Calico, California, San Bernardino County is a mesmerizing ghost town that once flourished during the silver mining boom of the late 19th century. Nestled in the Mojave Desert, it offers a peek into the past with its preserved buildings and rich history. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: San Bernardino County
Zip Code: 92311
Latitude / Longitude: 34.9428° N, 116.8625° W
Elevation: Approximately 2,150 feet (655 meters)
Time Zone: Pacific Time Zone (PT)
Established: 1881
Disestablished: 1907
Comments: Calico is a ghost town and former mining town in San Bernardino County, California Ghost Townlifornia, United States. Located in the Calico Mountains of the Mojave Desert region of Southern California, it was founded in 1881 as a silver mining town, and today has been converted into a county park named Calico Ghost Town.
Located off Interstate 15, it lies 3 miles (4.8 km) from Barstow and 3 miles from Yermo. Giant letters spelling CALICO can be seen on the Calico Peaks behind the ghost town from the freeway. Walter Knott purchased Calico in the 1950s, architecturally restoring all but the five remaining original buildings to look as they did in the 1880s. Calico received California Historical Landmark #782, and in 2005 was proclaimed by then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to be California’s Silver Rush Ghost Town.
Calico was founded in 1881 during the silver mining boom and quickly grew into a bustling town with a population of about 1,200 people at its peak. The town was named after the colorful calico fabric because of the vivid hues of the mountains in the area. It became one of the richest silver mining regions in California, producing millions of dollars worth of silver ore.
Remains: Many of the original buildings in Calico remain, including the schoolhouse, general store, and several miners’ cabins. These structures have been preserved and restored to reflect the town’s 19th-century appearance.
The town is now a popular tourist attraction and offers visitors a chance to explore its historic remnants. In 1881 four prospectors were leaving Grapevine Station (present-day Barstow, California Ghost Townlifornia) for a mountain peak to the northeast. Describing the peak as “calico-colored”, the peak, the mountain range to which it belonged, and the town that followed were all called Calico.
The four prospectors discovered silver in the mountain and opened the Silver King Mine, which was California’s largest silver producer in the mid-1880s. A post office was established in early 1882, and the Calico Print, a weekly newspaper, started publishing. The town soon supported three hotels, five general stores, a meat market, bars, brothels, and three restaurants and boarding houses.
The county established a school district and a voting precinct. The town also had a deputy sheriff and two constables, two lawyers and a justice of the peace, five commissioners, and two doctors. There was also a Wells Fargo office and a telephone and telegraph service. At its height of silver production during 1883 and 1885, California Ghost Townlico had over 500 mines and a population of 1,200 people. Local badmen were buried in the Boot Hill cemetery.
Current Status: Calico is now a preserved ghost town and tourist attraction, part of the San Bernardino County Regional Parks system. It has been designated as a California Historical Landmark and offers numerous attractions, including guided tours, shops, and seasonal events that celebrate its mining history.
Today, the park operates mine tours, gunfight stunt shows, gold panning, several restaurants, the historic, 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge Calico & Odessa Railroad, a Mystery Shack, and a number of trinket stores. It is open every day except Christmas and requires an entrance fee. Additional fees are required for some attractions. Overnight camping is also available.
Special events are held throughout the year including a Spring Festival in May, California Ghost Townlico Days in early October, and a Ghost Town haunt in late October.
Remarks: Calico’s transformation from a bustling mining town to a ghost town and then to a tourist attraction highlights the transient nature of frontier settlements. Its preservation as a historical site offers a unique opportunity to explore the challenges and triumphs of those who sought fortune in the rugged landscapes of the American West.
Today, Calico stands as a tribute to the enduring spirit of exploration and adventure. The Calico Cemetery, which holds between 96 and 130 graves, has had burials in the 20th and 21st centuries.
