S1 - Ep 305 - Copperton - Expected to Find an Abandoned Mining Town!

We embarked on yet another thrilling adventure, taking a drive on a gravel road that led us to this fascinating place. As we journeyed on this path, we couldn't help but admire the impressive sights big wind and solar farms that we encountered along the way. The information we got about these alternative energy sources was quite interesting and educational. As we approached Copperton, we expected to find an abandoned copper and zinc mining town, but we were in for a pleasant surprise. The town was inhabited, and mining activity was about to start up again. Driving through the town was a captivating experience. Our visit to Copperton was a memorable adventure that will be etched in our memories for a long time to come. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #southafricavlog #travelongravel #northerncape #copperton
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[@rorysullivan4913]

Played in a cricket match in (1976) this mining village. Remember Copperton as a neat, well looked after town with a lovely cricket field to play on. Enjoy these longer video clips. Don't enjoy seeing the unsightly wind turbines etc spoiling the natural beauty of the Karoo but we have to move with times I suppose.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Those must be great memories of Copperton in the 70's! 🏏 We love seeing windfarms, but I realise they're controversial and some folks dislike them intensely. Fortunately for you, there are many more thousands of kilometres without them than with them! 🚙😁

[@conorclohessy6809]

Thanks for video heartbreaking I grew up in copperton

[@DustBugsTravel]

I can only imagine how different it looks today from what you remember it. 😥 But hopefully it experiences a revival soon! 🏭🤞🏻

[@annawitter5161]

I see Copperton is on the way to Prieska. I have been to Prieska but not to Copperton. I do love the way you ferret out all these lesser known and fascinating places.I am so chuffed to see all the wind farms. We really need a replacement for Eskom. Wonderful that the military lookout has grown a beard....ummm ...birds! I love the sheep-bush jokes! Perhaps, shuses or beeps? Thanks for the good laugh!My car broke down this evening and left me on the roadside and AA didnt help!!!😭😭🤬Oh yes, I agree! Good gravel above lousy tar any day! Just so want to jump in and restore those old houses and gardens!

[@DustBugsTravel]

Oh, no! Car troubles are the pits! 🚙😖 I hope you're all sorted! Travelling wouldn't be nearly as exciting without huge doses of humour, that's just how we roll! So I'm glad you laugh with us. The bush sheep still have us chuckling! 🐑🤭 I'm happy we could take you to a place you've never been to before. The more obscure, the better for us! I think the mine will be operational again soon, those houses and gardens will be fixed up and occupied in no time! 🏡

[@user-su1cz7xo1e]

Thank you for this "trip down memory lane" as I grew up in Copperton from 1976 to 1988. A great childhood, and thus sad to see our little dorpie hiding behind so much security and desolation.

[@elrico8806]

Hello hello, this is unexpected too see copperton, my mother in law works there till this very day.. They travel from prieska to copperton everyday.... I can't wait to show her this video.... I heard about those wind farms around copperton but never saw them with my own eyes until this video now.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Wow, how incredible and so interesting! We saw so few people around that day but knew that there must be quite a lot of folks involved with getting the mine up and running again. 🏭 We were blown away (pardon that pun!) by how many turbines we saw in the area, it was really amazing to see! Thanks for sharing our video with your mom-in-law, we appreciate that! 🚙😊

[@kosievandenberg2145]

That little house was built by a very skillfull person. And hardworking😊

[@DustBugsTravel]

Those are very true words, I agree fully! I have the utmost respect for people like that! 🤩🏠

[@mariusroos]

Quite a drive with something other than what wev'e seen in the past. But very interesting though. Wish they will succeed to put it back in operation. Thank you guys i enjoyed this one an am looking forward to the next one. Drive safely. My seat is booked

[@DustBugsTravel]

Yes, completely different trip this was for us as well. I do believe the mine will be in full operation again, judging from the activitiy we saw from a distance at the site. 🏭 It was an interesting experience, despite us not being able to see as much of the town as we hoped. We'll see you again on Thursday! 🚙😁

[@mitchyoung93]

One of the most unusual videos of yours I have seen. Reminds me of some Russian videos of cities that have died because their main industry failed or moved on. Or indeed of American towns in the same situation. I hope the mine can be revived. I don't quite understand why so many areas are off limits.

