Muroc, California Ghost Town

Muroc began in 1882 as a railroad whistle stop in California’s Mojave Desert, gaining prominence when the Corum family homesteaded there in 1909, reversing their name to create “Muroc.” You’ll find this community thrived briefly as an agricultural settlement before the military transformed it into Muroc Army Air Base in 1942, later Edwards Air Force Base. The town gradually emptied by the early

Table of Contents hide

1 Key Takeaways

2 The Birth of a Desert Whistle Stop (1882-1910)

3 The Corum Family Legacy and Naming Origins

3.1 Finding Water First

3.2 Backwards Naming Convention

4 Life in Early 20th Century Muroc

5 Military Transformation: From Desert to Air Base

5.1 Strategic Desert Location

5.2 Rapid Wartime Expansion

5.3 Aviation Testing Ground

6 Wartime Operations at Muroc Lake (1941-1945)

7 Breaking Barriers: The Sound Barrier and Beyond

8 Final Days of a Frontier Town

9 What Remains: Exploring the Ghost Town Today

10 Frequently Asked Questions

10.1 What Happened to the Corum Family After the Town’s Decline?

10.2 Were There Any Notable Accidents During Test Flights at Muroc?

10.3 Did Any Celebrities or Famous Figures Visit Muroc Before 1950?

10.4 What Natural Disasters Affected Muroc Throughout Its History?

10.5 Are There Any Annual Commemorative Events Celebrating Muroc’s History?

11 References

Key Takeaways

Muroc was originally a Southern Pacific railroad whistle stop established in 1882, later developed by the Corum family who reversed their name for the town.
The discovery of water just 19 feet below the surface transformed Muroc into a small agricultural community before military interests changed its trajectory.

The Army Air Corps’ acquisition of land in the 1930s gradually displaced civilian residents, with most leaving by the early 1950s.
The post office closed in 1951, marking Muroc’s official transformation from civilian settlement to military territory at Edwards Air Force Base.
Few physical remnants of the original civilian town remain today, as the area was completely absorbed by Edwards Air Force Base.

The Birth of a Desert Whistle Stop (1882-1910)

As the Southern Pacific rail line extended through the barren Mojave Desert in 1882, Muroc emerged as nothing more than a humble whistle stop between the established towns of Mojave and Barstow in California.

This remote outpost initially served only as a water stop for steam locomotives traversing the harsh landscape.

The area remained largely uninhabited for decades, with Rogers Dry Lake looming nearby as a distinctive geographic feature that would later define Muroc’s destiny.

You wouldn’t have found much settlement activity in this early chapter of Muroc history, as the desolate conditions deterred permanent residents.

Early transportation networks centered entirely on the railroad, which provided the sole connection to civilization.

The whistle stop stood alone on the desert floor, waiting for the turn of the century to bring its first true settlers.

The significant change came in 1909 when the Corum family claimed a homestead, marking the beginning of organized settlement efforts in the area.

When the Corums officially arrived on May 18, 1910, they settled on a half-section of land near the Santa Fe watering station.

The Corum Family Legacy and Naming Origins

You’ll find the Corum family’s greatest achievement in their successful drilling of a 19-20 foot well that provided precious water for their homestead and agricultural ventures.

This water access transformed their 160-acre plot into productive farmland and established their reputation as resourceful pioneers in the harsh desert environment. The family initially purchased this land for $1.00 per acre when they settled in the area in 1910. The Corums’ farming enterprise became known for raising white Holland turkeys and other poultry that sustained the growing community.

The Corum name itself lives on in reverse as “Muroc,” a creative solution when the family’s request for a “Corum” post office was denied due to another California town with a similar name.

Finding Water First

When the Corum family arrived at Rodriguez Dry Lake in 1910, they accomplished what many considered impossible in the harsh Mojave Desert—they found water.

Clifford, Effie, their children, and Clifford’s brother Ralph drilled a well, striking water at just 19 feet below the surface. This discovery transformed an uninhabitable landscape into a potential settlement.

Water scarcity defined the Mojave Desert region, making their discovery revolutionary
Their well became a critical resource for early settlers attempting desert life

At only 19 feet deep, the well provided reliable access in an otherwise barren environment
This water source enabled the first permanent community to form at the lake’s edge
Without this discovery, later development of the area would have been impossible

The Corum family reversed their surname to create the settlement name Muroc, which failed but would eventually become significant in aviation history. This site would eventually become an important location for military aviation when it was established as Muroc Air Force Base in 1933, serving initially as a remote bombing range before evolving into Edwards Air Force Base.

