Calico which is now referred to as Calico ghost town is an abandoned silver mining town established in the Mojave Desert, Southern California. Today, it is a ghost town within Bernardino County Regional Park.

The fall of Calico Town

After the discovery of Borate, the town was flooded by mines and people including foreigners which led to over-exploitation of the mines. In 1896, the price of silver went down, reducing profit from silver mining drastically. Mines began to close down shortly afterward and by 1898, the town post office and school closed down. Residents who were mostly miners relocated to other towns leaving Calico to decay by the beginning of 1907.

Restoration of calico town

In 1915, the town was revived for a short period when the Zenda mining company bought the Silver King mine. Zenda mining company built a cyanide plant with an effort of processing silver mine’s left deposits. Walter Knott came to know of the town when he was tasked to build the cyanide tanks. Knott shortly after coming to know of the town traveled to the town with his son to see what potential it had. Being the founder who built the imaginary Knott’s Berry Farm, the two were amazed by what they saw. Knotts bought the land from Zenda and began the process of restoring it. He used old photographs and insights from others who still lived in the town. It cost him 700,000 US dollars to fully restore the town. Knotts later donated the town to the county of Bernardino.

What is the current situation of the town?

Calico town was fully restored and turned into a park.  Most of the original buildings were replaced by replicas but some which were still in good shape were renovated. Calico ghost town is now under the state of California managed by Bernardino County Park. It is open to the public for a tour any day at a fee.