A dusty desert town that has seen little action since the California Gold Rush could get a new lease of life as a pot tourism destination.
Legal cannabis company American Green has taken the unusual step of buying the entire town of Nipton, located near the Nevada border.
American Green has paid $5 million for the 80-acre ghost town which has just a handful of residents, and plans to spend $2.5 million over the next year to expand the town.
The town currently has a hotel, trading post, campgrounds and a couple of houses.
It also has its own solar power farm and American Green plans to turn Nipton into an energy-independent town.
"We are excited to lead the charge for a true ‘Green Rush.’ As industry leaders since 2009, we are thrilled to begin work on this first-of-its-kind eco-tourism experience for conscious cannabis consumers," said David Gwyther, chairman and president of American Green.
To begin with, the company plans to start a bottled water plant using CBD, the cannabis ingredient which alleviates pain and inflammation.
It also hopes to attract other businesses to set up amenities in town including cannabis dispensaries, wellness facilities, art programs, culinary events and bed-and-breakfast lodging.
"The Nipton Project has the potential to be one of the biggest initiatives any of us at American Green have undertaken. The project holds great possibilities for our company and for the cannabis industry as a whole," said American Green COO Pat Carrigan.
