23 Best Ghost Towns in CALIFORNIA (Spooky & Creepy)
California has a rich history of prospectors, mining exploration, boom towns, and mining settlements.
The Golden State, as the name suggests, is a land rich in gold, silver, zinc, and lead.
After discovering gold deposits in the land, numerous prospectors traveled to different parts of the State searching for gold strikes.
Not all areas explored by prospectors yielded gold, but the ones that did soon grew from a few prospectors into full-blown towns and districts.
Complete with hotels, stores, schools, and family homes.
Sadly, the gold ore does not last forever, and prospectors, families, and businesses always move to other places in search of profit, leaving these gold boom towns desolate.
Some of these towns only lasted for a few years, while others lasted decades with a population of thousands.
Today, what remains of most of the gold boom towns are crumbling structures, desolate buildings, and some cemeteries.
This article explores some of California’s most notable ghost towns, many of which the State has designated historic landmarks.
And by the way, you may also want to check some popular Abandoned Places in California.
Ghost Towns in San Bernardino County, California
1. Agua Mansa California (Storms, Abandoned)
Agua Mansa was rumored to be one of the largest encampments in the country.
As was the case with many small towns, it started with a few families looking to earn a livelihood through agriculture.
These families together with the early settlers comprised the village.
Indeed, the town prospered for a while until the forces of nature moved against it.
Torrential storms hit the town and it fell, ruining their homes and completely destroying their livelihoods.
The inhabitants took it in good stride and prepared to rebuild.
But while these efforts were underway, another wave hit destroying whatever efforts they had managed to invest.
This was the last straw and the farmers moved their families and the remnant of their fortune to move uphill where the water could not reach.
It marked the end of the town as that was the last time it flourished.
At this realization, many of the residents completed relocated in search of greener pastures.
It is now a ghost town with the only reminder of the life that once was being the abandoned graveyard.
Address: 2001 Agua Mansa Road, San Bernardino, California 92324, United States
2. Atolia (Flourished, Then Declined))
Atolia is a former mining town in San Bernardino, California.
Miners discovered wolfram metal in the area; several mining operations began in the early 1900s.
The gradual inflow of miners and businesses led to the founding of the town.
Atolia is a mix of the names of two popular miners in the area.
The town bloomed; it had a rail line, salons, restaurants, and boarding houses.
Atolia grew to over two thousand residents and produced the largest quantity of wolfram in the world.
Wolfram is a component used to harden steel alloys.
The town was blessed with good fortune and supplied it to different countries.
Unfortunately, the constant mining dried up the resources in the land, and as production dropped, so did the population.
Inevitably the mines in Atolia were forced to shut down, and the town became abandoned.
Address: 58400 Hoffman Road, Atolia, Johannesburg, San Bernardino County, United States
3. Bagdad (Highway Bypassed, Declined)
When you hear the word, Bagdad, you probably think of the classic movie, ‘Thief of Bagdad.’
Bagdad is also the name of a ghost town in San Bernardino County, California.
It was established in the last years of the 19th century.
The rail lines passing through the area are responsible for the growth of the town.
Many businesses wanted to be as close to the rail lines as possible because of the traffic and profits.
There were several businesses that passersby and residents visited.
These businesses provided services to other towns and mines around.
They were simply the best.
Bagdad’s demise began when a highway bypassed it.
The same reason the town bloomed is the cause of its demise.
Businesses moved closer to the highway, where there would be more traffic and profit.
The population dwindled until the town became abandoned.
Address: Along the historic U.S. Route 66, east of Barstow and Ludlow, and west of Amboy and Needles
4. Belleville (Gold Boom, Abandoned)
Belleville was a gold boom town in San Bernardino County, California.
The town snowballed, especially after gold was discovered in the surrounding valley in the second half of the 19th century.
Belleville was the name of the first baby born in the town.
The first phase of mining in was by small groups of prospectors.
If you have heard any stories about the gold mining era in the United States, you would have heard about the doggedness of these prospectors to find gold.
They moved from place to place and lived in some of the most deplorable conditions, all for a chance to discover and my golf.
