Ghost Towns Of San Bernadino, California
Discover The Adventurous Past Of The Wild West.
It is hard not to think of adventure and freedom when dreaming of the old west. Thus, it is no surprise when one speaks of their interest of ghost towns. A great day out includes you jumping in your car (considered saying horse), and traveling to one of your pinpointed ghost towns of choice. The great thing about ghost towns is that it really is our gap between the times of now and those adventurous days of then. Southern California alone is home to many of these great old towns, and San Bernadino County holds many of these great places. Some are even still working today.
CALICO GHOST TOWN
Our first stop when thinking of ghost towns in Southern California usually starts with the old Calico Ghost Town. Calico is a more tourist run then deserted place that has everything from a working train to reenacted gunfights. A few original places stand, but most have been rebuilt to give life to this old place. The surrounding mountains to where we find this ghost town are absolutely exquisite though. The mining coves give off a gorgeous color to which Calico gets its name from. Easy access and decent weather all year long make this a great stop for any fan of ghost towns. Calico is just north of Barstow off the I-15.
IBEX SPRING
Ibex Spring, located in the southeastern corner of Death Valley, is hardly ever seen by tourists, but has several remains of buildings and mines. Ibex was supposed to be a place where one could find copper, but instead, it became a town that had become known for finding silver. With only a few findings, however, the mines were sold in 1882, and were left empty. This changed in May 1883, when the mines were bought by a Chicago company and were again used. However, for anyone who has ever traveled to Death Valley in the summer will already know, the heat can be unbearable and proved to be extremely harsh working conditions. This site continued to try until 1889 when it was finally deserted again. During the 1930s, Ibex was made into a residential mining town which housed claims belonging to Rob Roy amongst others. Most of the structures, tin cans, and even old car date from this era. The views are stunning, and the lush greens against the barren desert are quite a site to see. Ibex is about 6 miles west of Highway 127. Best time to visit is spring, fall, and winter.
RED MOUNTAIN
Red Mountain, previously named Osdick after one of the miners, is one of three still active ghost towns in use today with a population of 130 people. A church, saloon, mining cabins, and original houses all can still be found here. There is also an old general store that is still in use today. Red Mountain became a thriving mining town in the early 1920s and people have remained here ever since. Red Mountain is off Highway 395 an is about 23 miles north of Kramer Junction and about 23 miles south of Ridgecrest. Anytime of year is a good time to see this still working town.
Ghost towns can be found all throughout California, and the list can even go on for just San Bernadino County. Ghost towns are a way for us to connect with the past and to sneak a peek at how they once lived under these often harsh circumstances. For a great weekend excursion into the past, a trip to a nearby ghost town is a must.
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