Calico Ghost Town California History

In 1881, four treasure hunters left a place called Grapevine Station, now known as Barstow, California. They went northeast towards a mountain that looked very colorful, like calico fabric. They named the mountain, the area around it, and the town they started "Calico" because of its colors. They found silver in the mountain, and this discovery led to the creation of the Silver King Mine. This mine became the top silver producing mine in California in the mid-1880s. John King, who helped these treasure hunters and after whom the mine was named, was also related to Walter Knott, who started Knott's Berry Farm. John King was in charge of keeping the peace in San Bernardino County from 1879 to 1882.
By early 1882, the town of Calico had grown enough to get its own post office and start publishing a weekly newspaper called "The Calico Print." The town quickly grew to have many places like three hotels, five general stores, a place to buy meat, bars, brothels, and lots of restaurants and places to stay. The local government set up a school area and a place for voting, which helped the community grow stronger. Calico wasn’t just a place for miners; it also had police with a deputy sheriff and two constables, legal help with two lawyers and a judge, people to run the town with five commissioners, and two doctors for health care. The town also had a Wells Fargo office and services to send messages or talk over long distances.

[@shirleybennett]

I have been yo calico about twice a year for over 30 years . I got married in the school house wearing clothes of the time. People thought we were part of the show and many turned around and followed us to the schoolhouse as if they had been invited. Also my now 50 year old son won the greased flagpole climb when he was 10. Thousands of memories. I recommend it to everyone.

[@deborahmatatall]

My mom grew up in Barstow. When she married my dad, they moved back to Chicago, his home town. Every summer, my mom would take us (eventually 4 of us) on the Santa Fe train from Chicago to Barstow for 3-4 weeks. Our favorite place to go was Calico. We usually went at least twice each trip. Our grandfather would give us nickles so we could watch the nickleodians and we got sasparillas at the saloon. We rode the train and the mining cars and the donkeys. We explored the bottle house and the mystery house where water ran uphill! Amazing to see for little kids who thought it was magic! I think there was even a spot where we could pan for “gold,” even though that was NOT a thing at Calico mines. This was back in the late 50s to the late 60s. Lots of great memories brought back watching your video.🌸

[@ronaldlee3537]

I lived in Barstow from 1950 to 1968, when I graduated from high school. I have not been to Calico in for 30+ years. Great video brought back many fond memories. They have fixed up the place a lot, I remember that many of the buildings were really run down. When I lived there they didn't have the plaque by Wallter Knott, this is the first time I've seen it.

[@gordonyates7972]

Visited Calico as a child back in the 1950's. It made quite the impression as I still remember snatches of places there! Very interesting!😂

[@Cosmos1987]

Certainly you're now 80 tear old ?

[@user-iv2iw9ne9u]

I remember back in the late 70s early 80 going to calico staying in the camp ground numerous times at night we would walk up to town it was a crazy feeling lol 95 was the last time I went there

[@claresailing]

Have you been to "Pi Town" yet? Nickname for Pioneer Town, close to Joshua Tree, north of Yucca Valley, California. An old cowboy movie set.

[@Rjose2211]

I went today it was amazing! Calico Ghost Town it’s the best place! ❤

[@Angel2011]

I was just there yesterday. Neat place with lots of history. It was 98° 🥵

[@hollywoodjoe3259]

Is a tourist attraction like tombstone az?

[@SpaceCadet86d]

108 there on this past Saturday 🥵 yeah touristy but pretty reasonable and interesting

[@hollywoodjoe3259]

@@SpaceCadet86d thank you for the info I was gonna take the family on Saturday but gonna hold off till it cools down

[@keithmerscheim1924]

Always ✋️ stopped in Yermo Ca. At 💕 HEARTS CAFE on the way to Las Vegas. And of course Calico Great memories. Had my first TUNA FISH SANDWICH at 💕 Hearts in 1965. My Family and I will always remember ❤️ Hearts, Calico, and of course 1960's Las Vegas.

[@RandalF-259]

Thank you. Been here a few times.

[@mkvampire88]

We went to Calico when I was younger and this video brings back a lot of memories. The history was neat. But haven't heard from anyone else about the Boysenberry pie, and many other, edibiles made with boysenberries?

[@mattwedelich347]

Great video 😊

[@lpsglitterpaws8536]

Great video! I would love to go see it

[@liquiddogman3368]

This place rocks.

[@MC-us2ci]

Thanks!

[@RoadsideDiscovery]

Thank you so much! 👍

[@GadgetMan-rr3ik]

The greatest place to be one of the greatest places to be on Halloween is calico.

[@mikrof467]

Now it's absolutely nothing but a dust bowl.

[@frankmartinez4856]

In the 1990’s! Went there for a competition 😳Cowboys, without Indians 🤨stuntman show 😬

[@MichaelBrown-oq1tn]

Wooooow

[@acatal2464]

I'm 65 years of age, back in early 1960's I was a little kid, we visit Calico ghost town, my parents met an elderly lady who happen to be long time resident since she was a young lady come to Calico ever have been. My father having conversation with her and she talk about something about this area, as a kid I don't remember exactly what she said. I believe she later died in late 1960's or early 1970's.

[@Qz3sv7F2Kb9w]

Quite a sad memories you have when memorizing about the past in that town. How are you now?

[@acatal2464]

@@Qz3sv7F2Kb9w Well, I'm hanging on and trying to recover from a stroke since November 2015.

[@jamesziegler2763]

😮😮

[@donaldperson948]

I would think there’s plenty of silver left there?

[@neverd9]

I used to be there once 😊👍

[@Qz3sv7F2Kb9w]

Please tell us something in your memories while you were there? How you live what you did, some like that. Thank you.

[@drueatcer]

I camp with my boys just outside of Calico and walk in for free.

[@tripswitch7516]

Its bow-die