Calico Ghost Town

Calico Ghost Town, a former silver mining town in San Bernardino County (California), United States. Calico Mountains, founded in 1881 and was California's largest producer of silver in the mid-1880s. Calico was home to over 500 mines. In 1890, the town had a population of 3,500, with nationals of China, England, Ireland, Greece, France, the Netherlands, and Americans living there. Over a 12-year period, Calico produced more than $20 million worth of silver ore.

Calico ghost town

Calico ghost town California

Calico lost its population when silver's value dropped in the middle of the 1890s. Calico was abandoned by its miners who packed up their horses and left the town that had once provided a decent living. It was a "ghost city".

Walter Knott bought Calico in 1950. He remodeled all five buildings except one to reflect the 1880's. As resident caretaker and official greeter, he appointed "Calico Fred" Noller, a long-serving employee. Knott gave the town to San Bernardino County in 1966. Calico was made a County Regional Park. November 1962. Ghost Town of CalicoCalico was designated a California Historical Landmark #782 in 2002. To be named the Official State Ghost Town, Calico fought with Bodie from Mono County. The 2005 compromise reached by the State Senate, State Assembly, and Bodie was that Calico was the Official State Silver Rush Ghost Town.

Ghost town in California

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared Calico California's Silver Rush in 2005.Ghost Town. The park still offers tours of the mines, gunfight shows, gold panning, and several restaurants. It also has the 2 ft 6-inch narrow gauge Calico & Odessa Railroad. There are also a few trinket shops and many of the original buildings that remain.

First Calico entrance. Photo credit Chris