Backwards Naming Convention

The naming of Muroc represents one of the most curious origin stories in California’s ghost town history. When the Corum family settled by the lakebed in 1910, they naturally wanted to name their new settlement after themselves.

However, the Postal Department rejected “Corum” due to its similarity with Coram, California. Undeterred, Ralph and Clifford Corum, along with Clifford’s wife Effie, devised an ingenious solution—they simply reversed their surname to create “Muroc.”

This backwards legacy was officially accepted for the post office, which operated from 1910 to 1951. The creative naming approach distinguished Muroc from neighboring settlements and fostered unique community pride. This area would later become central to aviation history advancements as military testing facilities developed on the dry lakebed.

This distinctive identity remains preserved in historical records even after the area changed to Edwards Air Force Base.

Life in Early 20th Century Muroc

Life in early 20th century Muroc evolved around the challenges and opportunities of desert homesteading. You’d find the Corum family at the center of this isolated frontier community, where they established essential infrastructure after purchasing land for just $1.00 per acre.

Their agricultural innovations transformed the seemingly barren landscape into productive farmland. Residents had to adapt to the extreme temperature variations that characterized the northwestern Mojave Desert environment.

Water discovery at only 19 feet enabled irrigation systems vital for survival
Alfalfa cultivation and turkey operations created sustainable livelihoods
General store and post office formed the community’s commercial backbone

Well-drilling contracts provided economic opportunities for early settlers
Continuous clear weather offered predictable conditions despite homesteading challenges

This sparse community existed on the edge of Rogers Dry Lake, with scattered families building lives across the Mojave Desert landscape, connected by emerging trading networks and shared infrastructure. The dry lake area eventually gained popularity among locals for hot rodding and racing activities during the 1930s.

Military Transformation: From Desert to Air Base

If you’d visited Muroc in the early 1930s, you’d have seen the Army Air Corps’ growing interest in the area’s strategic desert location, with its vast, flat terrain ideal for bombing practice and aviation experiments.

The onset of World War II triggered rapid wartime expansion, transforming the modest tent camp into Muroc Army Air Base by 1942, complete with training facilities for bomber and fighter crews. Lt. Col. Henry Hap Arnold was instrumental in identifying Muroc Dry Lake as an ideal training site for military aviation operations.

What began as a remote bombing range evolved into America’s premier aviation testing ground, where experimental aircraft like the P-59 jet fighter pushed the boundaries of flight technology, ultimately leading to the site’s 1949 renaming as Edwards Air Force Base.

Strategic Desert Location

Five key factors made Rogers Dry Lakebed the perfect strategic location for military aviation development.

The military strategy behind selecting this seemingly desolate area revealed remarkable desert advantages that would transform American aviation history.

The natural, flat, hard lakebed surface created an ideal “natural aerodrome” for aircraft operations.
Year-round flying weather with excellent visibility minimized operational disruptions.
Sparse population reduced civilian risks during experimental aircraft testing.
Proximity to March Field facilitated vital logistical support.
Isolation offered security for classified military projects.

This “desert country, covered with scrub, mesquite, & sage, and totally unfit for cultivation or habitation” became the foundation for revolutionary aviation achievements.

The government secured the area through Executive Order 6588 in February 1934, though the Army Air Corps had effectively possessed it since September 1933.

Rapid Wartime Expansion

World War II dramatically transformed Muroc’s desert landscape from an isolated bombing range into a bustling military installation. In July 1942, the site gained independence from March Field, becoming Muroc Army Airfield under Fourth Air Force jurisdiction.

You’d hardly recognize the pre-war bombing range after the military poured over $120 million into developing the base, expanding it to 301,000 acres. The construction of a 15,000-foot main runway—completed in a single concrete pour—symbolized the unprecedented scale of this wartime economy investment.

Military infrastructure rapidly evolved with South Base emerging as a training facility while the original range became East Camp.

Strategic additions including an essential water tower supported the airfield’s expanding operations, establishing Muroc as America’s premier location for combat crew training and advanced aircraft testing.

Aviation Testing Ground

Emerging from the desolate Mojave landscape in 1933, Muroc’s transformation into America’s premier aviation testing ground began when Lt. Col. Henry “Hap” Arnold recognized the dry lake’s potential as a natural aerodrome—”level as a billiard table.”

This desert location’s strategic advantages proved invaluable for military testing:

Year-round excellent flying weather enabling continuous operations
Vast, uninhabited terrain ensuring safety for experimental aircraft
Natural lakebed runways accommodating early turbojet engines prone to flameouts
Secure environment for America’s first jet aircraft, the XP-59A Airacomet
Ideal testing conditions for revolutionary aircraft like the Lockheed XP-80 Shooting Star

From 1942-1944, the P-59 program operated without a single accident, cementing Muroc’s reputation as the epicenter of aviation innovation.

