Just south of Tuerto, a new town called Golden was being formed, which soon absorbed both El Real de San Francisco and Placer del Tuerto. Officially formed in 1879, Golden was selected as the center of the new gold-mining district and soon grew to support several saloons, businesses, a school, and even a stock exchange. In 1880, the post office was opened.

However, the expectations of Golden's miners were soon deflated, as, by 1884, the gold was already beginning to dwindle and people began to leave the area. But, mining continued on a small scale until about 1892 and ranching continued to be a mainstay of the economy. In 1918 the Golden General Merchandise Store opened by Ernest Ricon. In the 1960's a man named Henderson married Ricon's daughter and they took over the store. It is the only business in town that continues to operate today and referred to by the locals as the Henderson General Store.

By 1928, the population was so reduced that the post office closed and Golden officially became a ghost town. For years afterwards, its many abandoned buildings remained, tumbling down between its few remaining occupied structures. During this time, vandalism also took its toll on the town and its remaining structures, but a few crumbling ruins still provide excellent photo opportunities. Golden's most photographed building is the San Francisco Catholic Church, which was restored by historian and author, Fray Angelico Chavez,  in 1960, while he was the padre of the St. Joseph Church in Los Cerrillos. Across the highway, west of the church are the ruins of another large structure, as well as mining remnants.

Today, Golden has seen a small rebirth as new residents have moved into the area, building new homes and restoring others, but still it remains a sleepy village with vivid reminders of its more robust past.

Nearby Golden, are the traceable ruins of a pueblo called Paa-Ko that dates back to about 1300 A.D. Abandoned around 1670, there is little to be seen today. The site was commissioned as a New Mexico State Monument in 1938 but was decommissioned in 1959. Located just north of the Crest turnoff, little remains can be seen at the site that is now utilized for archeology digs by universities and researchers.

Golden is located along the Turquoise Trail Scenic Byway, Golden is about ten miles north of the Sandia Park Junction on NM 14.

© Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, updated February, 2012.