Ludlow, California, San Bernardino County is a captivating ghost town that once flourished as a bustling hub during the gold rush era. Today, it stands as a testament to the fleeting nature of such boomtowns, capturing the imaginations of historians and adventurers alike. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: San Bernardino County
Zip Code: 92338
Latitude / Longitude: 34.7200° N, 116.1592° W
Elevation: 1,778 feet (542 meters)
Time Zone: Pacific Time Zone (PT)
Established: 1883
Disestablished: Not formally disestablished, but declined notably in the mid-20th century.
Comments: Ludlow was originally established as a Atlantic and Pacific Railroad water stop. With the discovery of nearby gold deposits, the town quickly grew to accommodate miners and their families. The Ludlow Mining Company and later the mining operations in the nearby Bagdad-Chase area supported the town’s economy.
Remains: Today, visitors can find remnants of old buildings, a few standing structures, and the ruins of the Ludlow Hotel. The town is largely abandoned, with the remains serving as a poignant reminder of its once-thriving past.
The town started as a water stop for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad in 1883. Ore was found in the nearby hills, leading to a boom. From 1906 to 1940 it was the southern railhead for the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad, operated by the Pacific Coast Borax Company and bringing borax and other mining products from Death Valley and Beatty, Nevada to long-distance Santa Fe Railway lines.
It also served as the northern railhead for the Ludlow and Southern Railway, a mining line that ran south to the Bagdad-Chase gold mine and the mining camp of Rochester. It operated from 1903 to 1931.
Current Status: Ludlow is a ghost town, with minimal population and activity. It serves primarily as a stop for travelers along Interstate 40, offering a glimpse into California’s historical mining era.
By the 1940s, local mining and railway activity had ceased and the town survived supplying the needs of travelers on the National Old Trails Road, renamed to become the legendary Route 66 in California. Ludlow providing a Motor Court with bungalow cabins, the streamlined modern Ludlow Cafe, a gasoline-service garage, and shade.
They operated through the late 1960s. After Interstate 40 was built bypassing town there was little business and most residents departed, leaving ruins of empty buildings and Tamarisk trees that sill stand flanking the old highway. Tourists following and exploring historic Route 66 pass through the ghost town now.
Remarks: Ludlow’s decline began as mining operations ceased and the railroad industry evolved. The construction of Interstate 40 diverted traffic away from the town, further contributing to its abandonment.
Despite its decline, Ludlow continues attracting ghost town enthusiasts and historians captivated by its storied past and the solitude of the desert landscape. A small “New Ludlow” just to the north at the off-ramps of Interstate 40 was built in the 1970s and contains two gas stations and a small tire and repair shop, a small motel, and a restaurant and fast-food café.
On January 25, 2014, a truck carrying 76,000 pounds (34,000 kg) of beef ribs caught fire on Interstate 40, blocking westbound traffic for two hours. A San Bernardino County Fire spokesman stated that the fire had “a wonderful BBQ beef rib odor.”