[@DustBugsTravel]

By all indications, the mine is definitely being revived, which is great for the local economy. 🏭 We've travelled extensively around active mining areas in the Northern and Western Cape and, without exception, access is heavily-restricted. As soon as we knew the mine was once again going to be an active operation, we knew we wouldn't see as much as we hoped, still expecting to find an abandoned mining town. So we weren't too surprised in the end that most of the town was off-limits to outsiders. 🤷‍♂️🚙 In addition, we believe Copperton also has military testing facilities, which adds to the restricted access situation.

[@KdT_0099]

Stumbled across this video and it sure brings some fond memories back of Copperton. During my final year of Military Service we would drive down to Copperton with Military Vehicles for testing ammunition or other components for the artillery weapons etc. at the Alkantpan testing facility. I recall during 1989 in the beginning of the year the mine had seized operations and there was a beer festival celebrating the mine's heritage(Still do have the beer mug). What I remember about the small town. Most of the town were already been abandoned and I think only some of the essential staff remained to oversee the final closure of the mine. The Alkantpan Lodge was the old mining hostel where we would live during our stay at Copperton and it looks the same from the outside bar a new fence. Behind the hostel (viewing from the street) was the sport clubhouse. If I remember correctly the swimming pool was across from the lodge. In the middle of the town was a Cafe and towards the very outskirts of town was a small convenience store and a garage. Those military look out posts were not there and I assume it was build/sourced by Eskom as it was not there during that time. The shooting range is about 4km from the road when turn onto the gravel road from the main road, the main facility was not visible from the road. Apart from the tar road that has seen better days I recall a small circle to the entrance to the town and some unique speed reducing measures just before or after the circle, it was like a ditch(as opposed to speeds humps) and if you would go to fast you will wreck your car. Pity you could not enter the private section to "explore" the rest of town.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for watching our video and for the very interesting first-hand info about Copperton! 🚙😁 I'm always happy to hear when our videos remind folks of good and special times in their past! Super interesting that those lookout towers weren't there in that time, I was almost convinced they had something to do with the military testing in the area. I suppose with Kronos being such a huge substation, it needed extra protection back in the day. We would've loved to drive through the other part of the town, but we're not in the business of entering where a board stritly prohibits us from doing so, that's just not our way. 😨⛔ I did note a board pointing to the shop and would've liked to check that out too!

[@michaelstorm5299]

Hello Koos du Toit. You are correct. I was in 1988-89 assigned to 10 Artillery/1Medium Gun battery in Pocthefstroom. We usually sent a small team to Copperton to use the Alkantpan test range for continuous improvement of the G5 gun's 155mm ammunition. Experimental ammo was also fired. The facility is still used by Rheinmetall Denel Munitions...the latest rocket-assisted ammunition recorded ranges in excess of 70km. Much of the 155mm ammunition gets exported to NATO/Germany and gets used in Ukraine (against the Russians). Groete aan Koos, en ook voorspoed aan Curtis en Sonia. Korporal Michael Storm, 1989 School of Military Intelligence / 10 Art Brigade HQ. Kmdt Swannie Swanepoel was my base commander.

[@charlietreston4035]

Hi guys what a eye opener abandoned town .the wind farm and solar farm massive. It shows how mother nature takes over with the nests on the military lookout posts loved the cute little cobb house old technology cool in summer warm in winter I agree with you both this must have been a military testing site. I can't imagine what it must be like for the few people who still live there. This is what I love about these videos so different and intriguing shame you couldn't get to the other side of town but I bet in a few years it will be busy once the mining is up and running very interesting video as always thanks for the ride cheerio till the next one

[@DustBugsTravel]

When we're told to keep out, we keep out, no questions asked! 😨⛔ It's just not our vibe to scratch where it's not itching and we prefer being relaxed while we travel. Although we would've so loved to see more of the town, it was just not possible to. I agree with you though, what we did manage to see was extremely intriguing and different and I'm glad we decided to visit the town. Those birds nests on the two lookout towers were something else! Mother Nature will always take back what belongs to her, so true! 😍🐦 Those solar and wind farms were super impressive, we always love seeing them! I'm glad you enjoyed this somewhat different trip. See you soon again! 😁🚙

