Ghost towns
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
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From: The hills of No. Calif.
I've been to Bodie (near Mono Lake) and Calico, which is such a tourist trap that I'd hardly consider it a ghost town. Somebody mentioned Shasta, but I don't beleive it's a ghost town as it's been continuously populated, it's actually a state historic site. It was the originaly County Seat for Sahsta county, but they decided to make Redding the county seat instead. I used to live up that way and drove through Shasta every day on my way to work in Redding. The old county courthouse is a great museum, with the old jail down underneath it and a gallows out back.
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FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,069
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From: Fresno, CA.
Calico is cool, but after learning that most the buildings were moved there by Walter Knott, it loses some of its authenticity. However, for people who have never been it should be a good experience.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 640
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From: fallon nv
Nevadas back country has more then a few ghost towns.about 90% of them are only accesible with a cappable 4 wheel drive.The majority of them are old mining camps.Very few of these have residents left.
Im lucky enof to have a dozen within a few hours of me.a favorite of mine is bolivia.sits on top of a mountain and the only way up is thru a waterfall.
Hey tim i think your rite about 3mike6 ending up in walker.thats the way i get to bodie,up over luckyboy pass.
Im lucky enof to have a dozen within a few hours of me.a favorite of mine is bolivia.sits on top of a mountain and the only way up is thru a waterfall.
Hey tim i think your rite about 3mike6 ending up in walker.thats the way i get to bodie,up over luckyboy pass.
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FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,069
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From: Fresno, CA.
A waterfall eh? I wonder if the original residents had to go thru a waterfall to get to their town? Would have been interesting to see. Nevada definitely has its fair share of ghost towns. Would like to visit some of them one day.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,231
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From: Near Fresno, California
OK, I been quite long enough - you guys need to visit http://www.dallypress.com/
you need to look around and find the history and current maps and listings of the California and Nevada desert.
It is my brother's website and business - I don't contribute, but he has written a couple of books on the desert. I have visited several of the sites he profiles - but the truth is that they are all old mining towns.
I worry about snakes, and get claustrophobic real quick when someone wants me to go into a hole in the ground. But the old machinery and some of the buildings are interesting.
you need to look around and find the history and current maps and listings of the California and Nevada desert.
It is my brother's website and business - I don't contribute, but he has written a couple of books on the desert. I have visited several of the sites he profiles - but the truth is that they are all old mining towns.
I worry about snakes, and get claustrophobic real quick when someone wants me to go into a hole in the ground. But the old machinery and some of the buildings are interesting.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 784
From: Simi Valley, CA
Originally Posted by olfordsnstone
My mother in law's family came West in a covered wagon.
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Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Originally Posted by WillyB
OK, I been quite long enough - you guys need to visit http://www.dallypress.com/
you need to look around and find the history and current maps and listings of the California and Nevada desert.
It is my brother's website and business - I don't contribute, but he has written a couple of books on the desert. I have visited several of the sites he profiles - but the truth is that they are all old mining towns.
I worry about snakes, and get claustrophobic real quick when someone wants me to go into a hole in the ground. But the old machinery and some of the buildings are interesting.
you need to look around and find the history and current maps and listings of the California and Nevada desert.
It is my brother's website and business - I don't contribute, but he has written a couple of books on the desert. I have visited several of the sites he profiles - but the truth is that they are all old mining towns.
I worry about snakes, and get claustrophobic real quick when someone wants me to go into a hole in the ground. But the old machinery and some of the buildings are interesting.
If you are really a die hard, look for old road maps from circa 1910 thru the 1930's offered on fleabay. Many of the old towns and roads have disappeared from current maps.
Why worry about snakes? That's another reason for wearing chit kickers.
Lots of old mining equipment around Kernville, but watch out...there's a lot of open pit mines there, too.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,231
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From: Near Fresno, California
Originally Posted by NumberDummy
There are dozens of books with excellent maps about Ghost Towns of the west. .......
What I enjoy is that he matches the location to the character - and finds a lot of goofy fun things to remember. The sad fact is that most of these towns were built by greedy failures whose only goal was to make a pile and return east - the first of the carpetbaggers!
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Originally Posted by WillyB
Sure - but how many have been written by my brother? So don't look if you don't want to!
What I enjoy is that he matches the location to the character - and finds a lot of goofy fun things to remember. The sad fact is that most of these towns were built by greedy failures whose only goal was to make a pile and return east - the first of the carpetbaggers!
What I enjoy is that he matches the location to the character - and finds a lot of goofy fun things to remember. The sad fact is that most of these towns were built by greedy failures whose only goal was to make a pile and return east - the first of the carpetbaggers!
A problem with CA desert ghost towns, many were stripped in the 1920's/30's, most of the wood ended up in someones fireplace. One entire town made from brick has only foundations remaining. The bricks were removed, and used in homes built in Los Angeles in the 1930's.
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