...because our quilts are a reflection of the times in which we live.

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Calico Ghost Town, California


Calico Ghost Town has been on my radar for many, many years. I can't recall how I first heard of it, but I do remember pondering the name and wondering just what that place would look like. With "calico" meaning a tri-colored cat or a humble cotton print fabric, it just had to be the place for me.

Finally, I got on the internet and took a peek. That was about fifteen years ago. I found out that Calico Ghost Town was located in the barren desert surrounding Barstow, California. If that name brings visions of a hot, parched land to mind, you are right. It is not all that far from Death Valley.

Just the desolate location of Calico Ghost Town made me a little hesitant about making the trip. I love ghost towns and was really curious about that one, but...that desert was a little disconcerting.

After a time, I let the whole idea slip from my mind.

Then on my way to Utah last month, I saw an unexpected sign along the highway, announcing that Calico Ghost Town could be reached by turning off at the very next exit. Wow! I had to think fast. I was on a tight schedule and needed to reach the southwest corner of Utah before sunset. Drat! The ghost town was on the opposite side of the freeway, which generally spells "inconvenience". I decided to stop by the ghost town on my way back home from Utah.

As it turned out, Calico Ghost Town was several miles from the freeway, but the roads were well marked and I knew I was going in the right direction because the word "Calico" was spelled out on the nearby mountainside in white.

This giant miner was greeting guests at the front gate

 
 The short road up a canyon into town was flanked by some awesome rock formations.
 
 
 
 It was a tiny bit steep but was paved and accessible by regular passenger cars.
 
 
 The main street looked like any typical wild west town.
 
 
Historical marker No. 782 tells the story of Calico.
 
 
Most of the current buildings either housed the ghost town's artifacts or are small shops for the tourists.

 
The Dr. A. R. Rhea Drug Store.

 
This business doubled as an undertaker and a furniture store. 
 
 
At first glance, I couldn't figure this one out. It was called "The Dog House" and was made almost entirely with glass bottles.
 
 
One look inside, and the mystery was solved. The store catered to dogs--and cats. There were all sorts of pet parents in there buying leashes, collars, and souvenirs for Fido and Fluffy. It was the busiest store in the town. I understand that.
 
 
Hyena House Hotel was a four story structure built into the side of a cliff in the 1870s of early 1880s. The underground tunnel entrances can be seen but the interior is closed off to visitors.

 
A plaque outside tells some of the history.
 
 
Not much is left of the other early stone structures.
 
 
A small railroad takes tourists through the town.
 
 
I loved the curvy route.
 
 
At the uppermost end of town was the schoolhouse, which reminded me that I was due back at school in two days. Sigh. Time to go home.
 
 
I headed back down the hill toward the parking lot. On the way, I stopped and got a cold soda from a vendor at an old fashioned popcorn stand. I was a little sad to leave and wished that my stay could have been longer.

 
Maybe sometime...


8 comments:

  1. There's something really sad about seeing a ghost town that used to bustle with life, but those rock formations are interesting. And that is the cutest schoolhouse I think I've ever seen. I'd love it if my house was that style. Love the bottle house, too. Hope you're having a nifty weekend!

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  2. thanks for the reminder, it has been eons since Ralph and I visited there.. Should go back sometime.. great photos

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  3. Never heard of the town before. So many things in this state I don't know about.

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  4. Been to Calico a few times. First went when I was a kid and my mom, grandma and I were going to Death Valley for a little overnighter-must have been in the winter because I remember the radiator lines burst because of freezing. Cute little town. Can you imagine living there 24/7. Yikes!

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  5. Blogger is playing tricks on me...I opened your blog and could see the first few pics fine...walked away to let it load while I did something else, and now only 3 or 4 appear that are way down in the post...The Doghouse is the first one. So, it looks like it would be a nice series of photos...I will just come back later when everything settles down...

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  6. Rose, I am finding the same thing with longer posts on other blogs. Sometimes it helps to refresh the page. Sorry this one was so long.

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  7. At long last I got to see them...no, refreshing didn't work for me. I had done tried that. Tried again fairly late yesterday evening maybe even up in the night...can't remember when I sat down in the living room.

    Anyway, am so glad I was persistent...really did enjoy these. I LOVE that school, and I love that Dog House...I thought I told you that yesterday at least but see I didn't. I sure would have been sorry to leave this place, too.

    Oh, was that a normal width railroad? I have never seen one that curvy!

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  8. Thanks for the tour! I went there once, when I was about 12 years old. I bought a felt pennant, proclaiming "Calico Ghost Town," but other than that? I have no memory of the experience. Looks like we probably did the same thing you did, following the signs, to see what it was all about. :)

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