Ghost Towns and Mines
Lambertucci roma ranch, Nv
I’ve driven by this site many times over the years but never visited it until now. From the highway, I could only see two large, corrugated metal buildings in the distance. Due to their location near Tonopah, I assumed they were some kind of mine or mill structures. Once I got up close, I found that they were barns. I also found many other, older, structures that could not be seen from the highway.
In 1911 Vincenzo Lambertucci bought a small ranch two miles west of Tonopah. The ranch included a three-room house, a combined barn and blacksmith shop, nine chicken houses, and various furnishings and tools.
In 1915 Vincenzo and Dominico Lambertucci made a verbal agreement with the Tonopah Extension Mining Company, giving them rights to the excess water being pumped from the Victor and McKane shafts in Tonopah. This agreement was formalized with a written contract in 1922.
Tax records from the late 1930s through the early 1950s show that the ranch raised hogs and chickens. No mention was made of any cattle during this period. By 1941 the Lambertucci family also owned a Richfield service station next to the hightway, at the entrance to the ranch.
I don’t know when the two large corrugated metal barns built, but they weren’t mentioned in those early records. Most likely they were built in the 1950s, or possibly the early 1960s.
Currently the ranch ruins are located in a very dry, barren expanse of desert. The area has been used as a trash dump, so there is a great deal of unsightly debris in addition to the junk that accumulated during the lifetime of the ranch.
Thanks to the Central Nevada Historical Society for providing information about the ranch, as well as the photo shown below.
Above: An early, undated photo of the ranch. The building at Number 1 still stands although the roof is collapsing. Building Number 2 is in ruins. The buildings at Number 3 have been replaced by a single structure which is considerably different. Building Number 4 still stands though it is heavily damaged. No trace remains of building Number 5. The two large metal barns (Number 6) currently at the site had not yet been built when this photo was taken.
Click the photos or links below to see more photos of each structure.
(Number 5 no longer exists)
Number 6 - Two Large Metal Barns
Number 7 - Small Ruins
At the west end of the site there was a row of several small cabins and stone ruins. I didn’t have time to explore this area so I have no other photos at this time. From the period photos I’ve seen, I believe the wooden cabins were originally chicken coops.
Posted September 2018.
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The contents of this entire site are property of Ray R. Dunakin III except where noted, and may not be used without permission.