What and Where
We are a small, husband and wife run Ranch located in Gold Hill, Nevada. We are a quarter mile Southeast of Virginia City on the Truck Route, Highway 341.
We built our small ranch on top of the overburden piles from the Ward Mine which operated in the late 1800’s. We are open Thursday to Sunday 10am to 4pm and we’re looking forward to sharing all of the fun on the Ranch with you!
The Donkeys and their Wagons
All donkeys but our Mammoth Jack Donkey have been adopted from the Bureau of Land Management, gentled and trained to pull wagons.
We have a smooth path that meanders around the ranch that our donkeys pull a wagon on. This is a safe, contained space to experience a wagon ride with your family and learn a little about donkeys, wagons and the Ward Mine that is also on the property.
The Petting Farm
The Ranch is home to pigs, goats, chickens and bunnies. All of our farmyard animals were adopted, rescued or donated and provided a safe and loving existence here at the Ranch. All of our small barn animals were born and/or raised around people and are very gentle. There is an intimate small barn corral where the pigs, goats, chickens and bunnies enjoy being petted and fed. The animals like to be petted and fed to each person’s comfort level.
Prospecting
We are located on a mountain of old mine tailings and overburden piles that contain quartz crystals, placer gold and an vast assortment of other rocks and minerals. We provide a small kit, rock identifier map of the Ranch and instructions on how to prospect on the Ranch. It is self guided and we are bordered on all sides by BLM land so you have an unlimited area to explore. It is not hard to find assorted minerals including gold but it does take some intention and patience but it does pay off. Yes, gold is found and yes you get to keep all that you find.
Why we are here
We started with a bare patch of dirt and built everything from scratch. It has been a labor of love and have poured our hearts into creating an experience that you will want to come back to time and again.
What is Available
The Ranch is open to the public Thursday thru Sunday from 10 am to 4pm. We have an unobstructed view where you can see all the way to the East Site of Yosemite in the Sierra Nevada. This is an ideal location for a Wedding, birthday party or any other event where grand vistas are desired.