Calico
Ghost Town Barstow California
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Calico Ghost Town is located
in the Calico Mountains near Barstow, California. Calico was founded
in the late 1880s after silver was discovered. At one time the
town boasted over 1200 residents and hundreds of silver mines.
Today the town of Calico is run by the San Bernardino County parks
department as a tourist attraction. Many of the original buildings
have been rebuilt adding to the old west feel of Calico. Calico
attractions include Calico and Odessa Railroad, Maggie's Mine
Tour, Mystery Shack, and Main Street Calico with stores a western
saloon. During the weekend and holidays Calico Ghost Town has
various western theme events for visitors to enjoy. Today most
visitors to Calico Ghost town are travelers on their to or from
Las Vegas. Calico also has a county campground and the nearby
Calico Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) area offers trails that range
from easy to difficult,
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Walter Knott, founder
of Knott's Berry Farm, purchased the Calico Ghost Town in 1951 and
began restoring it to its original condition referencing old photographs.
In 1966, Knott donated the town to San Bernardino County, and Calico
became a county regional park. Calico campground has RV sites and
tent camp sites available and there is also a nearby KOA campground.
Barstow has numerous hotels, restaurants a a very popular outlet
mall. Calico Ghost Town is a worthy day trip destination or a pleasant
stop on your journey across the desert. California has several other
ghost towns the most notable being Bodie,
near Mono Lake in the eastern Sierra.
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Calico Ghost Town
is located off Interstate 15, 3 miles from Barstow. Look for the
giant letters spelling CALICO that can be seen on the Calico Mountains
behind the ghost town from the freeway. Exit the freeway at Ghost
Town Road and head for the hills.
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