The Real Knott’s Berry Farm Ghost Town: CALICO GHOST TOWN

Calico Ghost Town is a historic mining town located in the Calico Mountains of the Mojave Desert in Southern California, USA. It was founded in 1881 during the California silver rush and quickly grew into a bustling mining community. The town was named after the colorful hills surrounding it, which resembled a patchwork of different hues. The town experienced a rapid boom in the 1880s but faced a decline in the mid-1890s as silver prices dropped. By the early 1900s, most of the mines were closed, and the population dwindled. As mining activities ceased, Calico became a ghost town. By the mid-20th century, it was nearly deserted, and many of the buildings fell into disrepair. In the 1950s, Walter Knott, the founder of Knott’s Berry Farm, purchased Calico and began a significant restoration effort. The goal was to preserve the town’s history and turn it into a tourist attraction.