Discover the Haunting Ghost Towns of California's Mojave Desert

Traveling lesser-known roads in California's Mojave Desert reveals unexpected treasures, from luxury resorts and ancient caves to towering sand dunes and unique theme parks. Yet nothing captures the imagination quite like stumbling upon abandoned gold and silver mining towns—vivid remnants of California's Wild West era, symbolizing dreams of fortune on the untamed frontier.

Keeler

Established in the early 1870s, Keeler housed around 300 miners. The arrival of the railroad in 1883, with its terminus nearby, spurred the opening of large marble quarries. A key stop for stagecoaches en route to the Mojave, Keeler sits on the eastern shore of Owens Lake—now a dry lakebed—near State Route 136. Originally called Hawley, it was renamed after the 1872 Lone Pine earthquake destroyed the Swansea Pier, prompting reconstruction here.

The steamship Bessie Brady ferried ore from Keeler across the lake to Cartago until a fire claimed it in 1882. The Carson and Colorado Railroad built a narrow-gauge line to Keeler the next year. Fueled by the nearby Cerro Gordo mines, the town thrived until silver prices crashed in the late 1880s. Mining ended by the 1950s, and train service ceased in 1960. Once a vibrant beach resort, Owens Lake dried up due to water diversions to Los Angeles, generating toxic dust that drove residents away.

Today, about 60 people call Keeler home, earning it 'living ghost town' status. The 1883 post office still operates amid empty shacks, rusted cars, and overgrown beach remnants. Nearby Darwin and Swansea offer only faint historical echoes and scattered ruins.

Rhyolite

At Death Valley's eastern gateway, Rhyolite stands as a classic ghost town with substantial ruins from its heyday. Gold discoveries in 1904 sparked over 2,000 claims, birthing a boomtown of saloons, restaurants, a boarding house, school, ice cream parlor, opera house, train depots, bank, general store, and hospital. In 1906, a miner constructed the iconic Bottle House from 50,000 beer and liquor bottles. Two railroads—Tonopah & Tidewater and Las Vegas & Tonopah—served the growing population.

The 1907 Panic devastated Rhyolite, crashing stocks and banks, especially for its Eastern investors. Mines shuttered, and residents fled by train.

Explore standing walls of the three-story bank, the old jail, a restored train depot (Bureau of Land Management-owned), Bottle House, and stone cabin. Depot restoration is planned.

Calico Ghost Town

Calico Ghost Town blends authentic history with light tourism. Off Calico Road in Yermo (near Barstow), its hills may have drawn ancient inhabitants, given the nearby Early Man Site. Wyatt Earp roamed its 1880s silver-boom streets. Revived in 1950 by Walter Knott (of Knott's Berry Farm), he donated it to San Bernardino County as a regional park, preserving its charm without over-commercialization.

One-third of original structures remain; others are replicas. Main Street features wooden sidewalks, shops, eateries, and costumed interpreters—complete with occasional gunfights. Visit the hilltop one-room schoolhouse, miners' shacks, and mine shafts. Join a Ghost Tour, explore Maggie's Mine, or ride the narrow-gauge railroad into the mountains.

Calico faded not from fire or plague, but economics: silver prices plummeted, making mining unviable. Bonus: Hunt for the legendary 'Lost Hogan gold treasure,' reportedly buried 'three feet from the big rock.'

Cerro Gordo

At 8,500 feet above Owens Lake near Lone Pine, Cerro Gordo preserves California's mining legacy. Silver strikes in 1868 created a rowdy town of 4,000, packed with saloons and dance halls. Closed to collectors for over 20 years, it's rich in rocks and minerals from mine waste.

Mule teams hauled ore 300 miles to Los Angeles, fueling the city's growth. Setbacks in 1875—ore shortages, water loss, mine disputes, fire, and metal price drops—halted operations. In 1912, new owners made it the nation's top zinc carbonate producer via tunnels, shafts, and a tramway to Keeler's railroad.

Now an authentic, preserved site open to the public. Book guided or self-guided tours to visit the General Store (with artifacts and tools), Assay Office, Hoist House, and more.

Note: Cerro Gordo Road is an 8-mile county-maintained gravel/dirt road, steep in sections.

Death Valley Ghost Towns

Death Valley hosts other ghost towns like Skidoo, Randsburg, and Nipton, though access varies. Learn more here.