Located in the Calico Mountains of the Mojave Desert region of Southern California, it was founded in 1881 as a silver mining town, and today has been converted into … Calico is another wonderfully preserved ghost towns in Southern California. In recent times it has been reduced to a ghost town, also serving as a major tourist spot. Locals visit the remaining olive orchard and claim to have seen the apparition of an Indian in a magnificent headdress walking through the olive trees. Despite a terrible fire as well as low business prospects, the town still had people thriving in the 20th century. It had a host of facilities like a general store, saloon bars, and brothels. But while these ghost towns are reclaimed by the earth, many spirits remain, perpetually searching for wealth and good fortune that many never found while still alive. When these sailors are approached, they vanish into thin air. Its fortunes further increased when colemanite had been discovered in Calico mountains. Hello there! Many believe she was a bride who was murdered by a jealous ex-lover before she could get married. George Riggins who had migrated here from Australia had proposed the name of this town. California Forts & Presidios. The Chemung mine located adjacent to this settlement had been founded in 1909 and was famed for its production of gold. Initially, there were about 1500 people living in the town, though at present the population has come down to 70 or 80, with most of them being the whites. Berlin’s first ichthyosaur fossils were discovered in the 1950s, and excavations revealed giant remains of these ancient animals that reached lengths of 50 feet. The town became a populous settlement in the year 1874 after the discovery of lead and silver. Enlisted in the California Historical Landmark, the town attained its name from ex-soldiers who had come from New York’s Auburn. The town had 2000 inhabitants initially and there were amenities like a movie theater, saloon, and a dairy. Third guys, third. Bombay Beach was meant to be a resort town for vacationers during the 1940s and 50s. Advertiser Disclosure: Backpackerverse.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. They are abandoned mines in the Inyo Mountains adjacent to Lone Pine where mining operations had been undertaken from 1866 till 1957. A popular mining district, this was located in the Rand Mountain region of the Mojave Desert. Its initial name was Lockeport, after the main owner of the land, George Locke. Nestled in the Calico Mountains, Calico is both a ghost town and an amusement park – but don’t let its overt commercialism keep you from visiting, because there’s plenty of history there, too. Recently reports of a beautiful young woman has been seen, walking were the tracks once lay. Treasures buried by family members are also hidden here. Presently the community has been transformed into a park named as Calico Ghost Town. It got is first post office in the year 1896, followed by saloons, churches, a general store and also an opera house. In 1859, four prospectors discovered gold in a nearby area and so, in 1876, large-scale mining began. 10 Southern California Ghost Towns Perfect For Ghost Hunting. At present, the city has just a single resident named Rocky Novak who owns a general store which functions in the afternoon as well as during the weekends to cater to the services of the tourists. The place had converted into a bustling village in 1895 having about 4000 residents after gold was discovered. Required fields are marked *. Your email address will not be published. A ghost town called Bodie State Park. ), 7 Best Night Vision Camcorders for Ghost Hunting (Gets Real Spirits! Most of them were gold mining sites that had a booming population at a point of time, which eventually lost its glory with the decline in production. It’s been said that they peer out into the water, looking for their ship to come back to port. During its height, its mines produced over 1.8 million ounces of gold. Known as the first town ever established south of Laws, CA, Zurich was built as a result of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The New Idira Mercury Mine was instrumental behind the naming of this community, which shut in 1972 leading to a decline in the population, converting the settlement into a ghost town. The town was originally named Blake between 1893 and 1902 after Isaac Blake. There was a schoolhouse, bakery, social hall, boarding house, machine shop, and a blacksmith shop. There were also two lawyers, two constables, two doctors, five commissioners, a deputy sheriff as well as a JP (Justice of Peace). Today, the town has a population of 135 –that doesn’t include the burros. The population gradually depleted turning it into a ghost town. Since t… The Middle town was said to be the largest of the three, equipped with a boarding house, post office, general store, as well as the office of the newspaper (The Masonic Pioneer) of the town. The town attained its name after Charles Alexander Mentry who took charge of the oil fields. Death Valley Ghost Towns When mining production was at its peak, the town had over 4000 people living here. Shortly after he sold his share to a man named Johnny Lang and a partner. After the discovery of gold in a nearby mine, the population rose at a rapid pace and the first post office was set up in the year 1851. Backpackerverse.