Well, the discovery of gold in Belleville grew the town.
It became the biggest gold town in the valley.
Several businesses began operations in the town, including a mill, restaurants, antique shops, brothels, and salons.
Like in all other places, the gold in Belleville ran dry.
The people gradually moved to other towns.
Address: Polique Canyon Rd, Big Bear, California 92314, USA
5. Calico (Silver Thrived, Then Crashed)
Calico is a desolate town in the San Bernadino Mountains founded by sourdoughs.
The sourdoughs were trying to find gold, silver, or any other precious metals.
They discovered silver in the hills surrounding this town; mining operations began.
This brought an influx of people to this area.
They settled below the hillside and named the area Calico.
Within a short period, the town had grown to include a mailing office, an academy, markets, stores, inns, and a city hall.
Different companies built mines in the hills to take their share of the silver.
There were as many as six hundred mines.
A few years later, the United States Congress passed a law focused on the price of silver.
It reduced the price of silver across the market.
The companies were no longer making as much profit as they expected; the traffic of miners to Calico dwindled to nothing.
By the start of the 20th century, Calico was a desolate town.
Address: 36600 Ghost Town Road, Yermo, San Bernardino, California 92311, United States
6. Hart Town (Short-Lived, Desolation)
Hart existed for about seven short years.
Miners established the town when they discovered gold in the area.
At that time, the country was in the shackles of poverty, and the discovery was a welcome relief.
The strike was one of the biggest of that time; swarms of miners moved to the location.
A few months after, the population of the settlement grew to almost a thousand people who were all in search of gold.
The State established a mailing office and city hall for the town.
Within two years, the population had doubled.
Unfortunately, the gold ore in Hart town dried out much quicker than others.
By the sixth year, mining activities had reduced to nothing, and even worse, certain buildings in the town were destroyed.
Most businesses and families affected did not bother to rebuild; they moved on to better prospects.
By the seventh year, Hart town was desolate.
Address: 9 miles East of Ivanpah Road, Mine Road, San Bernardino County, California, United States
Also see our article on Haunted Houses in California.
Ghost Towns in Santa Clara County, California
1. Lexington (Flourishing, Rail Bypassed)
Lexington was once a flourishing sawmill town.
Many businesses went to this town to purchase logs or to cut the ones they had.
It was also a popular spot for travelers to stop during their journey.
Travelers often stopped to rest in the small town, enjoying all it had to offer before continuing their journey.
The major attraction of the town was the sawmill.
It changed location not long after the town had fully taken root.
As such, the inflow of people to the town slowly reduced.
The travel stops were the only hope for businesses to stay afloat.
Unfortunately, a rail bypassed the town and thus diverted the traffic elsewhere.
In no time, all the businesses and families had packed up and moved closer to the rail line.
What was once a flourishing town now lies desolate.
Address: Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Clara County, California, United States
2. Holy City (Founded, Highway Diverted)
A religious sect leader and his devotees founded Holy City in the 1920s.
Their core principles were the superiority of the white population and the male sex.
They termed it the perfect way of life.
During the early years, the city was the only settlement between the two cities.
Many travelers stopped to rest in the town; businesses opened to cater to the needs of these travelers.
The holy city boasted a population of about three hundred people; only 30 were devotees of the religious sect.
Many frowned upon this sect and its teachings, but this did not deter the publication of their principles and policies.
A major highway opened near the town, which diverted the traffic to other settlements near the area.
Businesses jumped ship and moved to other settlements near the highway.
Only the secret devotees remained in the town after this.
They all eventually moved out of Holy City in search of better lives.
Holy City is now a desolate town in Santa Clara County.
Address: Santa Cruz Mountains, off State Route 17 on Old Santa Cruz Highway, Santa Clara, California, United States
3. Alma (Drowned Town)
Similar to the lost city of Atlantis, Alma is a drowned town that lies beneath the waters of a basin in Lexington.
There is no single narrative on how the town’s name came to be.
Some people believe the town name was inspired by the location of the town.
Others believe it was the name of a sex worker in the area.
