Bob Schoose
Historian / Owner
Goldfield Ghost Town
Goldfield, AZ USA
“One of the best attributes somebody can have, is when you say you’re going to do something, you do it.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationBob Schoose
Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
Born in River Grove, Illinois, and moved to California when he was four—hearing stories about gold miners during his childhood trips to Knott’s Berry Farm sparked his interest in history.
Inspired by his passion for history and the lure of gold, he has traveled and lived throughout the deserts of the Southwest, including many ghost towns.
Worked in construction for most of his career, but got frustrated by the unreliability of the work and wanted to find something more stable.
After seeing several ghost towns start turning to tourism to survive, he saw an opportunity to combine his passions.
Ended up buying a five-acre residential property which was a deeded mill site for the Goldfield Mine; began rebuilding the crumbling site so people could visit and learn about the history.
On opening day in 1988, they only did $9 in business—he admits he thought he had made a huge mistake, but his vision for what the place could be kept him going.
He faced a lot criticism early on from people around him that thought he was crazy—says, “You can measure a man’s strength based on his ability to adapt.”
He now serves as the self-appointed “Mayor of Goldfield” and continues to work towards preserving the towns history for future generations to enjoy.
Keep following my journey
Education
GED
Career
Historian / Owner
I am a ghost town, mining, and treasure-hunting enthusiast who rebuilt the Goldfield Ghost Town.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Business
Entrepreneurship
Building Things
Day to Day
I work on preserving the buildings and history of this location. I also manage the tours, museum, and shops on site to give guests an authentic experience.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for everyone
You have to make a living, but choose a field that you are interested in. Follow your passions.
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"You dummy...what did you do!?"
Challenges I Overcame
Financial
Learning Issues
Interviewed By
Future West
Trailblazing new pathways in Arizona
