Ghost Towns in California
THE 10 BEST California Ghost Towns
Ghost Towns in California
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20 results sorted by traveller favourites
- Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, number of page views, and user location.
Recommended Sightseeing Experiences (2,338)
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Mines • Ghost Towns
Ghost Towns
Ghost Towns
Ghost Towns
What travellers are saying
- MattMiddleton, Canada9 contributionsInteresting but of history nestled into the mountain range. It's good for families. Cheap to get in and explore the town. Lots of shops. Some stuff made locally, some stuff from China, but it was cool seeing the houses built into the rocks. The architecture is worth looking at even by itself.
And yes it gets windy sometimes so be prepared to hold your hats.Written 10 February 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - dedwards1969Reno, NV69 contributionsThis was my 3rd trip to Bodie, and it never disappoints! Absolutely amazing! I always like to put myself in a person's mindset from that time period. While driving my car over the washboard road (last mile or so) into the park - I tried to imagine just how difficult things were for folks 100 years ago. This is such a picturesque place and I have the pics to prove it. Well maintained, bathrooms were VERY clean. Great job by the CA State Parks people.Written 19 August 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Lindsey CAmsterdam28 contributionsThis was a really interesting old mining town with all the original relics left in place. It is a work in progress and accommodation is being built there. The guy who showed us around was very interesting and helpful. Worth a visit if you’re interested in old mining towns but please be aware it is a long drive up a very tough mountain road . Off-road vehicle recommended ( we didn’t have one!) as the road is very rough and 7 miles long.Written 1 November 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- tecomacRedding, CA54 contributionsI live within 10 miles of the SSHP & have enjoyed visiting here many times over the years. The remains of the brick buildings along Main Street (now Highway 299w) give an interesting glimpse of days of old. The museum is filled with very interesting historic memorabilia with a lot of facts and info. of the area. Be sure to visit the restored old store and sample some tasty food and treats at the cafe in the old Bakery.Written 19 January 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Susan HTacoma, WA4,283 contributionsIf you drive by it is worth a quick stop. There were no trespassing signs, so we didn’t venture far. I would not go out of my way to see this, but if you are driving by it’s worth a stop.Written 7 March 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Rick J4 contributionsExcellent museum in the Mojave Desert (Goffs, CA) showing antique items that were used and recovered from the area. They have working stamp mills for recovering gold. They also host special events throughout the year, such as Star Parties and off-road trips. There's the replica of the Mojave Cross and the Mojave phone booth. They also have campsites available through Harvest Host, Hipcamp, etc. Some with partial hookups, some wIthout. I was especially impressed by the outdoor military display and the work someone did to create it. Oh wait, that was me! ;)Written 11 November 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Heidi DLambertville, NJ889 contributionsWe stopped at Balarat on an excursion from Death Valley. It’s a ghost town with not all that much to see with the exception of a few dilapidated buildings. Some interesting history — Charles Manson and family members spent time here when at nearby Barker Ranch. You can see the truck driven by Manson follower Tex Watson and Manson’s name carved into the wall of an old cabin-like structure (look hard above the wall of room 3). So there is this odd history. But Balarat is not much of a destination beyond that.Written 7 February 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- MichaelFresno, CA6 contributionsWe stayed in Half Moon Bay for a week and one day made a side trip to the Ghost Town of Purisima. There is an incredible cemetery there with peaceful benches to sit and reflect. Beautiful views of the coastline, interesting headstones of some of the founders of the area. Recommend reading a history of the town first and then visiting the cemetery. Fascinating history of the area gave me a new appreciation.Written 6 November 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Neal45Hampton, GA138 contributionsBefore I left, I printed out as much as I could find on directions to the Skidoo hammer mill. We drove up in a jeep and realized not much was marked in the area. There is a parking lot first, but it is quite far from the mill and the way is not marked so you could walk miles and never find it.
We drove on and came to 3 forks, each time taking the left just on an instinct. All the trails looked equally traveled. As we drove up a narrow trail on a steep hillside, all we were thinking is "will be be able to turn around and get out of here?" Fortunately, a little farther was a pull off and a metal gate just past. We had no idea we were even at the right place but a faded sign at the gate gave us the clue we needed. We walked around the gate and found the mill and some great views.Written 28 October 2015This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - SkatsingNY11 contributionsWe were traveling from Shoshone to Kernville so this was a perfect spot to get lunch after crossing Death Valley. We just got lunch in the restaurant so I can't speak for anything else. Prices were good and so was the food. Friendly service without a long wait.Written 8 June 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- SteveSanta Clarita, CA61 contributionsMentryville is where Standard oil well was struck and then a pipeline was built down Lyons Blvd. at Newhall Blvd. the line turns right all the way to Sierra Hwy where it now turns south (right) to be refined at the old oil refinery. Yep! Santa Clarita had a refinery close to where those new industrial buildings are. You know the ones where all those Heritage Oaks were chopped down AND KILLED! For the betterment of F-Santa Clarita! Boo!!Written 10 June 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Goldengate3Mexico City, Mexico129 contributionsWe stayed in a lovely old hotel called the Cottage Hotel. Friendly and helpful staff. Interesting old living ghost town. If you’re in to off roading this would be the place. Only draw back was a flag that obscenely commented on the President of our country. Sad and an ugly sight in an otherwise interesting place.Written 24 April 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- DmcclenathenGoleta, CA147 contributionsThis was a Harvest Host visit for my husband and I in a 32 foot Motorhome, pulling a Jeep. Loved the little town of Randsburg and our Harvest Hosts, Gary and Linda couldn't have been nicer. It is a very long drive to get here, up steep hills. Once we arrived we settled into our campsite (no hook ups, dirt, not level) and walked the town. It was an amazing town. They had just had some kindof celebration over the weekend which was very busy. We pulled in on a Monday, everything was closed and it really felt like a Ghost Town! We met a few locals on our walk and they shared how businesses were closing (like the General Store-disappointed in this as the website shows a really authentic old western General Store) Not sure we would visit again as it is so remote, and many business are closing. It really was an excellent experience however.Written 24 October 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Sharon DLafayette396 contributionsSince I only golf twice a year, I am always "rusty". So the day before our rounds, we come here to practice. Since i go on a weekday, I have never had to wait. With winter pricing of $9 a large bucket, it is a very good deal. There are no mats, you hit off your own tees or the grass. Which is perfect for me since then I can practice with my irons off the grass, mimicking fairway play.
Another thing I like is that it is almost all locals, mostly older (in the afternoon) so low pressure and none of the show off behavior you sometimes see at other places I have been.Written 19 October 2017This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - reeshotSeattle, WA190 contributionsDon't expect a well-preserved ghost town like Bodie here. There are lots of ruins and debris, and there are few buildings intact. You take the Echo Canyon Road to get there, and it has a wonderful "hole in the wall" type of feature in the walls of the canyon entrance - quite picturesque. Schwab (and closeby Inyo Mine), has a lot of stuff to walk around - a bunkhouse, a chapel (or school?), heaps of mining artifacts like a fly wheel, crusher, etc. and more than a few adits.
For the purposes of this review, I've lumped Schwab and Inyo Mine together, as they are very close together. Make sure you visit both. Inyo Mine may be a half mile further than Schwab.Written 18 October 2015This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