The highest number of residents the town ever had per time was one hundred.
It was primarily a stop for travelers or miners moving to other areas.
This was evident in the types of businesses that grew in it.
There were restaurants, brothels, boarding houses, stores, and salons.
When the profits of businesses in the town dwindled to nothing, most people packed up in search of better profits.
Not long after Lexington Reservoir was built, it drowned the entirety of the town.
You can only catch glimpses of the town structure when the water in the basin is not as much.
Address: Santa Clara County, California, United States.
4. Wrights Station (Railroad Decline))
Wrights Station is an abandoned town in the Los Gatos Mountains.
It is also known as Wrights.
Wrights was a railroad stop where travelers could relax and rejuvenate after several days on the road.
Several hotels serviced the needs of these travelers.
Other businesses were also established, and construction began for a rail channel.
While excavations for the rail channel were underway, a ghastly explosion occurred; over 30 laborers died when the tunnel collapsed.
The explosion released so much toxic gas into the air that the health of town residents was at risk.
Many residents began to experience symptoms of ill health, with many residents moving from the town to avoid getting sick.
It caused the population to dwindle.
A further decrease began when the rail line between two major cities near Wrights stopped working.
Address: Near Summit Road in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Los Gatos, CA 95033, USA
5. Patchen (One-Man Settlement)
Patchen started as a one-man settlement.
A man popularly called Mountain Charley settled in the area and built a network of roads around his property.
Gradually, several other settlers moved to the area.
It was largely undeveloped and was a closely-knit community of settlers.
There are no records of the total number of people who lived in the town or how long Patchen stood for.
Government documents state that a post office was established for the small settlement and closed a few years after.
There are no records of other settlers in the area except Mountain Charley.
The only proofs that there was ever a town called Patchen are government records and the Patchen historical marker.
It is truly a ghost town that serves as a silent witness to the lives of the people who were once there.
Address: Old Santa Cruz Highway north of Mountain Charlie Road, California, USA
Also see our article on Castles in California.
Ghost Towns In Riverside County, California
1. Terra Cotta (Mining Town Abandoned)
Terra Cotta was previously a mining town in Riverside County, California.
Coal was unearthed in the surrounding area, and several companies began operations to mine it.
Their workers and other prospectors settled in the area and named the camp Terra Cotta.
A few years later, the camp had grown into a full-fledged town with its own post office.
Several manufacturing plants began operations in the area to utilize the coal discovered.
The town dwindled to nothing without cause.
All efforts made to revive the town met with failure.
Many believe there must be an old Native American curse in play.
Terra Cotta ghost town has several abandoned mining sites that thrill seekers explore.
If you want to tour ghost towns in Riverside County, you can start here.
Address: Lakeshore Drive by Terra Cotta Road or from the I-15 freeway by Nichols Road
2. Midland (Gypsum Mining Declined)
Midland was a mining town for a company that mined the mineral deposits in the area.
Chief among these deposits is gypsum.
Several large manufacturing plants opened and utilized the mineral deposits in the lands.
Midland town began to flourish.
Most inhabitants of the town were workers at the plants who moved there for work.
Some moved with their families.
Midland was especially popular among filmmakers and directors because most of the fake snow used in movies was from there.
The gypsum in the land was abundant and of a quality that was perhaps too good.
Minerals mined in the area were too heavy for use, and mining operations slowly reduced.
A decline in mining resulted in layoffs.
Many laid-off workers moved with their families to other places for better jobs.
Midland is now an abandoned town in Riverside County.
Address: Adjacent to the Little Maria Mountains and about 20 mi (32 km) northwest of Blythe.
3. Kenworthy (Authentic Gold Mine)
Kenworthy is the site of the only authentic gold mine in the Riverside County Mountains.
It is the name of a wealthy miner in that town.
He came to the area with high hopes that he would strike rich gold ore, especially since gold was discovered in surrounding areas.
The Kenworthy town slowly grew; other miners who also hoped to make gold strikes moved to the area.
A short while after, the thriving community grew to accommodate several families and businesses.
