Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
24 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
24 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
24 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
24 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Nevada Golconda Midas Ghost Town Saloon

Midas Ghost Town Saloon

A hidden gem of a saloon in the middle of a ghost town.

Golconda, Nevada

Added By
Lew Blank
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
View down Main Street in Midas   Famartin / CC BY-SA 4.0
View down Main Street in Midas   Famartin / CC BY-SA 4.0
“Welcome to Midas” sign   Famartin / CC BY-SA 4.0
Old car and building in Midas   Famartin / CC BY-SA 4.0
Looking down Main Street in Midas   Famartin / CC BY-SA 4.0
Old cart in Midas   Famartin / CC BY-SA 4.0
Snowy Midas   rskpez / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In June of 1907, prospector James McDuffy struck gold in north central Nevada, leading to the immediate creation of the mining town of Gold Circle. Over the next few years, the town became filled with miners and, two years later, Gold Circle was renamed to Midas when the federal government refused to build another post office with “gold” in its name.

Following the discovery of gold, Midas immediately grew, expanding to a small town of 5,000 with four real estate offices, five hotels, town dances, a red-light district, and shootouts in Main Street. The mining town thrived for over three decades until 1942, when the boomtown lost its “Midas Touch.”

In the middle of World War II, the unpredictable gold economy in Midas finally ran dry and all mining operations ceased. The town’s post office was permanently shut down and the local school was forced to close after its enrollment dropped below the three student threshold. Nowadays, the doctor’s office, jail, hotels, and feeding stables that were established in the early 1900s have largely rusted over. The remains of the old mines, mills, and cemeteries have been left to erode and decay.

But there is one remnant of Old Midas that remains open to this day in its original form: the Midas Saloon and Dinner House. In recent years, Midas Ghost Town has experienced a minor revitalization and now houses a small population of 20 retirees, leading to a demand for a restaurant in town. Bringing burgers, beers, and history to the table, the Midas Saloon was restored, and to this day it is single-handedly keeping the town's history alive and well. 

Related Tags

Ghost Towns Restaurants Gold Rush Gold

Community Contributors

Added By

lewblank

Edited By

hana, rskpez

  • hana
  • rskpez

Published

February 1, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midas,_Nevada
  • http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/nv/midas.html
  • http://www.onlinenevada.org/articles/midas
  • http://www.cowboycountry.org/GhostTowns.shtml
Midas Ghost Town Saloon
Golconda, Nevada
United States
41.243885, -116.797224

Nearby Places

Armpit of America

Battle Mountain, Nevada

miles away

Falls Creek Falls

Rebel Creek, Nevada

miles away

The Martin Hotel

Winnemucca, Nevada

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Nevada

Nevada

United States

Places 265
Stories 24

Nearby Places

Armpit of America

Battle Mountain, Nevada

miles away

Falls Creek Falls

Rebel Creek, Nevada

miles away

The Martin Hotel

Winnemucca, Nevada

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Nevada

Nevada

United States

Places 265
Stories 24

Related Places

  • Quesnel Forks, British Columbia

    Quesnel Forks

    A lonely cemetery holds the history of a gold mining town turned ghost town.

  • An old storefront in Molson.

    Molson, Washington

    Okanogan Highland Ghost Towns

    This former mining hub holds a surprising abundance of undisturbed relics from the Old West.

  • Aerial view of Fort Egbert.

    Eagle, Alaska

    Fort Egbert

    This remote fort on the Yukon River is a vestige of the wild Alaska gold rush.

  • Caliente, Nevada

    Delamar Ghost Town

    The eerie ruins of an isolated abandoned town nicknamed "the Widowmaker" for its deadly gold mine.

  • The Nevadaville Masonic Lodge, built in 1879.

    Central City, Colorado

    Nevadaville Ghost Town

    This deserted Gold Rush town is home to a Masonic lodge that, strangely enough, still holds meetings.

  • Slide Cemetery

    Skagway, Alaska

    The Slide Cemetery

    A tiny wilderness cemetery commemorates the deadliest episode of the Klondike Gold Rush.

  • “Unknown Family” by Malcolm Alexander (1986)

    Fairbanks, Alaska

    Golden Heart Plaza

    Once the center of Gold Rush mania, now the starting point for the Yukon Quest sled dog race.

  • Central Deborah Gold Mine

    Bendigo, Australia

    Central Deborah Gold Mine

    Direct access to a gold mine showing the boom and bust of Australia's Victorian gold rush.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.