We Traveled To Calico, The Ghost Town Typical Of A ‘western’

If you have ever thought about traveling the famous Route 66, surely you have heard of this place. The ghost town of Calico is a tourist influx point in Southern California (United States), just a couple of hours after finishing Route 66. We are going to discover the history behind this place that seems to be taken from a western movie .

How to get to Calico Ghost Town

The ghost town of Calico is located in the mountains of the same name, in the Mojave Desert. It is located, therefore, in southern California and belongs to the county of San Benardino.

To get there you have to cross the Mojave Desert and head towards the town of Barstow. About 3 miles outside of Barstow, you’ll find Calico Ghost Town, a perfect destination for kids and westerns.

The origins of Calico: a silver mine

The discovery of the place dates back to 1881. It was that year when four explorers discovered silver on the mountain. Then a mine was opened that in a few years ended up becoming the largest production in California.

The success of the mine attracted other businesses. Thus, a year after its opening, a post office, a printing press and a newspaper were installed. Calico was growing at a dizzying rate : soon it had several hotels, shops, bars, etc.

Silver production reached its peak between 1883 and 1885. At the time, just a few years after the original mine opened, Calico was home to 1,200 people and there were more than 500 mines. Shortly after, Calico’s population reached 3,500 people.

But at the turn of the century, Calico was already a ghost town

In 1890, a federal law was enacted that caused the value of silver to fall. This put a brake on the growth and development of the town, since the many silver mines were not economically viable. Therefore, services and businesses were closed and in 1907 the city was practically abandoned.

An attempt was made to revive Calico in 1915 by the construction of a cyanide plant by Walter Knott. However, it was not very successful. In 1951, said businessman acquired the town and was in charge of restoring it using old photographs as a reference.

In 1966, Knott donated the city to San Benardino County. It was then, some 50 years ago, that Calico became the regional state park that it is today.

Find out what special events take place throughout the year

Aside from the incredible western- style buildings and settings , Calico offers so much more. And it is that, throughout the year thematic events are organized that will make you feel like a cowboy of the time. Among them, donkey races, dances and traditional music from the 19th century or ‘mining triathlons’. Activities that usually take place at the end of September.

On the other hand, during the months of October and November, the town really becomes a haunted and ghost town. If you are a fan of strong emotions and want to be scared in a place that looks like something out of a western , we recommend visiting Calico Ghost Town around Halloween.

Calico ghost town hours and prices

Calico is open to the public daily from 9:00 to 17:00. The only exception is on Christmas Day. However, we recommend visiting it in spring or autumn, because in summer it is too hot. As we have said, in September, October and November many events are organized, so it would be best to go on those dates.

Despite being a state park, the prices are quite low. The price may vary if a festival or special event is held that day in the town. But, the usual price is $8 for adults and $5 for children 6-15 years old. If they are under 6 years old, the entrance is free.

On days when there is a celebration or show, the price increases to $10-20 per adult, depending on the event. Similarly, the price for children becomes $5-10. Of course, you can be sure that it is worth it.

Feel like a real cowboy walking through the ghostly streets of Calico, a mandatory stop on the famous Route 66. And, even if you don’t travel this route and are simply nearby, in California, go ahead and visit this curious place. You will not regret!

Main Photography: mariakraynova / Shutterstock.com