Subject: Our Expeditions Of La Plata/Dixie Valley NV & Middlegate Station - 2/28/16
Date: 3/3/2016 4:37:39 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: paranormalghostsociety@googlegroups.com
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Middlegate Station
 
I love the Middlegate Station area the views are absolutely gorgeous and its not to far from a place called Sand Mountain Recreational Area. Just as the name sounds its a massive mountain of sand that you can ride four wheelers on and everything so much fun. Middlegate Station is really the last of its kind I mean it served the Overland Stage Company and Pony Express. Most stations in the west are just piles of rubble and stones meanwhile this one stills stands and today is open to the public. But not much has changed back in the day it handled freight, provided a place for pioneers to rest, water down horses and perhaps get a hot meal. Today same thing you can get gas instead of water for your horses, eat a meal they are home to the Nevadan Monster Burger which has been on some food shows and you can bunk up for the night.
 
The last time I was here I did not go inside I was kind of here to chill between ghost towns last year ago. I remember last time I was here I walked up to this old carriage and there was this cat sitting in the seat being all lovable with me. It was very quiet last time I was here but this time around this place was bustling and people were drinking in the saloon. I was about to join them believe me it was a rough day when you can live nearly die and have a chance for a cold drink by the end of sundown that is a damn fine day lol. When you get to the station there is a big sign in the front its about the only thing in over 75 miles believe me when I say that nothing is out here.
 
From the highway when you turn in you can see in the distance allot of trailers behind the station and a couple ranch houses. The station has a porch that kind of wraps around you can sit on it smoke a cigar maybe have a drink outdoors. Across the highway is a couple abandoned houses actually they are mere skeletons or perhaps just a couple of prefabricated structures. They were not historic but probably built 30 years ago and abandoned. I did not have time to check them out because my main focus was on the station but one thing it told me is that this area is more then just a station. Some folks have came here to camp or permanently make this area on route 50 there homes! Back in the day when the government wanted a safe sure route west they had a pioneer establish this route therefore before the station was built emigrants would camp here in the mid 1800's. Three pass on the route look like gates you have western, middle and eastern gate. The station was built right near what James Samson thought looked like one of these very gates.
 
Not much remains this station has been in peril twice as most of you know most of the old Pony Express and Overland Stations were dismantled by ranchers and miners who hauled the rocks away used to in these stations construction. Twice it was abandoned and twice it was renovated I really do not want to see it become abandoned because its a piece of American History. The station today is an oasis in the desert honestly its a great place just to take a rest at if your going ghost towning or your out adventuring in that region. I did not have to get gas my jeep was actually good for the entire day then again I had premium in there and I paid 140 for premium  gas a gallon that morning I left for the Stillwater Range.
 
I parked at the station then we had gotten out to have a look around the sun setting was gorgeous it made the mountains look various sheds of brown, red, orange and pink afar. I was happy to be here all I had on my mind at this point is to get a cold brew maybe a bite to eat. I also was working on this project because we really want to promote it on our site bring in other adventurers, friends, members and that sort of thing. We can bulk up the tourism here because I have read some newspaper articles that a few times the station almost closed recently due to the lack of customers. Highway 50 is the loneliest road in America the owners I am sure have made many friends but really most folks are just passing through or fail to stop here.
 
The station is made out of native stone other parts of it wood it is over 150 years in age. There is a picket fence around a portion of it while adjacent is a hotel where you can get a room for the night. There is an old phone booth on the property, rusty vehicles, farm and mining equipment. Their is also a few wagons one is a two seater black carriage the other two are made of wood that probably some pioneers left behind passing through. One of the wagons is just a pile of wood the other one is still fully together. There is also a much larger black carriage near the wooden wagon which can seat up to four individuals. There was also an outhouse some wagon wheels and even an old rocking horse which cost some change for your kid to ride. There was a rusty wood stove also near the entrance into the station and shaded by a huge patch of cottonwood trees.
 
There is a few historical pieces of information if you walk around and wish to read them but not to many maybe two or three. Tammy told me that she just felt out of place or creeped out here not sure why. If you turn off at Middlegate there are some fine ghost towns we been to just up the road. Most of the folks here who drink or dine are locals they probably live in one of the trailers on the stations property. I am not so main stream therefore people do stare although not polite they do. Sadly if most of these folks knew me they would know I am a true Nevadan no matter what I look like. I did not see it but Tammy said people were staring at me left and right in the saloon. Of course it appeared some guy liked my 420 jersey that I had gotten as a gift recently its pretty obvious I toke not ashamed of it its pretty much saved my life medically. You see I never get shit in Virginia City or other parts out west this is because most semi ghost towns or older saloons are use to seeing a variety of folks stop in for a brew or meal. Back in the 1800's you had all kind of cultures and emigrants passing through the region some more colorful then others for sure! I wonder what others would say to me if I walked into the station in the 1800's with my black nails they might have hung me who knows LMAO.
 
There is a pool table inside, few tables, gift shop, wood stove, ceiling is covered in dollar bills with autographs and a few relics of the past. I tried to get a few photos of some of the things hanging on the wall such as gold pans, horse shoes, cattle skulls, old popcorn machine, fiddles, lamps, tools and things of that sort. Tammy and I were a bit disappointed in the service here we have to give constructive criticism otherwise places like these will close if they cant fix the issues at hand. First off it took them 45 minutes to get us a beer we came sat down at a table in the restaurant across from the bar. I had to literally stop someone eventually and ask if we could get one. The guy suggested food off the menu we looked it was extremely pricey and I seen about 10 items on it. The monster burger alone was 18 dollars we just settled for some onion rings and they were good no complaints there but we did not stay very long other then to conduct our paranormal investigation as dusk was setting on in.
 