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Burros first came to Oatman with early day prospectors. There are ghost towns that hold treasure. Presently it appears to be a deserted town, while the only building present is that of the Eagle Mountain Elementary School opened for the kids in the locality. Which means we appreciate the old towns and have fixed many up to be loved and lived in well again. The railroad, having substantial business interests in the region, spent some three million dollars to stop the river’s flow into the Salton Sink, finally succeeding in 1907. This area was the go-to spot in the 1800s. California natives who visit the town claim to have seen Lang’s ghost in the distance, still digging in the ground for his fortune. Silver was found in small quantities on the southern slope of the Calico Mountains in 1875, but the find didn’t generate much excitement. A post office had been set up in 1875, closed in 1902 for a while and then again opened. Presently this place has been incorporated into the Cuyamaca State Park, though at one point of time it had evoked too much of legal controversy. The town was in complete decline by 1911. A telegraph line, many daily newspapers, saloons, jails and a cemetery were some of the amenities present in this town. Old Denny had been abandoned and people started settling in New Denny where reserves of gold were found. Belleville – Waiting for the Mother Lode. Just outside of Barstow in the Mojave Desert—designated the state of California’s official “silver rush ghost town” … One local claims to have heard the phantom noise of the mine shaft carts being pushed back and forth as well. Bodie – A Ghostly Ghost Town. In 1910, a total of 698 people were recorded to have been living here. Like most other ghost towns, it witnessed a phase of boom and bust, and from a highly populous habitation, it gradually became a scantily inhabited town. The records observed by the US Federal Census mentioned that 120 people lived there by 1920. Eventually, the number of people living reduced drastically and in 2009 this site was an object of archeological study under the supervision of Dr. Kelly Dixon alongside graduates of the University of Montana. Profits obtained from mining in 1914 were excessively low, while the Bodie Railway had been abandoned in 1917, with its iron tracks being scrapped. Buried Treasure In California Seven Places To Search Buried treasure in California exists throughout the State. Ghosttowns.com-the best source of information on ghost towns in the American West. As the flow of oil slowed down and the industry underwent a rapid change, Mentryville gradually became abandoned, transforming into a ghost town. It was originally part of the largest silver strike in California, but now only five original buildings remain -- the rest having perished in fire. The ghost towns of Southern California-some dramatic and nearly intact, others devastated-are well worth visiting. Most are remnants of once-colorful mining towns, though there are also railroad towns, a World War II relocation center, a promoter's swindle, and a failed socialist colony. Outlaw caches, and lost, gold and silver mines dot the State. It's also the coldest place in California. Today, Bodie is a pilgrimage site for people who love ghost towns. It was named after an Indian Chief helped build a railroad station in town. The gold sources eventually dried up making the town even more abandoned with just 69 people living there as per the 2010 census. And SUBSCRIBE for more.What's the scariest thing you've ever done? Founded in the year 1897, the town witnessed its heydays until 1905, having between 400 and 500 people residing there. This is a very popular tourist destination today. Presently the place lay in rubbles and has been a site for the Deep Space Network of NASA. ), The Best EMF Meter for Ghost Hunting (Detects Real Spirits), The Evil Entity That Follows You Home From This Santa Barbara Park Will Make You Sleep With The Lights On. Two national parks Death Valley & Joshua Tree along with Anza-Borrego Desert State Park highlight the Southern California desert region. Not much detail has been recorded regarding the settlement that existed here in 1893. There were about 500 people residing here during its heydays but the population went on to decline in 1855 after the resources came to an end, transforming it into a ghost town. Desert ghost towns are ghost towns simply for one reason; money. Gold mining flourished from 1896 and an amount worth $200,000 to $250,000 had been extracted in gold. When thinking about southern California, many think of expensive mansions, celebrity psychics, Disneyland, and the legendary Hollywood sign. This has been enlisted as a CDP or census-designated situated upon the Salton Sea, having about 295 people living here according to the 2010 census. The Pittsburg-Liberty Mine had produced about $700,000 worth in gold before being shut in 1910. I'm a full-time traveler and freelance writer. Its decline began after the suspension of operations in the Ratcliff mine. One of the best-preserved stamp mills in the West is in Skidoo. While we’re on the subject of ghosts, here’s a fun fact: There are well over 100 known ghost towns in the state of California. The area that time was occupied by gold miners. The oil strike happened for the first time in 1876 after which the settled boomed till 1900. This was a bustling settlement since 1873 which has at present been reduced to the stature of a ghost town. You’re about to see ten ghost towns in Southern California that are the perfect ghost hunting destinations. This is a census-designated area with just 43 people living here according to the 2010 census, which dipped from 52 as seen in the 2000 census. You can learn more about me and my mission on the about me page. Recently, there have been a small number of  reports of dead sailors who have been seen wandering along the landing. Ghost towns are some of the most coolest places to visit- and creepiest. In 2018, Brent Underwood submitted a winning, $1.4 million bid on a network of dried-up silver mines in Southern California. Table of Contents. Let us take an insight into the popular ghost towns of California. The last store shut down in 1982, while the post office closed in 1983. While ghost towns are defined as no one living in them, we won’t be surprised if there were actual ghosts hanging around. When the mine shaft collapsed in 1926, the surrounding town was abandoned. As per the 2010 census, the town had 346 residents. Only 10 Chinese Americans live there at present as most of them had moved out to major cities in search of greater prospects. Long before it was occupied by miners in the late 1800s, Berlin was home to a sharp-toothed carnivorous marine reptile who roamed the warm ocean waters inundating Nevada 225 million years ago. The town prospered when it began exporting agricultural products. A visit to Calico Ghost town in the desert of Southern California . The property includes 336 acres of … Located in the Mojave desert, this town had seen a period of prosperity after the discovery of gold though it encountered a sudden decline in the middle half of the 20th century, with the reason being unknown. After the gold rush died out, Ballarat was quickly abandoned. When the rails were eventually pulled up and relocated to Keeler, CA, the town of Zurich underwent a financial hardship and was abandoned. