Calico Ghost Town

Nestled in the middle of the Mojave Desert and surrounded by barren mountains, the ghost town of Calico was founded in 1881 following the discovery of a silver deposit in the surrounding mountains. Anytime is good for visiting since Calico is open every day from 9am to 5pm, except on Christmas. Keep in mind though that the village is in the middle of the Mojave Desert so temperatures in the summer months easily exceed 40 degrees, even in the shade. There are also several events commemorating the age of the silver rush that really make you feel like a real cowboy, so if your visit coincides with one of these days, you may need some more time to explore.

On the route between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, 2 hours from Los Angeles (200 miles), close to Barstow, at the gates of the Mojave Desert, you can visit a historic mining town that today has become a "ghost town" and a tourist attraction. The original town of Calico was created in the yar 1881, after the appearance of silver mines. It grew to 1,200 in the year 1951 an ex-miner, Walter Knott (founder of Knott's Berry Farm theme park), bought the town and it was reconstructed and became a tourist attraction. In fact, in the year 1966 it was transferred to the County of San Bernardino and became a regional park.

In 1881 Calico had 500 silver mines that produced about 20 million dollars. In mid-1890 silver lost its value and the villagers abandoned mines and the town became a ghost town. In 1950 the town was rebuilt keeping five of its original buildings and the rest were built based on photos of the originals. Tourists can now visit the town and learn about the traditions and life of the Old West era, and can see its original buildings. If you're travelling between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, Calico can be a fun stop.