Despite everything, she kept going, just like me.

I have explored ghost towns and historic sites full-time for four years, documenting my travels through my website, social media, Nevada Magazine and KGFN, Radio Goldfield, “Voice of the Old West.” 

Nevada Ghost Towns & Beyond is a compilation of my travels. I hope you enjoy the photos and history and love ghost towns as much as I do.

Come join me on my past and present explorations!

Comments

  1. Joyce ("Joy") Kenney says

    June 2, 2020 at 5:50 pm

    Hi Tami,
    I enjoyed your post along with Steve & Patty Knight’s comments about your recent activity. I have always wanted to explore old towns. Etc, but never had the opportunity. I will definitely have to learn more about the Rubicon as my Toyota Highlander probably wouldn’t do very well in the outback of Nevada desert!

    Reply
    • Tami says

      June 2, 2020 at 6:37 pm

      You can do a lot with your Highlander. I have taken my Enclaves on many rough dirt roads. Although the dealership as asked where I had taken them! Some ghost towns and fun sites are right on the side of the road or down graded dirt roads. I will be posting a few of those soon.
      We have a Dodge 3500 which is a great truck but too big to get into some locations. The Rubicon will fill the gap between the two vehicles.

      Reply
  2. Monette Taylor says

    September 15, 2021 at 12:37 pm

    Sign me up for your emails! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Tami says

      September 15, 2021 at 1:36 pm

      Thank you for signing up. I sent the newsletter this morning before you signed up but tried to send it again to you. If it doesn’t go through please let me know.

      Reply
  3. Donald P. Seibel says

    September 18, 2021 at 3:23 pm

    Dear Tami, Milly and I had the opportunity of photograph your barn and buildings today. It was truly a treat for us. I also looked at your website and it’s very impressive. I look forward to your newsletter.

    Sincerely,
    Don Seibel
    P.s I was the one with the cochlear.

    Reply
    • Tami says

      September 18, 2021 at 3:33 pm

      It was great to meet you today. I told hubby about you. Thank you, the website has been a lot of fun and grown to much more than I ever thought! See you at the next meeting or field trip.

      Reply
  4. Linda Figueroa says

    October 9, 2021 at 5:24 pm

    Stumbled on your website while looking up more information on Stan Paher, an article you did on the ghost town of Averill caught my attention. Anything dealing with ghost towns and their cemeteries will catch my attention, my husband and I love “chasing ghost towns”. We just got back from a four day trip to Tonopah and surrounding areas, something we’ve been saying “one of these days we will…….”. So we did. I signed up for your emails and look forward to reading them and learning about more ghost towns, mine sites and Nevada history.

    Reply
    • Tami says

      October 11, 2021 at 10:37 am

      Thank you, Linda. I’m so glad you found my site. Stan is an amazing man, and I am fortunate to call him a friend and join him on trips. Averill was one of the towns in Nevada Magazine’s last issue where I had a feature article. I have had two visits based around Tonopah this summer, and there is so much to explore in the area. I am happy you are taking the opportunity and starting to explore! I have towns listed in alphabetical order, over 300. I am working on making it easier to search by location.

      Reply
  5. Ken B. says

    April 9, 2022 at 2:51 am

    I stumbled upon your web site while trying to learn a little about Dixie Valley. I’m heading in the general direction soon to explore a couple of tiny trout streams and decided it’d be a perfect opportunity to finally visit Dixie Valley. You’re doing a wonderful job with your site here and I’m looking forward to exploring it further. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Tami says

      April 11, 2022 at 10:30 am

      Thank you, I am glad you have enjoyed Nevada Ghost Towns & Beyond. Dixie Valley is an amazing valley to explore, I look forward to more trips. Also, check out the east side of the Lahontan Valley, there are great ghost towns including Coppereid, La Plata, and Wonder.

