The Mayor of a Ghost Town (Population: 1)

[@grantglow4206]

My uncle Rock Novak, hes been living there for 14 years straight. Alone. If you happen to visit and remember, please tell him, "the paperboy sends his greetings". Ballarat is a special place, whenever I have a day off I take the 9 hour drive there. Just to sit on the porch and look. Happiness is what you make of it. Rocky found his.

[@grantglow4206]

@Bob Pearce he was never an owner just a caretaker. He is now living in trona just south of Ballarat. Your find his place right off the hwy leaving trona off and your right with a white sign saying rocks place.

[@rainbowriverclarkbrown]

💕

[@wedgemartin1]

@@grantglow4206 He's given me a hit off of his moonshine a few times over the past years. Noticed he wasn't there in the shop last time I was in Ballarat ( last November ). Didn't know he set up shop in Trona. I'll stop in next time I'm around.

[@yungguero6570]

My dad knew rocky, He would always stop by and talk with him on his way over to Barker Ranch, My dad would always tell me the crazy stories that rocky had about his dad and mining lol. Seeing this comment made me smile, I hope he's still doing good.

[@OikPoinFive]

@@yungguero6570 So who does he sell too? tourists, right? Are there much tourists coming through his area/town? a OMG = one man gang....

[@sassulusmagnus]

The guy is eccentric, but he seems to be satisfied with his life. I wonder how many "normal" people feel satisfied with their lives.

[@lukejt8015]

sassulusmagnus yeah I meet the guy in my next video! Really nice person

[@thomasharvey6185]

sassulusmagnus yeah he’s humble. Unlike most self absorbed fools out there.

[@ayeevizzy8723]

So true.

[@rainbowriverclarkbrown]

💕💕🌟

[@rainbowriverclarkbrown]

@@thomasharvey6185 💕

[@dt7266]

"I'm a kinda conservative mayor, I save the town a lot of money, you know. The buildings, they get bad we just let 'em fall down" That about sums it up lol

[@zerjiozerjio]

D T well done!

[@Toomuchbullshitt]

LOL! 😂👍

[@SPARTANBURGJJ]

Lol

[@JefeDeJefes8484]

That is one damn fine mayor. Look at the growth and social economic environment is thriving. Also the sheriff, caretaker, etc. Re elect him next term he deserves it.

[@dankadybong7948]

John R. Carter aka Bossman . 100 points for sarcasm. he wanted to get away from the world and he did.

[@PS-os6sr]

John R. Carter aka Bossman, When we'll stop believing that we have to have kings, in order to successfully organize our society, human society will become so much better / much more civilized.

[@JefeDeJefes8484]

P S I agree

[@JefeDeJefes8484]

Dankady Bong lol thanks yeah total sarcasm. 100 points thanks! Have a good one. Yeah you are right he wanted to get away and in the process became the mayor of his own town lol.

[@confusedwhale]

P S: Not possible. We compete for things. We will always compete for things. You have something I want. The structure we have now allows us to deflect those tendencies into a more productive manner.

[@bryand1182]

Guy has a sense of humor, makes do with very little and seems perfectly happy doing so. You can only call him crazy if you can make the case that you're significantly more sane.

[@hansdetuinkabouter]

Rocky is an amazing guy, with tuns of stories to tell, i've visited him with friends. cool to see he has his story online

[@dragonofepics7324]

Danny Mom did you know him beforehand or is he chill with strangers visiting and coming to talk?

[@OikPoinFive]

@@dragonofepics7324 *correction: Daddy, Mom; did you

[@mobiltec]

I've known Rock and his dad George for a very long time. Spent a lot of time out there camping and exploring. Get out there and meet Rock for yourself while you still can. He's a legend.

[@grantglow4206]

agreed

[@suzystone244]

I would totally befriend Rock. He's real. Original. Could care less if you are wealthy sob ... or not. Then a desert lizard runs across the porch. PERFECT.

[@eugefederico1178]

He deserves a whole film about his life and his town.

[@OikPoinFive]

it will be a short film ! lol

[@forestyforest]

I feel lucky to have met this guy in person.

[@grantglow4206]

hes still there 14 years so fare

[@crowsbaneful]

he'll haunt the place after his death, actually he's already doing that.

[@lukejt8015]

crowsbaneful yeah I go there in my next video and it was pretty creepy

[@johnhodgkinson9674]

@@lukejt8015 you got the link

[@NESherv]

"When I'm gone, I don't know what they're gonna do with this place. Probably nothing." That made me laugh out loud.

[@grantglow4206]

hpefully im the next caretaker, great people in that valley. - "me lonley? Hell no!, im haft coyote and half wild burro!" - seldom seen slim

[@RickZackExploreOffroad]

@@grantglow4206 "I'm a single blanket, jackass prospector" - Shorty Harris :)

[@filosofiamarcial8581]

Is funny cuz is true!

[@Dr.G]

It's nice to here Rocky's voice and see him here. I've been listening to Rocky and his dad George for almost 50 years. They both have given me fabulous memories. Genuinely nice people. They used to live on their own claim up a nearby canyon. The producers do a good job here. Rocky has since moved to his own property nearby. The town still has someone living there year round.