The facility’s exempted status in 1942 formalized its critical role in America’s aerial defense strategy.

Wartime Operations at Muroc Lake (1941-1945)

When the United States entered World War II in December 1941, Muroc Bombing and Gunnery Range transformed from a semi-permanent training facility into a critical wartime operations hub.

The 41st and 30th Bombardment Groups arrived alongside reconnaissance squadrons, conducting intensive eight to twelve-week training programs.

You would’ve witnessed remarkable training evolution as crews mastered B-18 Bolos, B-25 Mitchells, and Flying Fortresses while the 30th simultaneously patrolled California’s coast for submarines.

Strategic exercises had already established Muroc’s importance, particularly the massive 1937 war games involving 2,000 personnel and nearly 300 aircraft.

Breaking Barriers: The Sound Barrier and Beyond

Although Muroc’s wartime operations established its military importance, the base’s most enduring legacy began in the post-war years as it became the epicenter for mankind’s assault on the sound barrier.

On October 14, 1947, Chuck Yeager piloted the Bell X-1 “Glamorous Glennis” to Mach 1.06, achieving the first supersonic flight in history. The remote location of Muroc provided ideal conditions for this revolutionary aviation milestone.

X-1 featured a bullet-shaped fuselage designed specifically for supersonic flight

Aircraft was dropped from a modified B-29 “mother ship” before rocket ignition
Yeager described breaking the sound barrier as “punching through Jell-O”
The sonic boom heard was the shockwave generated at Mach 1

Success launched Edwards AFB as America’s premier flight test center

Final Days of a Frontier Town

Despite the hopeful ambitions of early homesteaders, Muroc’s days as a civilian settlement were numbered by the late 1930s. The harsh Mojave Desert reality had already exposed the homestead challenges facing alfalfa farmers, whose dreams withered in the arid landscape despite the Corum family’s recruitment efforts.

The military impact accelerated this decline when Muroc Bombing and Gunnery Range established operations in October 1935. Pearl Harbor’s aftermath transformed the area dramatically, as the Army rapidly expanded facilities and required civilian evacuation.

By July 1942, Muroc Lake became a separate military post with exempted status. The town’s final civilian residents departed in the early 1950s, with the post office closing in 1951.

What began as an agricultural frontier experiment ended completely absorbed into Edwards Air Force Base jurisdiction.

What Remains: Exploring the Ghost Town Today

Today’s visitor to the former site of Muroc will find remarkably little evidence of the frontier town that once stood there. Located at approximately 34°55′23″N 117°52′20″W in Kern County, this abandoned site offers minimal physical remnants for exploration compared to well-preserved ghost towns like Bodie.

Visitor accessibility is challenging due to:

No official designation as a historic site or park
Possible restricted access due to proximity to Edwards Air Force Base
Rough, unmaintained roads leading to the location
Absence of visitor facilities or guided tours
Required special permissions for certain areas

The site features scattered foundations, occasional rubble, and desert-eroded structures—silent witnesses to a settlement overtaken by military priorities and time.

Archaeological significance remains, though formal preservation efforts are virtually nonexistent.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Happened to the Corum Family After the Town’s Decline?

You’ll find the Corum family’s legacy faded after Muroc’s decline. They relocated when the military took over, leaving behind only their reversed name as their lasting contribution to California history.

Were There Any Notable Accidents During Test Flights at Muroc?

You’ll find several historic accidents at Muroc, including Howard Lilly’s fatal Skystreak crash in 1948, the YB-49 Flying Wing disaster that killed Captain Edwards, and numerous test flight incidents with early jet aircraft.

Did Any Celebrities or Famous Figures Visit Muroc Before 1950?

Against the stark desert backdrop, you’d find few Hollywood connections at Muroc before 1950. Historic visits primarily involved aviation pioneers like Chuck Yeager and military figures such as “Hap” Arnold—not entertainment celebrities.

What Natural Disasters Affected Muroc Throughout Its History?

You’ll find Muroc wasn’t greatly impacted by major natural disasters. Earthquake impact was minimal despite nearby fault zones, while flooding events occasionally occurred when Rogers Dry Lake filled during rare heavy rains.

Are There Any Annual Commemorative Events Celebrating Muroc’s History?

Against all odds, you’ll find no specific annual celebrations dedicated to Muroc’s history. Unlike Calico Ghost Town, Muroc lacks recurring commemorative events, though Edwards AFB occasionally recognizes its aviation heritage.