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Some excellent attractions remain. These places are best for ghost towns in California Desert: Calico Ghost Town; Cerro Gordo Mines; Dublin Gulch; Golden Cactus Ghost Town & Old West Museum; Goffs Ghost Town; See more ghost towns in California Desert on Tripadvisor Locke, alternatively known as the Locke Historic District, is located in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta region of California. In 1923, Ralph Dyar purchased the property, after which mining operations came to an end. Situated at the foot of the Bodie Hills, this ghost town had boomed in 1876 after the discovery of gold, post which the population of this place witnessed a steep increase. Ghost towns are listed by state & include biographies, pictures, and other detailed ghost town historical information The list given above does not cover a large number of the abandoned towns though as there are lot many than the ones just referred to here, with Branson in the San Diego County, Belleville, in the San Bernadino County, Randsburg in the Rand County to name a few. Paranormal Evil in San Diego: The Hidden Path That Stirs Up Demons, Prepare Yourself For What Lurks In The Cold Shadows Of This Pasadena Trail. This town had been developed by Chinese immigrants in the first half of the 20th century. Ghosttowns.com-the best source of information on ghost towns in the U.S. Ghost towns are listed by state & include biographies, pictures, and other detailed ghost town info. The Mojave Desert He… If you only see one ghost town in California, Bodie is the one to visit. The settlement is situated at a low altitude and has evolved into a popular tourist spot. Many believe it is Chief Cabazon who refuses to leave the city he once helped to prosperity. It was founded in the year 1948 by Henry J. Kaiser, a famous industrialist, instrumental in setting up iron ore mines. It's one of the best naturally preserved ghost towns in the nation. For two years, the Colorado River flooded the Salton Sink, destroying the town of Salton and the Southern Pacific Railroad siding. Before it became private, many Orange County residents said the area was haunted by a woman in a white dress with blood down the front of it. California, the United States’ most populous state does not just boast of a bustling lifestyle and flourishing industries but has also been home to a whole lot of ghost towns abounding the northern and southern part of the state. Bodie was a gold-mining town the started in 1876. The Whaley House in San Diego has long held a reputation for being one of the scariest haunted places in Southern California. The mining spanned between 1870 and 1899 during which a boom town named Cuyamaca City developed. Ballarat – Death Valley Ghost Town. If the money isn't there, there is no reason for people to stay. Some are so abandoned and haunted that people who visit there frequently see apparitions walking around the grounds as if they never left. Oatman was founded in 1908. A devastating forest fire in 2004 and the Carr fire in 2018, caused damage to a lot of public property and the residents were also asked to evacuate their homes though on a temporary basis. Hit me up on social media! The rush to find gold and silver in the southern California desert inspired tens of thousands to head west to find their fortunes. 10 Southern California Ghost Towns Perfect For Ghost Hunting, 7) Lost Horse Mine – Riverside County, CA, 6) Lompoc Landing – Santa Barbara County, CA, The Best Digital Voice Recorder for Capturing Real EVPs, 10 Best Thermal Imaging (IR) Cameras for Ghost Hunting, The 5 Best Spirit Boxes (Communicates With Real Ghosts! While there are still a few left that are empty and barren, around here we believe in recycling. This town was founded in 1849 by the French Miners and went on to become one of the prominent gold producing regions of California. SHARE the love! Darwin Barely Hangs On. It was everything but empty until 1917, until the 1960’s when the Manson Family stopped in and made it their residence for a little while. By late 1878, over 22 mines were in use and just two years later the population swelled to over 8,500 people. With the prosperity of the town, it also became known the wrong way since it was the hub of illicit entertainment, nicknamed as “California’s Monte Carlo”. A network of roads developed and the town soon went on to become a flourishing mining hub. The town’s prosperity increased after the opening of the Eichbaum Toll Road in the year 1926. Deadwood, a town in the Placer County was established in the year 1852 post the discovery of gold in the adjacent areas. The town has several buildings, a general store, alongside an American hotel at present. California Ghost Town Photo Gallery. At the beginning of the 20th century, the production of gold depleted and the population of Masonic also underwent a downfall, with only 500 people living there in 1906. © 2020 (Flavorverse).All rights reserved. Northern California has her fair share of ghost towns. There was a mill built in 1916, while surveys on ore veins were even conducted. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for many of the products and services listed on the site. In fact, this was one of the largest iron ore mines of South California. In 2011, the town featured as a subject of Darwin, a documentary and in the following year, a video showed residents expressing their wish for a broadband connection over the dial-up access. (museumsyndicate.com). Situated in the Calico Mountains (of Mojave desert) the foundation stone of this town was laid in 1881. However, these ghost towns in South California are some of the most scariest locations in California and will make you leave with an unsettling feeling. Named after Stonewall Jackson, the mine produced over one million dollars in gold. The remote town of Berlin has more than one type of resident ghost. Sageland was founded in the fall of 1866 as part of the El Dorado Mining District. 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