Calico Cemetery

\ I crossed another one off the bucket list by finally making the trek to Calico Ghost Town in Yermo, California. Today’s post focuses solely on the town’s cemetery, shown in this July 1961 image, followed by the contemporary shot that I captured one morning at sunrise.



Sunrise at Calico…sounds like a tasty beverage or maybe a Lifetime TV movie.



Sometimes called Boot Hill Cemetery, this burial ground is about as rustic as they come, with very few decorative flourishes.



The cross on the hill offered little protection, as over the years, the original headstones were pilfered.



In the 1960’s, the great mystery of how many people were actually buried here began to be discovered.



Some of the headstones that remained were discovered to be fakes, such as the one claiming Wyatt Earp to have been buried here. All in the name of tourism.



Thanks to the research that was done, it appears that approximately 160 people were buried here, with only about 49 of those able to be identified.



One day I hope to return again to be able to walk around this historic graveyard when the gate is actually open.

See more Calico Ghost Town photos at my main website.

Back to Knott's, Pt. 2

This post focuses on the main (actually, probably the only) reason I visit Knott's Berry Farm: GHOST TOWN! I love the old west town that Walter Knott "collected" and assembled to form a cohesive village of yesteryear. The first shot is a panorama of the Wagon Camp. This shows my main beef with Knott's Berry Farm: the sightlines. You see the old AND the new together, and it really breaks the fantasy effect of feeling like you are back in the Old West.

Gold Trails Hotel:



Those familiar figures outside the hotel that have sat and posed with thousands of guests over the years.



I was SOOOOO disappointed to be told that the peek-ins no longer existed in the Park. Here's Hop Wing Lee's Laundry:



This figure that used to be visible through the window is no longer on display, and neither are the other ones that formerly entertained guests at Knott's. I was told they were damaged during Knott's Scary Farm by the guests.



Apparently this one was spared the chopping block:



A detailed view of the signage:



No peek-in here; it's a real-live horse!



The Blacksmith is real, too, and very friendly with guests:



This gal was making ornaments:



The Post Office is not in use, but it was fun to peek around:









A view of Goldie's:



The Jail is this way:



This was the first time I'd actually seen this guy in action, taking requests for Sad Eye Joe:



The School House was in session:



I could see myself wearing this at times.





I wonder if this ever gets played?



The Calico Saloon:







Boot Hill Cemetery is another example of bad sightlines:





I wonder how much this guy makes a year?



Still more to come! See more Knott's Berry Farm photos at my main website.

Knott's Blowout: The 1960's

It's been awhile since I've posted any Knott's Berry Farm photos, so today's post will rectify that in a big way. First up is a batch of February 1964 images featuring the Calico Mine Train attraction (which opened in 1960) and the Calico Railroad (1952).



Two of the stagecoach attraction:



Transitioning into the next group of images, this shot is from one year later, March 1965:



The Mine Train attraction and the Calico Train are probably some of the more photographed areas of the park:



Old MacDonald's Farm. Can I get an "EE-I-EE-I-O"? In 1978, this area was replaced with Montezooma's Revenge.



Moving on to June 23, 1968, we see Boot Hill Cemetery, which is reminiscent of the cemetery behind Fort Wilderness at Disneyland:



Zooming in to see the Native American tableau in the background:



I get sick when I see this contemporary shot from 2010. This is not a good example of "new" and "old" co-habitating.



The Wagon Camp:



A Logging Wheel (just what every amusement park needs).



The Candy Parlour:



Ah, tranquility:



The Church of Reflections:



A view of the church from my 2010 visit:



A faithful re-creation of "The Jersey Lilly," which was Judge Roy Bean's Saloon in Langtry, Texas:



How it looked during my 2010 visit:



The Grist Mill:



The Sheriff poses with guests:



See more vintage & current Knott's Berry Farm photos on my Knott's web pages.