The abandoned town of Calico makes for a quirky and intriguing stop-off right by Barstown, California

A wooden western style building — mariakray / Shutterstock

The vast majority of travellers heading between LA and Vegas will start to require the leg stretch, bathroom break and road trip taco / burger / whatever works at the halfway point, which often ends up being the town of Barstow.

But, if you’re in no real rush to go and gamble or head to the beach, then there’s a cool little attraction that offers something different to the fast food joints and creaky diners that satisfy Vegas roadtrippers on I-15.

A Quick Calico History

About 15 minutes North from Barstow you’ll find the town of Calico. But this isn’t just another small town to grab a bite at. And that’s partly down to the fact that nobody has lived here for well over 100 years.

Founded in 1881 next to the Silver King Mine, Calico became a typical California silver mining town. Founded by four prospectors who set out from Grapevine, now known as Barstow, to investigate the ‘calico-coloured’ hills to the north, the town grew to surround what was at the time the largest silver producer in the state.

The town prospered for the next couple of decades and a post office, school, sheriff’s office, Wells Fargo station and telegraph office all sprung up on the road leading to the mine entrances – there were over 500 individual silver mines at one point..

By 1890, another mineable substance called Colemanite was discovered and the town had grown to 3,500 inhabitants. Many Calico residents came from China, the Netherlands, Greece, Great Britain and of course the US, flocking to the town for work.

A silver mine in Calico Ghost Town — LARISA DUKA / Shutterstock

But by 1896, the new Silver Purchase Act had been passed through the senate and the price of silver plummeted. The silver mines in Calico were no longer commercially viable. A few years later, the school and post office were closed and almost every resident had moved on to pastures new, leaving behind a perfectly good town in the process.

But not everything was left behind; some buildings were dismantled and taken to places like Barstow, Daggett and Yermo where they could be repurposed.

Luckily, Calico wasn’t forgotten altogether. In 1915, attempts were made to resurrect Calico, with plans for a cyanide plant to recover more silver from the area’s reserves. It was at this time that the ghost town’s future would be decided, in a roundabout way.

Walter Knott, a homesteader in the area at the turn of the century, would go on to found a California icon, the Knott’s Berry Farm. Originally just a berry farm, the plot evolved over time to include attractions, exhibitions and eventually rides, developing into a family favourite theme park in thw 1950s with Walter Knott’s plan for ‘year-round summer fair’.

Knott’s sons, who had helped to develop a fake ghost town attraction in the theme park, took a road trip to Calico. This resulted in the Knott family purchasing the ghost town, and the attraction we know today was born.

What to See at Calico

The Sheriff's Office in Calico ghost town — Pedro Costa Simeao / Shutterstock

After being extensively restored the Knott operation, the ghost town today features a blend of original and rebuilt structures giving it the appearance of a typical ‘Western’ town.

After you’ve shown your ticket, you’ll be greeted by a long, dusty road lined with the weathered wooden buildings that have featured in many movies and TV shows over the years, including the Tremors movies and a music video by the band Gorillaz.

You can tuck into a hearty meal at the town’s restaurant (perfect for a mid-road trip feast), browse the town’s stores featuring a print shop and of course the compulsory gift shop, or enjoy a cold one at Lil’s Saloon’s beer garden.

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If you’ve got more time to spare, then make sure you catch one of the gunfighting shows. The town features character actors who will encounter guests, deliver a story and maybe even draw irons in the street and let off a few rounds! It’s great fun if you’re travelling with kids.

If you arrive at the right time of year, you may even encounter a full-blown battle scene. Calico Ghost Town is also famous for its civil war reenactments, with cannons, flags and fully-uniformed ‘soldiers’ duking it out in the town. It’s a true spectacle.

One unmissable attraction in Calico, however, is a tour of one of the town’s remaining mines. Now reinforced and up to modern safety standards, visitors can grab a lamp and a hard hat and experience what working in a 19th century mine was like, claustrophobia and cramped conditions included.

Local guides, many of whom have family connections to Calico, share stories as you tour the mines and learn about the processes involved to get silver out of the ground to be made into jewellery, cutlery or to be melted down into bars and sent to the federal reserve.

After your mine tour, head up the mystery shack. We won’t spoil the surprise, but it’s great fun for all ages.

Skeletons on top of a building in Calico ghost town — Helga_foto / Shutterstock

If you’re visiting around Halloween, or are spending the night, then check to see if there any Calico ghost tours running. The town’s cemetery is a hotspot of paranormal activity and there is of course the cursory ‘white lady’ who is said to pop up throughout the town’s buildings when the visitors have gone home.

And last but not least, round off your Calico Ghost Town adventure with a trip on the Calico & Odessa Railroad.

This lovingly restored narrow gauge railway is a remake of the original train that ferried passengers and goods in the area. It now operates as a tourist line with cosy carriages and engines that make for a great Instagram shot. Make sure you add on your tickets when you book or visit the ticket desk at the entrance.

Visiting Calico

An aerial view of Calico ghost town, California — Pedro Costa Simeao / Shutterstock

Open every day expect Christmas, Calico makes for a brilliant pit stop on your California road trip, or indeed a full day out. Adult tickets to enter the ghost town cost $8 and kids over four can enter for $4, making this a great affordable roadside attraction. You can buy on the day or

Once you’re in the town, further fees apply to enter the mines, ride the Calico & Odessa railway, pan for gold and enter the mystery shack. You can, however, purchase a package $12 adults / $6 kids which allows you to experience everything.

If you want to really break up your journey or spend more time exploring the amazing landscapes surrounding Calico, then there are camping and RV spots that can be reserved via the San Bernardino County parks service. If you’d rather have something cosier for the night, then the town’s original bunkhouses have been fitted out as hotel rooms, giving the full western experience with additional creature comforts.