Lookout City, California, Inyo County is a ghost town that once thrived during the mining boom in the late 19th century. Located in California’s rugged and remote hills, Lookout City offers a glimpse into the past where miners sought fortune amidst harsh conditions. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: Inyo County
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: Approximately 36.6264° N, 117.8990° W
Elevation: Around 3,800 feet
Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Established: 1875
Disestablished: Early 20th century (approximately 1900)
Comments: Lookout City was established as a mining camp during the silver mining boom in the Argus Range. It quickly grew as a result of discoveries in the nearby Modoc Mine. The town was named after the nearby Lookout Mountain, offering sweeping views of the surrounding desert landscape.
Remains: Today, the remains of Lookout City include scattered mining debris, collapsed structures, and a few stone foundations. The site offers minimal but intriguing insights into the mining operations that once took place there.
The harsh environment has preserved some remnants, but much of the wooden structures have deteriorated. In 1875, rich deposits of silver-lead ore were discovered in the Argus Range on top of Lookout Mountain. The discovery was named the Modoc and was sold to a group of investors, including George Hearst, the famed mining engineer, U.S. Senator, and father of William Randolph Hearst. (He was also the great-great-grandfather of Patty Hearst.)
The Modoc Consolidated Mining Company was formed with the Modoc mine as the principal mine. Together with the discovery of other nearby mines, including the Minnietta Belle below Lookout Mountain, these mines formed the basis for the Modoc District, with the townsite of Lookout located on top of Lookout Mountain.
Current Status: Lookout City is now an abandoned ghost town. Visitors interested in exploring historical mining locations can visit, though the journey requires negotiating challenging terrain.
The area is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, and visitors are encouraged to respect the site and its historical significance. The town of Lookout consisted of 2 general stores, 3 saloons, company offices, and as many as 30 other woods and stone structures.
By 1876 two 60 ton furnaces and a 10-stamp mill were running and production was quoted as running 160 silver-lead bars per day. The bars averaged 90 lbs. each and assayed around $400.00.
By the end of 1876, Remi Nadeau’s Cerro Gordo Freighting Company had hauled 10,000 bars worth some $4,000,000 over the Bullion Trail which was originally built for the ore of the Cerro Gordo Mines.
Remi Nadeau needed a faster route for his teams, so he constructed the Nadeau “Shotgun” road across the Panamint Valley and over the Slate Range to meet the Bullion Trail south of China Lake.
Remarks: Lookout City’s history is emblematic of many mining towns that sprang up quickly and disappeared just as fast when the resources were depleted.
The town’s remote location and the harsh desert climate contribute to its allure for those seeking to connect with California’s mining past. Visitors should be prepared for rugged conditions and take precautions when exploring the site.
To supply the furnaces with charcoal, 10 charcoal kilns were built in Wildrose Canyon 25 miles away in the Panamint Range, and a steady stream of burros delivered charcoal in sacks to Lookout City via a pack trail on the east side of Lookout Mountain.
The U.S. Bureau of Mines reported that the Modoc Mine alone produced $1,900,000 in total production from 1875 through 1890.
