As we approach the end of October and All Hallow’s Eve, the last place most people would think about camping would be in a ghost town next to a cemetery with graves over one hundred years old. However, on a recent trip through Nevada, that is exactly what my wife and I did. First of all, I don’t believe in ghosts. The Bible says you go to one of two places when you die, neither of which is hanging around the remains of your earthly body. Secondly, my wife and I were looking for a spot to camp for the night. Having visited this ghost town previously, we knew there was plenty of room to camp and a paved road would take us there. And how many places can you have a whole town to yourself and not pay a penny to be there?
So off we went to the historic town of Candelaria, parking just down the street from the old Wells Fargo Express Office. (We would have chosen the Walmart had there been such a thing in the 1870’s.) There we found a level spot, a fire ring and enough wood left by the last campers to grill our dinner. As the sun was setting we took a stroll over to the cemetery to pay our respects. I am here to report there were no strange noises or happenings in the night and I slept like a baby.
Boondocking in a ghost free ghost town, just another adventure in RVing!

Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
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