Highlights:
Partly restored, commercialized 'ghost town', still containing many original structures and pieces of equipment. Formerly a center for silver mining
Management:
Location:
Seasons:
All year, despite being very hot in summer
Rating (1-5):
★★★★★
Weather:
Calico is part of the California Deserts itinerary
The early history of Calico is similar to that of hundreds of other Southwest mining towns, starting with a period of quick growth followed by a brief boom time then a rapid decline as the mines, in this case silver and borax, became less profitable. Calico was soon abandoned and left to gradually decay in the desert sun until little remained, but in 1951 it was purchased by Walter Knott, an ex-miner (who also founded Knott's Berry Farm at Buena Park) and rebuilt as a modern 'ghost town'.
The site is now a thriving tourist attraction, and is quite interesting to visit despite being neither original nor very atmospheric, as only about four of the buildings are largely unchanged from the mining era, and the whole place is rather commercialized. Some of the replica houses have only a frontage, as if part of a movie set.
Calico is easily reached, being 4 miles from I-15 near the I-40 junction, 12 miles east of Barstow, and half way between Los Angeles and Las Vegas so a good place to break the journey.
The site is now a thriving tourist attraction, and is quite interesting to visit despite being neither original nor very atmospheric, as only about four of the buildings are largely unchanged from the mining era, and the whole place is rather commercialized. Some of the replica houses have only a frontage, as if part of a movie set.
Calico is easily reached, being 4 miles from I-15 near the I-40 junction, 12 miles east of Barstow, and half way between Los Angeles and Las Vegas so a good place to break the journey.
Calico Table of Contents
Location
Calico has a suitably desert-like setting at the edge of arid mountains on the north side of the wide expanses of Mojave Valley, at the entrance to a narrow ravine (Wall Street Canyon) through colorful rocks; St Louis Mine, one of several in the vicinity, is 1.5 miles upstream. The hillsides are quite devoid of any vegetation so the rocks are fully exposed, and the mineral content is evident from the deep red/purple colors of some of the outcrops. Part of the hills around town are formed of sharply folded and twisted strata, further evidence of past metamorphic activity. The town is reached by a loop road running between exits 191 and 194 of I-15, then by a short spur ending at a carpark. Opening hours are 8 am to dusk, though the shops close at 5 pm, and current fees (2024) are $8 for adults (over 12) or $5 for children over three.
Calico Tour
Guided tour of the ghost town, from Los Angeles
Activities at Calico
The one main street through town is lined with about 30 replica wooden/adobe buildings, some used as gift shops, art galleries or cafes, and including a jail, blacksmiths shop, saloon, drug store, candle shop, museum & stables. Higher up in the hills are various mine buildings, plus the shafts/tunnels of an actual mine, one of which may be visited as part of a guided tour. Various pieces of original or restored equipment are scattered around the houses, such as carriages, wagons and mining tools, and large (artificially-planted) ferocacti add to the desert experience. Other activities on offer (for additional payment) are panning for gold, catching a play at the theater, watching cowboys stage mock gunfights, or riding a narrow gauge steam train. Regular special events are staged a few days each month, such as music festivals, civil war re-enactments or western parades. Calico is served by a large, full service campground and RV site, on a patch of bare red earth on the east side of the entrance road, while free camping is available a few miles away along several tracks leading north further into the mountains, in the general direction of Rainbow Basin.
History of Calico
Mining at Calico began after discovery of large amounts of silver ore in 1881, soon attracting a population of 1,200. Over 500 separate mines were developed in the nearby hills, producing $86 million of silver. At its peak Calico had 22 saloons, its own Chinatown and a red light district, amongst many other facilities. Borax was also mined, until 1907 when production switched to more profitable sites in Death Valley, a few years after prices for silver fell dramatically making the main operation uneconomical. The site was nearly deserted by 1929. After the reconstruction instigated by Walter Knott, the town was donated to San Bernardino Country in 1966 and became a regional park a few years later.
Calico - Nearby Places
- Rainbow Basin National Natural Landmark (15 miles) - colorful desert canyons and badlands
- Route 66 (7 miles) - long section of the old highway eastbound through the Mojave Desert
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