The Ghost Town of Calico

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.

Calico Ghost Town

Walter Knott (Knott’s Berry Farm) purchased the Calico ghost town in 1951, restored it, and in 1966 he donated the town to San Bernardino County, which made it a regional park. The entrance sign says “This museum was created in order to outline for you the atmosphere of a small part of the Old West which was called Calico, and which flourished as a boom-town through the years 1891-1896. The spirit of the Calico of those days reflected closely the spirit of the west in general–therefore, it is hoped that the scenes and exhibits presented with will add not only to your enjoyment and understanding of this colorful historic site, but also of that entire western era and of the way it used to be.” These photos are from July 1961. You can still visit Calico; their website can be found here.









These are from the late 1950's:





See more vintage and contemporary Calico Ghost Town photos at my main website.