Kelso, California, San Bernardino County is a fascinating ghost town with a rich history tied to the development of the American West. This once-thriving railroad town is now a silent demonstration to the growth and decline of communities shaped by the railroads and mining industries. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: San Bernardino County
Zip Code: 92309
Latitude / Longitude: 35.0125° N, 115.6533° W
Elevation: 2,123 feet (647 meters)
Time Zone: Pacific Time Zone (PT)
Established: 1905
Disestablished: The post office closed in 1985, marking its decline as an active town.
Comments: Kelso was originally established as a depot for the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad, later part of the Union Pacific Railroad, to provide water for steam engines and a rest stop for train crews. Its location was strategic due to the availability of a reliable water source and its position at the base of the steep grade known as the Cima Hill.
Kelso is a ghost town and defunct railroad depot in the Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County, California Ghost Townlifornia, USA. It was named after railroad worker John H. Kelso, whose name was placed into a hat along with two other workers to decide the town’s name.
The town was built in 1905 specifically as a railroad station along the rail line between Utah and Los Angeles, originally called “Siding 16,” because of its location and nearby springs that provided abundant water.
Remains: The Kelso Depot, built in 1924, is one of the town’s most significant remnants. This Spanish-style building served as a train station, restaurant, and boarding house for railroad employees. The depot has been restored and now serves as a visitor center for the Mojave National Preserve, offering exhibits on the area’s natural and cultural history.
Several other structures, including a jail and some residential and industrial ruins, can still be found in the area. Starting off as what was a simple train depot in the 1920s, the town of Kelso boomed briefly to as many as 2000 residents in the 1940s, when borax and iron mines opened nearby. Gold and silver were also discovered in the nearby hills of what became known as the Kelso district. The town shrank again when the mines closed after about a decade.
Current Status: Kelso is now part of the Mojave National Preserve, managed by the National Park Service. The townsite is preserved as a historical and cultural landmark, attracting visitors interested in exploring the Mojave Desert’s history and landscape.
The depot remained in operation until 1986. Due to the harsh conditions in the desert, the building began to deteriorate. By the mid-1990s, the railroad was on the verge of demolishing the depot. Preservationists then stepped in to save it. It was recently renovated to become the Mojave National Preserve’s visitor center. The renovation was completed in 2005, and the depot is now open to the public.
During the 1970s Kelso was known as the town without television. About 75 residents lived in Kelso, many with school-age children. Television signals could not reach the town, so residents found other recreation methods. However, with satellite dishes, television was eventually introduced to Kelso.
Remarks: The story of Kelso is emblematic of many small towns that flourished during the age of railroads and subsequently faded as transportation technologies evolved. The preservation of the Kelso Depot provides a unique insight into the past and serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of settlement patterns in the American West.
It stands as a demonstration to the enduring spirit of exploration and the desire for connection across vast landscapes. Kelso was a base of operations for the San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad, connecting track of Union Pacific Railroad, to which the SPLA&SL had negotiated trackage rights, with the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway east-west line to the south.
Here, trains were watered and “helper” locomotives were attached to assist the regular trains in climbing the steep Cima Hill. The distance between Las Vegas and the connection with the Santa Fe line at Daggett was too far for trains without a meal car, so Kelso was a convenient spot for a restaurant stop.