H. Kenworthy and the other miners carried on their search for gold.
Gold was unearthed after a few years but only in minute quantity.
The expenses of miners began to outweigh the income made.
They began to move to other areas in search of gold.
By the early 1900s, Kenworthy town was abandoned, with only a few residents left.
There are no remains of the townsite today.
Address: 56799 Pines to Palms Hwy, Mountain Center, CA 92561, United States
Also see our article on Neighborhoods in California.
Ghost Towns in Mono County, California
1. Dog Town (Brief Gold Boom)
Dog Town is a gold boom town established by gold miners.
A group of miners were the first to arrive in the area.
They established a settlement where they could rest after a day of searching for gold.
Gold was discovered in the area not long after, and more miners arrived.
While some miners focused on Dog Town, others moved to nearby areas hoping to make gold strikes of their own.
They were in luck because they found gold in nearby regions.
A fresh wave of new miners migrated to Dog Town.
Within a few years after the discovery of gold, the source seemed to dry up because miners barely found any gold.
They left for other areas in search of better gold strikes.
All that remains of the mining town are the whispers of the lives of people who loved there, dreams of miners, a few buildings, and a burial crypt.
It is a registered California Historical Landmark.
Many today still venture into Dog Town in hopes of finding gold.
Address: Highway 395 at post mile 69.5 (7 miles south of Bridgeport.)
2. Bodie (Gold Fluctuations)
Bodie was formerly a gold boom town in Mono County.
Gold was found in the second half of the 19th century by a group of sourdoughs.
The town’s name was the name of one of the first sourdoughs in the area.
Bodie was not very popular because the gold in the land was not in commercial quantity.
Some other sourdoughs found silver in some nearby towns.
Luck would still shine on the town because gold was unearthed in a different location, this time in commercial quantity.
As a result, the barely surviving Bodie transformed into a flourishing town.
There were as many as ten thousand people in the town.
Several buildings were erected, some of which can still be seen at the location.
The gold ore once again dried up, and the town residents slowly moved to other areas for better gold strikes.
Bodie is now an abandoned town designated a California landmark.
It has about two hundred original buildings remaining open for you to explore.
Address: State Route 270 / Bodie Rd. Bridgeport, CA 93517
3. Bennettville (Silver Depletion)
Bennettville has had several name changes.
It was a former settlement and mining town.
Several mining companies and sourdoughs carried out extensive searches in the area in hopes of discovering more silver or other precious metals.
Silver would eventually be discovered, and many more mining companies sprung up.
The small town grew around these mining activities, and any decline in mining would result in a reduced population.
Sadly, this happened sooner rather than later; the silver in the mines ran out.
Several sourdoughs continued the search for precious minerals in hopes of having another gold strike; they moved on after a while.
Businesses in the town closed down, and the general population moved to other gold boomtowns in the area.
About 40 years after its establishment, Bennettville was abandoned and had become a ghost town.
All that remains of Bennettville today include markers and restored buildings.
Address: Mine Creek 4 mi (6.4 km) east-southeast of Mount Conness
Also see our article on Hidden Gems in California.
Ghost Towns in Inyo County, California
1. Ballarat (Supplies for Mines)
Ballarat town started to take root just before the start of the 20th century.
It served as a source of supplies for workers in several mines in the area.
The town’s name is similar to the name of another gold rush town in a different town.
During its prime, almost five hundred people were living in Ballarat.
It had several businesses, stores, brothels, and a prison.
Ballarat had no water of its own; the water the town had was from nearby regions.
The most productive mine in the area was the first to shut down.
With this came a slow reduction in the population of the town.
All the major businesses, amenities, and schools began to close up one after the other.
A few people remained and tried to revive Ballarat to its glory days.
Today, there are nearby marketplaces, old burial grounds, and some facilities remaining.
Now, Ballarat is inhabited by one person who lives in the ghost town with his pets.
Address: Panamint Valley of the Mojave Desert, about 150 miles northeast of Bakersfield
2. Cerro Gordo (Silver Mining Declined)
Cerro Gordo is a word of Spanish origin.