Tammy pointed out that the lamp or light above us was filled with bugs since they leave the door open a good wind might blow them onto your food. I guess the place was just kind of dirty I mean it took another half hour to get onion rings which basically just get put into the fryer for a few minutes and your golden. They had two staff working the grill and bar the place had a few folks drinking but at the time only one other individual was eating a sandwich. I just did not get to much of a friendly vibe I tipped the guy at the bar for our brews and onion rings but he may have gotten more if he did not leave us sitting there for an hour and half without any service in total. Their is nothing extravagant here I get that its a small little saloon in the middle of nowhere but I pass this place a few times a year therefore if they want me to come here spend my money they have got to do better.
 
The wooden floors creak here which gives the place character and I felt comfortable here. Some cowboys came in actually a cowboy and cowgirl with the spurs and chaps on to have a meal as well. Most folks who come here just had gotten done rounding up cattle or just had gotten off their shift up at the Naval Base in Fallon. Allot of military come here to have a brew or dine but its not very close to Fallon therefore most folks really do not make the drive here to indulge. I was happy having the opportunity to have some beer and food at this establishment afterall its a very relevant historic site. There is not many in tact Overland Stations left as a matter in fact just a matter of miles up the road is Cold Springs Station. That site has a Telegraph Repeater, Overland and Pony Express Station. But today they are in ruins nothing but walls remain crumbling away. However Middlegate has served a similar purchase for a over a century in a half even Hank Williams Jr. has been here.
 
I cant say either way whether its haunted or not haunted but either way like most of our investigations or cases I eventually will find out. This might be due to others sending us reports or stories privately or the results of that investigation. When we had gotten out of the saloon it was dark out but you could see a patch of sun between the western gate fading to the west and the shadows from the mountains which surround this location 360 degrees. I walked around a bit more to take some night photos of the station lit up its pretty awesome stands out like a sore thumb for miles or as if its a beacon of light over the ocean only here its a sea of sagebrush.
 
There was a sign on the wall of the porch just outside the entrance that said population 18 but the 18 was crossed out and it said 17 lol. Yes people do live here also more then likely the owners because there are a couple houses, trailers and small homes on the property. I can imagine life here can get a little boring but one thing is for sure its quiet. You have ghost towns in the area like Ione, Grantsville and Berlin not to far down the road where you turn off at the junction. This wagon route would take you down into Tonoapah which is a ghost town I worked with twice in January in not one but two different snowstorms.
 
At night the place gets a little more creepy there is allot in the desert behind the station I did not have a chance to at least look around some more. The problem is that there are people who live behind the station its kind of like a trailer park in middle of no mans land with history in between it all. So I tried to cover the station inside and outside as much as possible such as the remnants of the past, history and anything that I could check out. After our investigation and EVP session it was dark I opened the moon roof drove to Fallon the entire way smoking my pipe. It was so nice with the breeze blowing in, stars out and some nice flavorful bud. I was on a quest we were going to go to Sonic's for a milkshake and some grub I could not wait. Not sure id eat at Middlegate again but if your looking for an ice cold brew in the middle of the desert after a day of offroading and checking out ghost towns then yes I recommend it!
 
When we arrived to Fallon we went to Sonic's did you know that nobody is on roller skates anymore? I like seeing the hot girls on the skates I live for that being a guy and all lol! But on the other hand I was able to relax for a bit in my jeep. Of course they did not leave me even a tray whatever happened to these places leaving the tray on the side of the window? Times have changed but it was a nice night out 60 degrees and we had our dinner looking up through the moon roof at the stars. I order a foot long Coney Dog, Burger, Fries, Chocolate Milk Shake and a root beer. It was kind of a cool way to finish off the night it really was before I had to drive home. I always love checking out the this region of Nevada its very scenic, mysterious, full of adventure and historic sites. At one time this entire area was under an ancient sea called Lahontan today the waters have subsided now you have the great basin.
 
I really think we outdid ourselves on this journey but in a good way between adventuring at Mountain Well, La Plata, Dixie Valley then finishing off our day up at Middlegate Station. I felt we had some good second follow up expeditions as well. Sometimes when you return to a location you get to see or experience more then you did last time. The only thing that was a disappointment is that all day long we hardly seen any wildlife. Sure we seen many cattle and a bunch of adorable calves perhaps even a variety of birds. But on this trek we did not see any wild mustangs, antelope, big horn sheep, coyotes, wolves or deer. They do live up in the mountains and canyons that surround these valley perhaps coming down in the morning or at night. People tend to think no life can be found here that is just not the case the mountains of Nevada harbor all sorts of nature and it does surround this station believe me if you are looking for it.
 
This was an adventurous day climbing cliffs in my jeep, checking out ghost towns, exploring abandoned ranches, gem hunting, offroading for miles over dunes, through forest and atop of the Stillwater Mountains. I had driven over 330 miles that day if that gives you an idea of how hard we work. I did plenty of photography, filming and EVP sessions as well. These places are full of the paranormal and when they hit our website they should earn your interest! With that in mind some cases are now closed we killed it this time and Tammy really had gotten to find out what her newest camera can do so expect some really awesome photos. Between the adventure I had up in the ghost town of White Cloud City all the way to return to this area two weeks later was one I did without a single regret.
 
 I dreaded coming home because our adventure was epic it was one filled with allot of good times, laughs, tokes and we really got allot of work done historically as well as paranormal wise. Every year I come out this way a couple times to check out ghost towns and new sites alike. We really went all out this time and I wish others were with us but hopefully we have done a good enough job to make our viewers feel as if they were a part of this journey through our work as well as site. I did something new that I never did before and that was journey with the bulls which were more pleasant then some folks I know! Another day in the wild west that will always be remembered as we dared to brave it!
 
Namaste,
Lord Rick
PGS Founder

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