Ghost Towning With The Ortons

I want to begin this week’s column by thanking the many folks that wrote to me regarding Travis Weberling and the way he stiffed me in Las Vegas during the Cauliflower Alley Club reunion.

A few have asked me to put his address and phone number in a column so they could call him or send him a card with their sentiments. His address is 174 Lee Rd., W. Melbourne, FL 32904, and his phone is 321-723-1073.

I doubt that I will ever see what he owes me and should probably write it off as a bad experience, but it has left a very sour taste in my mouth. Taking advantage of someone's good nature is something I have NEVER done. I hope that I don't come in contact with him again as I shudder to think what might happen if I do.

As a friend of mine once said, "Percival Friend is one of the gentlest, kindest people I know. He probably cries at sad movies and would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it, but if he wanted to, he could rip your heart out if he so chose."

Fr. Jason stopped a few times during the session to pray for Travis and his antics. I said my farewells and was off to the Orton compound near I-95 on the East side of Las Vegas. I spent the rest of the afternoon getting some stuff packed up for shipping as my luggage was overflowing from the many gifts I received during the reunion.

After a short dip in the pool, I went to the car rental agency and got a new car for the trip on Friday. At 6 a.m., I rose to a beautiful sunshine beating in on my bedroom. I hurriedly showered and met Rita, Rhonda Orton and Dee for a quick bowl of fresh fruit and coffee to start the morning off. We wanted to be on the road early to beat the morning traffic out of Las Vegas.

Our first stop was at Indian Springs to get some snacks for later in the day. I then continued up I-95 toward Beatty. We stopped and topped the tank off and then went back across the road from where the Burro Inn used to be. Stagecoach Casino bought it and really made some changes to it and then closed it down, along with the Exchange Club that had been in existence since 1906, thus becoming the only Casino in town to do business at.

Leaving the diner, we headed out on Route 374 to visit Rhyolite, one of my favorite Ghost Towns. As I entered the limits, I got a big shock, as the old bottle house made of 50,000 beer bottles had been restored to a new look. All the years of natural patina from weather and the elements had been erased. It hardly resembled the 100+ year old building that I had visited many times before. I drove by the Cook Bank building and the old train depot - ghost casino, and then I was gone back to Beatty, very shaken by the sights and memories that had been changed.

Once again, we hooked up with I-95 North and went to the Lida Jct. at Nevada 266. A few miles later, we turned onto Nevada 774 and were at Gold Point. It is without a doubt the most restored ghost town I have seen in all the years I have visited them. Sheriff Stone and Red Dog Lil have made it a point to go out of their way to extend a cordial hand to all that visit. It is their home year long, but they open their doors to many events during the entire year. Memorial day weekend and the day after Thanksgiving are two of the biggest events held at Gold Point.

They draw hundreds upon hundreds of people that come to enjoy the hospitality of the Old West. There are cook-off's and contests, they have music and gunfights in the streets (blanks used by deputies), plenty of food and, mostly ,a safe environment that all can come and enjoy.

Everyone can enjoy stepping back 100 years in time and seeing what the West looked like as the original and restored buildings and equipment are dotted throughout. Many items like granite ware, china and utensils are secured on the exterior of some buildings so that future generations can view them.

History lessons are abundant and given by Sheriff Stone and his deputies to enhance your visit. There are many mines in the area that are currently abandoned and should not be entered without supervision and safety equipment. Sheriff Stone has guided tours available.

There are many old vehicles in Gold Point, including a few old fire engines that still crank and run. There are old Jeeps, cars and mining trucks that also dot the landscape and make the visit worthwhile. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle and want to go venture outside of town in the many hills and mountains, you’re perfectly welcome to do so, but please carry your own gas and supplies, as none are available in Gold Point.

A shot of the galley adorned with pots and pans and bric-a-brac from all over. Percival: "This is part of why I enjoyed Gold Point so much ... looking and learning about its past."

I want to personally thank Sheriff Stone for his gift of the book on Gold Point and signing it for my library. That book is available, along with other items in the Gold Point Mercantile store, online at www.goldpointghosttown.com . It is an excellent site to visit and has many articles on the history and the fun that can be had in Gold Point. Please sign the guest book, as I am sure that Sheriff Stone would be very happy to hear from you.

Leaving Gold Point and returning to I -95 South, we went to Scotty's Junction and turned West again and went the 25 or so miles to Scotty's Castle in Death Valley, California. It is a breathtaking sight to see when coming down the junction out of the high hills that surround it. Standing there in all it's majesty it is truly a sight to behold.

It was built by millionaire Albert Johnson and named after his friend Scotty (Walter Scott), a pseudo gold miner that sold his mine to anybody that would listen to him and had fun with the money derived from the sale. Scotty never had a mine but made people believe that he did, including the Johnsons‘. Albert enjoyed the area so much because of the climate that he built the Castle in the 1920's. It became his home away from home, as he also had a home in Los Angeles.

Scotty lived at the castle during his final years and, in 1954, was being transported to Las Vegas and died en route. He is buried overlooking his namesake on a hill called Windy Point next to his favorite collie dog, Windy.

We left the Castle and decided to take the road thru Death Valley going back to Las Vegas. Many good sights are to be seen in the distance from the highway. Arriving in Pahrump a few hours later, we dined at a place called The Winery. It is a five-star establishment that caters to everyone. They even have a vineyard next to the restaurant.

Arriving back in Las Vegas at 8 p.m., we turned in the car and headed back to the compound so I could ready myself for the plane ride a few hours later. I took a power nap and rose at 10 p.m. to leave for McCarran Airport and was soon off to Houston on the final leg of my Las Vegas journey.

Thanks again to all my friends that made this trip a memorable one. I hope to see you all again in the very near future.

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers

2003 BWC Hall of Fame Inductee
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