Grass Valley has had a rich live stock history since 1873. John Spencer, who made his fortune in the Nevada mines, founded the Grass Valley Ranch and made it his home for twenty years. He built a huge house and made Grass Valley a profitable ranching operation. When Spencer died in 1893, a long and bitter feud developed between his two sons over ranch ownership. The feud between the Spencer brothers was never resolved and the ranch was sold. The huge house that Spencer built burned down in 1951 but several older buildings remain. The current owner is Molly Knudsen, one of the great women of Nevada.

Submitted by: Shawn Hall from his book Romancing Nevada's Past: Ghost Towns And Historic Sites Of Eureka, Lander, And White Pine Counties Click here to purchase his book!