[@mitchyoung93]

The composite grass (or straw) and clay bricks are called "adobe" in California and there are buildings that are nearly 200 years old made under the direction of Spanish missionaries that still stand in part. Unfortunately our earthquakes have taken their toll. This type of construction material does indeed control internal temperature amazingly well. The bricks are subject to erosion so we're typically covered with calcium based white wash that periodically had to be reapplied.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for the interesting info! 👌🏻 It doesn't appear as if the local folks in the Northern Cape covered the clay-and-straw bricks, but I was still surprised at how much of the structure was intact. Temperature control in these harsh surroundings is key I would imagine. 🏠🥵🥶

[@bigvee6900]

Worked there in 1992 at the Alkantpan firing range for Navy. Stayed at the IETZNIETZ HERBERG. Fond memories of Tani Tia and team.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Interesting! That's more than 30 years ago and only a few years before they say the area was mined out. I would imagine it looked very different back in the day. 🚙🏭

[@Deontjie]

The ballistic testing range is still active today. With Denel being one of the customers.

[@PeterdeKlerk-nb6gn]

hi upon getting my notification I couldn't resist taking a peek ....🤦‍♂

[@DustBugsTravel]

I like that! I hope you enjoyed the rest later. 🚙😁

[@hannesvanniekerk499]

Thank you again. The remoteness was very interesting.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Indeed. And the mystery too. 🚙🤔

[@doraduplessis2727]

This left me speechless.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Yup, I know what you mean. 🚙🏭

[@WayneKitching]

That substation at about 7:10 (Kronos) is a Main Transmission substation and a national key point. Apart from the military facility, the lookout could have been for guarding the substation during the turbulent times of the 1980s.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Appreciate the info! 👍🏻 That makes complete sense to me. Kronos did look rather menacing, I must admit. We haven't seen many that large before. 💡🚙

[@munesumangava9751]

Its like a green oasis……such greenery!!!

[@1812nico]

Hi you two! I have just survived the third 2-hour blackout of the day and joining you on this excursion brought me back to the beauty of life of gravel roads and blue skies with birds nesting on high places. The town may look small and deserted, but I'm sure renewed mining will bring more people back there. The scale of the wind and solar generation is amazing. One can only hope that the 'electric' Minister and ESKOM will learn something here. As much as I like rugged mountains, I am captivated by the views of the flat plains with their diversity of plant life you took us through. Thank you Sonia for enlightening us with with your research on Copperton's history! I can't wait for the next trip (North?) Keep safe!

[@DustBugsTravel]

And I had just perused our blackout schedule for tomorrow and the less said about that, the better! 🤷‍♂️💡 We need more of those wind and solar farms as in asap! Those are extensive facilities out there and we can only hope that the energy generated at these places, can somehow bring us back from the situation we find ourselves in at the moment. As for Copperton, it's an intriguing place and we're glad we saw what we could of it! The landscapes are stark in their beauty and we love them too! Only two more sleeps until you find out where we were headed to next! 🚙😁

[@compilationking979]

Guys, enjoying your videos as always, thanks for all your hard works behind the scenes!!!! Dankie

[@DustBugsTravel]

I appreciate that, thank you! 👍🏻 I'm happy to hear you're enjoying our videos. 🚙😁

[@PeterdeKlerk-nb6gn]

Orion will in the near future revive Copperton mining and thus bring employment for the surrounding towns SOON!!!!!!!!

[@DustBugsTravel]

Indeed! Exactly what we said in the video! 🏭😁

[@PeterdeKlerk-nb6gn]

hi my grandfather and the rest of the community in the "lokasie" build their mud-clay mixed with hay/straw houses as far back in the early 1900"s...its only like 5 years ago that brick houses are being build (another story)...

