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California Ghost Town DEJA VU–Sounds of the Gold Rush

Published on: March 24, 2012

California has well over 50 ghost towns that are remains of abandoned (once thriving) cities & towns during the Gold Rush era. Sometimes formed in desolate, dry places with few sources of water, these towns sprang up wherever minerals, silver, gold and other valuable substances were found–most sprang up after gold was discovered in 1848. Several of the most popular ghost towns to see in California are Bodie Ghost Town, a State Historic Park and Calico Ghost Town, operated by San Bernardino County Parks. Both places were boomtowns near mines.

While the buildings that remain in Bodie are a small portion of what once existed, Calico was purchased by Walter Knott, who  architecturally restored all but the five original buildings to look as they did in the 1880’s when it was a silver mining town. A train ride, shops, restaurants and entertainment make this one of the busiest tourist stops between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Calico Ghost Town maintains a seasonal calendar of events with annual concerts, shows and entertainment.

  • Bodie State Historic Park: Admission: $7, $5 kids. Hours: 9 am to 6 pm May 15th – October 31st; 9 am to 3 pm Nov 1st – May 14th. Can be closed due to snow. Call: (760) 647-6445, parks.ca.gov
  • Calico Ghost Town: Admission: $6, $5 kids, $10 during special events. Camping available for a fee. Address: 36600 Ghost Town Road, Yermo, CA. Call: (800) 86-CALICO ,  cms.sbcounty.gov

Step back into a Deja Vu — Sounds of the Gold, written by historian Craig MacDonald: “Standing alone on a hillside, gazing down at what’s left of a Sierra mining camp, you hear the wind sigh through the pines as you glance at a crumbling stone wall, stubbornly defying time, as long as it can.”

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