[@chillislives]

Does he see visitors? I met him years ago but he wasn't there when I was there a couple of months ago.

[@Dr.G]

@@chillislives he loves visitors. He’s off a dirt road just outside trona. He has a sign on the road, “rocks place firewood for sale”. He’s only a few hundred feet off the highway. You can see his motorhome homestead.

[@xfirehurican]

Hopefully, the new caretaker will be as accommodating as Rocky was.

[@whitewarrior4777]

"You don't wanna go down that road. Yeah, lotta history on that road. Or you could go down that road."

[@AR-yl7fz]

The shots in this thing are just gorgeous

[@OLOpera]

This looks like it could have been written by Cormac McCarthy.

[@I_Of_Providence]

i was half expecting to see a giant bald albino guy sitting on a rock in the middle of the desert in one of the scenes.

[@NathanielHarari]

He's about as crazy a curmudgeon as I expect the mayor of a ghost town in Death Valley to be - and he looks the part.

[@Ditchmonkey]

@Kevin Collins I've met the man. He gets a lot of visitors. Probably no more lonely than an apartment dweller who never knows his neighbors.

[@RickZackExploreOffroad]

You should look up the last "mayor" of Ballarat. A man called Seldom Seen Slim, died in 1968.

[@ThomasW532]

dark?

[@ghosttownsentinel5288]

This is beautifully shot, graded and edited. Hats off to you!

[@BeeJayyDaDon]

0:59 dude acting like he smoking a cigarette wit a toothpick 🤣🤣

[@USDAselect]

Beautifully shot. Sometimes I think I subscribed for the visuals rather than the content.

[@jaososchefget3632]

I like how slow and mellow and honest this video is. And it's not that chick in that touristy town that everyone reports on either. Thanks Atlantic this was a quality video.

[@sum2automation]

Legend in one's own mind that is, life is such a beautiful thing not to waste. Thanks for keeping the town up and safe for the next traveler's coming into the world.

[@amysewell8141]

Visuals and background music are on point. The Mayor Sheriff Judge seems like the kinda guy you can enjoy minimalist conversation with. Just a couple of people on his porch with a beer or a coffee saying “yeah..., yep, uh huh....hmm...yeah” and just stare at the beautiful silent nothing.

[@cd6243]

I really dug the music

[@BrettHoustonTube]

Rock is awesome. I would always stop by on my way to Adventurize in Death Valley. He had some great stories. And was the most reliable source of information in the canyon for travelers. This is a nice piece. I wish I had filmed him. I never asked, I just assumed he would prefer his privacy.

[@scooderdude]

I can see myself in this guy. I wonder what his back story is

[@grantglow4206]

mom died when he was 8, his dad and him stuck together to his pops George died. rocky worked as a line man for a power company for some years, then did tree work for a Forrest company, eventually ending up in death valley with his dad in the 70's. They had the only property i was aware of that was self sustaining, Food trees, big gardens, fresh water. all up in surprise canyon, novak camp. burnt down years ago. now hes the caretaker in ballarat. if u see him tell him the "paperboy" sent u. hes a nice fellow

[@chriss8572]

You can see yourself in this guy...that sounds pretty gay...

[@mozdickson]

..picture of dude on the righteous 70s chopper just behind him give a clue?

[@shawnkay5462]

Chris S Very Gay

[@kimle190]

@@grantglow4206 how was his relationship with his dad?

[@kevintucker3354]

This guy has the best dry sense of humor ever! I’d hang out with him, at city hall!

[@kevintucker3354]

I love the thermometer pegged at 126 degrees!

[@BURGATRON]

What happens if I move there and run against him? The vote would be tied 1-1.

[@cd6243]

🤣🤣

[@OikPoinFive]

@@cd6243 then since it is tied 1-1 he gets precedence over you since he has lived there longer. he gets to decide who wins; he chooses. he prob will pick himself lol. unless he is retiring. or if he is "super-lonely" then maybe he lets u win so he he company, a fiend, and competition

[@manofmorbihan5375]

If you look up the word "relaxed" you will find a photo of this guy. Man, he's so cool!

[@jefftusing8976]

He seems satisfied, but the look in his eyes tells a different story (loneliness).

[@andysolorzano4126]

We visit Ballarat quite often. We miss seeing Rock and Potlicker. Hope they continue to keep up with caring for Ballarat. Lots of history, lots of memories for me, my grandsons and friends.

[@WallyTony]

I want to live with this man. He is a fine example of America in all its beauty.

[@apollo268]

This man is playing Minecraft single player in real life lmfao.

[@xMrJanuaryx]

Seems like a pretty genuine person, but I can't help wonder... he must be so lonely. The world can be so cruel.. and it always tends to be the cruelest to the nicest people we have.

[@citzn]

Wait a second, he's also the undertaker but there's only 1 resident!? Who is he burying? 😐

[@JohnJohn-jq7cd]

The town.

[@JefeDeJefes8484]

Cc Oo himself from boredom or his dog if it passed away yet. Their the "only" residents. The do it all mayor.

[@confusedwhale]

John R. Carter aka Bossman: The dog's already dead.