[@DustBugsTravel]

Interesting! I have no doubt that they built houses with clay and straw even further back than the early 1900's. I do believe though that brick houses were around way before five years ago already! 🏠😁

[@deonzar]

Very interesting...never been to Copperton but maybe in a few years time it will be a thriving mining town again.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I feel it may look rather different in two years' time, let's hope so! 🤞🏻🏭 It was indeed a very interesting visit to this place that we've never heard of before until a viewer mentioned it in a comment a few months ago. It never ceases to amaze me how many places there are that we have no clue about! 😳🚙

[@ronnykenny3965]

Hi there, 🐑🐑🐑🐑😂😂😂 & that heavy traffic in Alkantpan made me nervous 😅😅😅, thank you that was a very unique trip. Hubby worked for Eskom, I am only brave enough to say that now that he's on pension otherwise I wouldn't be as brave as to say it nowadays 🙈

[@DustBugsTravel]

Heavy traffic for sure! 😆🚙 It was really a unique visit and we're glad we got to see Copperton and surrounds. Eskom, Eskom, Eskom, I don't really know what else to say! 🤷‍♂️💡 I think hubby's better off retired.

[@charleneburger5269]

completed my standard 5 (grade 7) there and high school in Prieska .

[@conrayjones9290]

In the mid 80's I was at copperton with the testing of the G6

[@DustBugsTravel]

That's wild! 😳 When I was in the Army, it was still the G5.

[@vry3555]

The wind turbines may be great for us, not so much for the birds because they don't recognize it as a danger. Seen a few videos on what it's doing to the poor birds.

[@DustBugsTravel]

We love nature with all the animals and birds in it and agree with you that it's indeed very sad that birds are impacted negatively by the wind turbines. 😥🐦 However, we also believe that a fraction of the country is covered by these turbines while the rest of the skies are still available to the birds to fly freely. There is unfortunately ups and downs to every single thing in life. Heaven only knows we need some kind of help with power generation since our energy provider can clearly not do it on their own anymore and it's slowly bringing this great country to its knees. Sad, but true in my view. 🤷‍♂️🇿🇦 Fossil fuels may very well kill more birds in the end too.

[@WayneKitching]

10:30: If it wasn't for the wind turbines, we would have had even more loadshedding.

[@DustBugsTravel]

That's what logic would dictate, yes. However, currently it seems the more turbines, the more loadshedding! 🤷🏼‍♂️ That doesn't add up in our minds.

[@e.e.schiemer3135]

That's because they are not a part of the Eskom power grid yet apparently :/

[@strongsus4798]

❤

[@charltonpick8226]

23 December 2020 I dreamed about an athletic friend I met in 1985. They also came to the West Coast (Saldanha) for rugby in 1986. I dreamed I was in Copperton but could not find their house. I vaguely remember it being opposite the school. In my dream, I could not find the house. I woke up the next morning and went to Google. To my shock, only foundations If anyone who used to live in Copperton back in the mid-80s sees this message, I stayed at their house for the weekend of athletics in 1985, and they returned to Saldanha for the winter tournament. A colleague told me afterward that people relocated to different towns. Would like to know what happened to him. Thank you, DustBugs. I love your videos. I'm working abroad and would love to explore the country sides with you guys.

[@DustBugsTravel]

@strongs us 🚙🤩

[@frederikbrits9559]

Sad....

[@DustBugsTravel]

Hopefully not for long though. 🤞🏻🏭

[@lisettereimche3558]

The who carbon dioxide thing is a ruse!

[@willemludrickcharlies6533]

One just ask are these windfarm connected to the Grid?

[@DustBugsTravel]

Indeed an excellent question! I really want to believe it'll make a difference to the electricity crisis we currently experience. It does seem the more windfarms, the more loadshedding at the moment though, so that doesn't always make sense to me. 🤷‍♂️

[@e.e.schiemer3135]

Unfortunately not 😢

[@guillaumedutoit5376]

onthou die dorp soos noudidag rondom 1976 goed gorganiseerde dorp gewees Het koper en asbes gemyn.....

[@DustBugsTravel]

Let's hope the town is resurrected to once again be a well-functioning and organised place. Thanks for sharing those memories with us! 🏭🚙

[@monicaalberts8130]

In Bible times people built cob houses