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On a road trip pit stop, I explored Calico Ghost Town. This is a California landmark where you can learn a lot.
It’s full of history, with many remnants that show how life was during the Silver Rush. And I also had a run-in with a person from the past.
Yee-haw! Yee-haw! I’ll share what to know when visiting, what to see and expect, and tips.
Getting to Calico Ghost Town
Travel down the I-15, and you’ll see the Ghost Town Road exit. It’s exit 191 and about a 3-hour drive from Los Angeles.
After exiting, you’ll drive down a dirt road to a toll booth. Pay the entrance fee of a few dollars and head to the parking lot.
Visiting Calico Ghost Town
The town is open every day except Christmas. The hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Strolling through Calico takes you back in time. I envisioned a once-thriving area with people going about their day.
In many of the stores, you can buy souvenirs and things you’d find Out West.
Scenic Views
The first thing I had to do after parking was to jump out and take pictures. What a beautiful landscape surrounding the town!
A van piled high with clothes and blankets pulled up next to us. Two kids jumped out screaming, followed by a man shaking his head.
The wind whipped around as I began walking to the town. Although sunny, the temperature was a brisk 50° in November, so I went back to get my vest.
I don’t know what it is about me traveling out west. Every time we go somewhere, the wind follows me.
At the entrance, there were signs in many languages.
Calico’s History
I also discovered this area was named California’s Silver Rush Ghost Town. It’s a part of the San Bernardino County Regional Park system.
Now, here’s a fun fact for you. If you’ve visited Knott’s Berry Farm as much as I have, you may have ridden on the Calico Mine Ride.
Did you know that Walter Knott owned Calico Ghost Town for a while and restored some buildings?
I guess that’s why you’ll find its influence with the California Ghost Town at his amusement park in Orange County. It’s not nearby, by the way.
Historic Buildings
Some of the buildings are still operational, meaning you can go inside and buy stuff. One of the first places I explored was Lil’s Saloon.
As the doors swung open, the lady at the bar asked if I wanted anything to drink. This truly felt like I was in the Wild West.
While exploring the museum, mining company, and other buildings, it was fascinating to see what had been preserved.
I saw household luxuries such as a hair curler and rug warmer. There were displays showing how mining worked and the dangers miners faced.
Maggie’s Mine
Speaking of the miners, I did a self-tour of Maggie’s Mine. To enter this mine and other attractions, you pay a fee.
While exploring, you’ll see what it was like to work in the narrow tunnels—just big enough for ore cars to pass through.
You’ll want to mind the signs and not enter places that are blocked off. Those are real signs, not props.
Remember, this is a historic state park, and we want to preserve it. Also, it is unsafe to enter areas closed off to the public.
Lookout Point
After the mine, I hiked up to Lookout Point for a scenic view of the ghost town. The trail is uneven and has loose rocks, so be careful if you go up there.
On the way up, a house built into the side of a mountain caught my eye. The wind gusts nearly blew me over at the top!
From the view above, the town looked bigger than I thought. I saw the train and planned to ride it later.
After coming down, I heard people laughing and screaming nearby. So, I had to find out what was going on.
The Tilted House
It’s a small fee to enter the Mystery Shack, and the lady working there made one last call to visitors. This is when my phone died.
Then more people came, and one man looked mighty familiar.
The tour guide told the backstory of the tilted house. When I first entered, I was puzzled.
The guide had us sit on a chair and do other things to defy gravity. We tried not to fall across the room.
It was an unusual experience and fun at the same time. The tour guide made me laugh with her jokes.
Now, I have danced for years and can pirouette for hours. I can handle rollercoaster rides that blast off and flip around.
But when I came out of that house, I was off-kilter like nothing I’ve ever felt before.
A Strange Encounter
As I stood there grounding myself, that man in our group walked towards me with furrowed brows.
“Is your name Luna?” he asked.
“Yes…” I squinted and put my finger on my lips.
“Didn’t you work at…?” He tilted his head, moving in closer.
Well, I’ll be darned… I knew he looked familiar. It turns out we worked together 10 years ago!
My, how time flies and what a small world it is. We were far from home. Funny huh?
Travel Notes
I didn’t get to ride the train as it broke down and wouldn’t be up and running for hours. This is something I’d like to do.
They also have a campground, and I would like to return to experience staying there.
Overall
I learned a lot about Calico Ghost Town, and feel like it’s very much worth exploring. The history, like so many ghost towns in the West, was fascinating.
It was a fun adventure, and I ran into someone I knew. And I wonder what other presences from the past might be lurking around here!
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