The first thing that caught my eye on this windy, early-winter morning was the big white lettering near the top of the rocky hill in front of me: Calico. I was anxious to explore this Old West silver mining town that serves as a window on a late 1880s period in California history and the rugged men and women who carved out a living from its more than 500 mines.
Calico Ghost Town near Barstow, Calif. gives visitors the chance to explore a real Old West silver mining town.
Calico is now one of San Bernardino County’s regional parks, welcoming visitors to explore what’s left of the old boom town, its buildings, geological features, legends, and history. Located in the Yermo Hills off Interstate 15 about three miles just outside Barstow, Calico Ghost Town offers a range of recreational opportunities.
I remember hearing of Calico Ghost Town as a boy growing up in Los Angeles. Walter Knott, the founder of Knott’s Berry Farm, bought Calico in the 1950s to turn it into an historical theme park and to preserve what was left of it (he donated it to the county in 1966). The town’s lifespan was short. By 1907 it was over. In less than 30 years miners dug more than $20 million in silver ore from deep inside those barren hills. During its boom days, more than 1,200 residents lived in tiny Calico.
As I started walking up the main street, the old buildings on either side of me, I began to get a picture of life back then. Each building tells its own story: the old fire house, the Lane House, the Zenda Mining Company building, the blacksmith’s shop, the bath house, the Maggie Mining Company, Lane’s general store, the cemetery and the one-room school house.
What especially captured my attention was the story of Lucy Bell Lane. I wandered into the Lane House and Museum, not sure what I would find. I found what it was to be a pioneer living on the edge of the Mojave Desert.
Along with furniture, household items and clothing, I discovered Lucy’s story, someone who mostly lived in Calico for 67 years until 1965. She died at the age of 97. Along with her parents, two brothers and a sister, Lucy arrived in Calico in 1884, three years after silver was discovered. At 18 she married John Lane and they bought a Calico grocery store. And even as the town began fading, the two would remain.
There is a lot to explore at Calico, including the Zenda Mining museum which details hard rock mining back then. The 8-minute mine train ride offers unique views, especially the one-room miner cabins scattered among the rocks. Calico Ghost Town also offers an RV parking area, cabins, and a bunkhouse. Staying overnight or a weekend gives visitors a chance to explore the mountain bike or off-road trails.
Summers are hot and daytime temperatures can hit 110 degrees or more. Fall, winter, and spring are easier on visitors. For more information visit the website at www.calicotown.com.
