3/20/2023 0 Comments Hidden ghost town nw usaSilver-lead ore was discovered here in 1871, making it one of the oldest historical sites in Death Valley. Looking over the crumbling ruins strewn across a bowl in the steep hills of the Funeral Mountains, the name “Chloride City” seems optimistic. Think deafening quiet, scorching sun, wind, and a long wait for the mule supply train. The scattered debris of Chloride City hints at life in a remote mining camp back in the day. Chloride City, California Chloride City’s ruins are scattered across the steep hills of the Funeral Mountains. Visitors can stop to chat, get the latest on road and trail conditions, grab an icy drink, and tap the pulse of this remote desert corner. He has a wealth of information about the past and present that he’s willing to share, as well as an ancient cooler stocked with icy cold sodas and beer for sale. Rocky Novak is the coolest thing about this place. A truck owned by the Manson family rusts quietly in front of the general store. Nearby, Charles Manson had his final hideout at the Barker Ranch. Today, newer trailers are mixed in among the historic adobe structures. In its heyday between 18, Ballarat was a resupply and entertainment center for the nearby mines. Rocky Novak, caretaker and lifelong resident, keeps it from that fate by living there year-round. It’s been teetering on the edge of ghost town status for over 100 years. Photo © Jenna Blough.īallarat is a dusty outpost at the foot of the Panamint Mountains. The bumper sticker on an abandoned 1957 Chevy at the edge of town sums up the magic: “I’d rather be in Panamint City.” Ballarat, California The old general store where Rocky Novak dispenses icy drinks and information. Panamint City has it all: adventurous journey, striking setting, and well-preserved ruins. Dazzling white canyon walls, waterfalls, pools, and a sparkling creek contrast with lush greenery. The “surprise” may be all the water so close to harsh desert. It takes a 5-mile hike along the remains of the old road through Surprise Canyon and 4,000 feet of elevation gain to get to Panamint City. Wander the stone remains of the once-bustling Main Street and red light district. The brick smokestack of the smelter stands like a beacon. Abandoned cabins, rusted mining equipment (fashioned into sculptures by enterprising hikers), mining tunnels, rotting cars, and a backwoods hot tub MacGyvered from a bathtub and fire pit are tucked into the narrow, enclosed valley. More than 130 years after Panamint City’s peak as a boomtown, it looks like a post-modern apocalyptic summer camp. ![]() It was founded in the early 1870s and saw mining on and off until the 1980s, when floods wiped out the only road. Panamint City was a mean, tough silver town with a lawless reputation so bad that Wells Fargo refused to open a bank there. Panamint City, California Panamint City’s iconic brick smokestack. Here are some spots that are easy to miss-although you won’t want to. I’m the type of person who can’t resist crumbling cabins or map symbols for “Point of Historic Interest,” so I’ve trekked through the eastern Mojave looking for these pieces of abandoned history. Recommendations from the African Diasporaĭeep in the Mojave Desert, where California fades into Nevada, the ragged remains of ghost towns are strewn across salt-crusted soil, lost at the ends of bumpy roads, and tucked into rocky mountain canyons.Workman Publishing Arrow Icon Arrow icon.Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Arrow Icon Arrow icon.Little, Brown and Company Arrow Icon Arrow icon.Hachette Nashville Arrow Icon Arrow icon. ![]() Grand Central Publishing Arrow Icon Arrow icon.
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