Imagine having the resources to buy your own Ghost Town! In 1951, Walter Knott (aka Knott’s Berry Farm) purchased the little town of Calico in San Bernadino County. Begun as a little town for the silver prospectors who opened the nearby Silver King Mine, it thrived from 1882 until approximately 1896 when the Silver Purchase Act made silver all but worthless. Knott, who had been part of a failed attempt to revive the town in 1915, decided to purchase the Ghost Town and make it a tourist attraction. To say Knott restored the town would not be quite accurate; some buildings were removed and others were converted to look the way tourists might expect a town to look based on what they’d seen in the movies. Still, it’s pretty cool and high on the Daveland bucket list. This is The Way It Used to Be museum, circa 1961. Love that sign in front! Not sure if this is still an operating museum or not, though.
Knott turned the town over to San Bernardino County in 1966 and it now operates as a Regional Park. Here’s a look down the main street, circa 1961.
Didn’t look very busy; no wonder it’s one of two official “Ghost Towns” in California!
See more Calico photos at my main website.
3 comments:
I've visited Calico many times over the years, as a kid and as an adult.
Last trip was about 10 years ago. The museum is gone, but the mine tour and the little train still run.
There are a number of new buildings, made to look old, but easy to tell.
The Knotts Calico had a number of educational components, including shops with authentic merchandise display.
Now the shops sell cheap, fake "native american" souvenirs, probably made abroad, t-shirts and similar junk. It's somewhat like the change in Disneyland Main Street from the Upjohn Pharmacy etc. to coffee cups and plush toys.
It was good to see the old place, but it's not what it used to be.
Thanks for this nice post, Dave.
JG
MY dad loved Calico and the Boy Scouts camped out there all the time, but this was back in the 70's. I need to go out there again.
JG - Sorry to hear it has gotten more commercial. I'll definitely lower my expectations!
MRaymond - Maybe I'll see you there!
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