It is the location of a cluster of desolate mines in Inyo County.
The first mine started as a silver mine and slowly expanded, attracting other companies to begin searching for and mining silver.
Soon, the companies began excavating and melting silver on a large scale.
It increased the number of people in the town.
The arrival of prospectors met with resistance from red Indians in the area.
This resistance quelled, and the town expanded even more.
Other precious minerals were discovered, like high-grade zinc ore.
As is common to all mining towns, all the deposits dried up, and miners moved on to other areas.
During its peak, Cerro Gordo was home to about five thousand people.
By the late 1930s, mining had ceased mainly in the area, and it is now known as a ghost town today.
Address: Cerro Gordo, Inyo Mountains, Inyo County, near Lone Pine, California, United States
3. Leadfield (Misleading Promises, Declined)
Leadfield is a ghost town in the mountains of Inyo County, California.
Prospectors discovered and began to explore the ore deposit in this area.
People were lured to the town by misleading promises of immeasurable wealth.
More and more people arrived until the population was about three hundred people.
Many people arrived in the town hoping to make quick and easy profit.
Years of searching and searching showed that this would not happen.
First, the mines shut down; next came the move of the majority miner population to other areas leaving a few businesses and families in their wake.
Leadfield was eventually abandoned and is now home to weeds and animals.
Many still wonder if it will be possible to find ore in this location today.
Be sure to check out Leadfield if you tour ghost towns in the area.
Address: Titus Canyon in the Grapevine Mountains, east of Death Valley in Death Valley National Park
Also see our article on National Parks in California.
Ghost Towns In Kern County, California
1. Garlock (Cattle Community, Gold)
Garlock was an independent community in Kern County.
It was majorly a community of cattle farms and kennels.
Garlock served as a water source for animals and cattle.
Several herds of cattle pass by the location every day.
It had very few inhabitants and was a ghost town from the start.
Garlock became a boom town when gold ore was found in the surrounding canyons.
Mining companies took advantage of it and built several mines to maximize their profits.
Prospectors and miners trooped into the town in their numbers, and Garlock flourished.
Over the years, the gold strike dwindled; miners came back with less and less gold until there was none.
As is typical of prospectors, they packed up their shovels and pans and moved on to the next promising town.
Address: 6.5 miles east-southeast of Saltdale, Kern County, California, United States
2. Freeman Junction (Travelers’ Stop, Declined)
Freeman Junction started as a town for travelers to stop while journeying between cities and the several mines in the area.
Some travelers would take a pit stop and decide they would rather live in the town.
Slowly, a small town began to grow around the station.
There were several clashes between red Indians in the area and the settler in the town.
This clash resulted in massive bloodshed; red Indians killed the settlers and set the station on fire.
The charred remains of the houses and station remained this way for years until it was rebuilt.
Freeman Junction grew beyond what it was before and had a station, a salon, and a cafe.
Little mining activities in the area never resulted in any gold strikes.
The town was abandoned after a while and has since remained so.
There are no remains of the once-growing town.
Address: 52899 CA-178, Inyokern, CA 93527, United States
3. Canebrake (Sugar Reed-Inspired)
Canebrake is a ghost town in Kern County.
Kern County is known for having a lot of sugar reeds which was the inspiration for the town’s name.
The town serves as a link between the city and the wilderness.
It connects some of the most rocky and distant areas in the Southside of the county.
Canebrake was an independent district that stood on its own.
It was known as a hoarding site for liquor during the Prohibition.
There are no peculiar stories on how the town came to be or why it is now a ghost town.
Several towns that existed in the 19th and 20th centuries are now ghost towns.
It is primarily because of a decline in business and population.
Some other towns became abandoned because of an outbreak of diseases, war, or as a result of State intervention.
Either way, Canebrake now lies uninhabited.
Address: California State Route 178 in the South Fork Valley, Kern County, California, United States
If you liked this article, you may also like to read about the best Amusement Parks, Festivals, and Weekend Getaways in California.
Looking beyond California? Check out our article on some of the legendary ghost towns in Florida and Texas.