      Reply
  6. Carl Brownfield says

    December 12, 2022 at 10:31 am

    Radio Goldfield is committed to bringing our heritage and great history of rural Nevada “Especially in our broadcast area” to the folks that live in our segment of the world. We cover the greater Goldfield and Tonopah area with KGFN 89.1 fm and the greater Fish Lake Valley area with KDYR 90.9 fm plus soon to install our sister station KHRM 90.3 fm to serve the greater Hadley / Round Mountain area. We also broadcast to the Hawthorne area via a translator at 92.1 fm and another translator in Beatty at 99.5fm.
    Please give me a call when you get a moment to talk about your involvement in our broadcast. I see lots of ways to utilize your travels via the spoken word.
    Thanks very much,
    Carl Brownfield – program director
    702-241-1901

    Reply
    • Tami says

      December 12, 2022 at 9:25 pm

      I sent you an email. The next few days are crazy and I will follow up Thursday or Friday if I don’t hear from you.

      Reply
  7. Bill Schwab says

    March 28, 2023 at 3:40 pm

    Tami, thanks again for another great article and photos. As I build my Jeep you’re giving us plenty of places to explore once round one of the build nears completion Spring of 2023.
    I know it’s not ghost town related but since you spend time at the Mitzpah have you ever gone out and checked out
    ” The Sump?”. One of our favorites.
    Happy trails!

    Reply
    • Tami says

      March 28, 2023 at 4:36 pm

      You might have yours done before I get mine back.
      I have heard of the Sump but haven’t been.

      Reply
  8. Josh says

    May 23, 2023 at 6:32 am

    I am doing a research paper and would like to speak to you. If you could please reach out to me I would like to use your site as a reference but have some questions.

    Reply
    • Tami says

      May 23, 2023 at 8:34 am

      You can send me an email at Tami@nvtami.com.

      Reply
  9. Lisa K. says

    December 1, 2023 at 7:49 pm

    While researching the old Kirkwood Inn & Saloon of Kirkwood, California, I somehow, luckily, stumbled onto this site! I admire your adventurous spirit. I resonate with your love of history and ghost towns. I, too, have taught college, and I connect my expertise, Theatre and Ed Psych, with people facing and solving challenges, history and society. Thank you for sharing your photos and impressions of ghost towns.

    Reply
    • Tami says

      December 3, 2023 at 12:03 pm

      I’m glad you found the page! Do you me thorugh Carson Valley. Your name and background is ringing a bell in my brain.
      We need to find a way to market a new mental health treatment involving history!

      Reply
  10. Tom says

    April 18, 2024 at 6:19 am

    I have been going to Dixie Valley almost every year since 1990 and love it there. In fact, we are headed down there to meet up with friends in a few weeks. It was even more interesting when the valley was full of old cars and trucks and the dump was still full of old treasures.

    Keep up the good work!

    Tom in Idaho

    Reply
    • Tami says

      April 18, 2024 at 10:10 am

      Enjoy your trip! Make sure to check out road conditions; Dixie Valley has some washouts this spring.

      Reply
  11. Winnie Birdsong says

    November 11, 2024 at 7:23 am

    Hi Tami, I ran across your FB page and am intrigued by your website. My husband and I travel around the California and Nevada deserts in our 22 ft motorhome. Due to my husband’s handicaps, we don’t offroad anymore UNLESS it’s a flat, graded road. We’d love to know about some easy to reach ghost towns where we could also camp. We’ve been to Bodie and drive 395 a couple pf times a year. Love your interactive map, but road info would be helpful too.

    Reply
    • Tami says

      November 13, 2024 at 7:19 am

      I responded on Facebook but wanted to respond here too. I would start with developed sites like state parks. Rhyolite, Bodie, Berlin (which has campsites) and Fort Churchill. Grimes Point and Mt. Irish have amazing petroglyphs which are on graded roads. Valley of Fire and Cathedral Gorge both have structures built by the CCC.
      Out of Vegas Nelson, Goodsprings are both great options.
      Due to changing circumstances, I couldn’t keep up with road conditions. I have seen great roads washout to even dirt-bikes within a week.

      Reply

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Tami Force NVTami

Hi, I’m Tami, and I have been exploring ghost towns, mining camps, and back roads for 30 years. If you love seeing and learning about some of the more unusual ghost towns and locations in Nevada and beyond, you came to the right place! My goal is to photograph, document, and share this amazing history.  Come join me along with my dog, family, and friends on our explorations!

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