[@solarnaut]

anyone who checks into the ballarat motel "downtown." ...where do you think he got that cool collection of cars?good things come to those who wait.

[@shawnkay5462]

Himself

[@definitelynotyourmom42]

Found myself in Ballarat and hung out with Rock for a bit around 2017. Really down to earth dude, and an absolute encyclopedia about the history of that area. Hope he's doing okay.

[@scottmclaughlin5674]

The "Mayor" sounds pompous. Rock is a genuine man and he's the son of a historically relevant and prolific prospector of the area and the curator of what is left of our local history. I'm sorry to have seen him leave Ballarat to his new place but glad to know he's well. The guy is history in the flesh and a tremendous resource left to those of us willing to make ourselves his way.

[@xfirehurican]

Damn. Was hoping Rocky would still be there. I'd like to have met him and had chat. Might still stop by Spring of '23, on my way to Cerro Gordo.

[@SuperRiverboat]

Wonderful story about a weird and beautiful place. Thank you.

[@scottwall4669]

Rocky is the Bomb!!!! Listens to battery AM radio every night with no electricity. Great man for sure. He is currently in need of a good running Toyota truck to take the recyclables to town and do his laundry.

[@grantglow4206]

yes this is true, if i hit the jack pot im getting him one, guy is like a unlce to me.

[@markelfarkel6040]

I remember Potlicker. Sad to hear he's gone. Mr. Novak was such a nice man. Hang in there Rock !

[@grantglow4206]

rocks doing good, i see him once every couple of months.

[@markelfarkel6040]

@@grantglow4206 I was lucky enough to have met his dad and the dog. I always wished they would adopt me!. But i'm too old and ugly!

[@grantglow4206]

@@markelfarkel6040 it's okay I'm young and ugly hah. Goodday sir🍻

[@markelfarkel6040]

@@grantglow4206 Hope to get there again soon.

[@gimcrack555]

I have the same philosophy. Live my life and ignore whats going on outside my circle. If your self-sustainability, rely on yourself and not others. You can have a very happy life.

[@willyboy6126]

He is far richer than anyone of us could ever be...and it's not about money!

[@shawnkay5462]

Hes definitely not a part of the rat race.

[@barbaraogden5294]

I lived in Desert Center and I loved it , The people were hard working ,friendly and proud.

[@eurotom288]

I would love to know were he gets all his Food and supplies from, it seem,s so remote out there, but it’s something I would actually like to be honest.

[@Hmbay726]

We just visited Ballarat a few days before Christmas 2023 and the owners now live there in the temperate months. Yvonne gave us an informal tour of the property. She told an interesting story about the resettlement of Ballarat by a group of people that had been renting land nearby. They bought Ballarat over 20 years ago thinking that they could set up a mobile home park but it turned out that the county wouldn’t permit it (so she said) and so most of the group went their separate ways. They ended up owning the town and later Rocky ended up as caretaker. The documentary skipped the wild and crazy Freedom Days (see various KZbin videos) which apparently got out of hand and the owners came back to restore order. Rocky lives on the edge of Trona - there’s a sign marking his driveway.

[@bruceaisher]

This so beautifully shot! I'd like to have a beer with Rock

[@wvudak06]

This guy reminds me of John Lokitis, one of the last residents of abandoned coal mining town Centralia, Pennsylvania. He's featured in the documentary "The Town That Was". Hanging out by yourself for decades can make ya pretty weird.

[@bim-ska-la-bim4433]

1. First 2. Atlantic keep these coming...very cool

[@shawnkay5462]

3:50 he made a very good point about Dogs.

[@garthrichert5256]

You are a good fellow. I salute you. I will humbly ask God to talk with you, that you may know the truth about Him. You may have a friend you never dreamed of.

[@theshuriken]

what camera is used in this video? looks like a hi-budget holywood movie directed by coen brothers

[@BMLKABD19]

Not sure why it’s funny to me, but Could not stop laughing at “the hotel... wood so old and dry, one little spark and the whole place will burn...” lol. Gotta like this guy.

[@henryscarhead4218]

Why can't several Americans revive old towns like this, like what a couple of people did in cerro gordo, i know that there are old town that is old (tombstone, calico, deadwood, Dodge, fort worth, etc.), but the US need more, cause old town has historical stories.

[@mauricemanilius8063]

What song is playing at 2:25? Sounds like a variation on piero umiliani's archangelo, beautiful piece, beautiful short doc.

[@IconicBattles]

This guy could be played by John C. Reilly

[@OikPoinFive]

or my Abdullah the Butcher!

[@johnepperson8867]

Does the Ballarat Motel have WiFi ?

[@grantglow4206]

No

[@VIGTIBEN]

Dial up

[@mrdavidlopan]

LOL!

[@OikPoinFive]

@@mrdavidlopan if it does consist of a motel then it is just one motel and a 1-star motel. hee hee!

[@sethknight2454]

This was cool

[@engelwyre]

Some people may view the mayor as eccentric, but he just seems to not have pretense. There's nobody to impress or play a part for. If we all had fewer pretenses and distractions, our collective experience would possibly be quite different.

[@beaugeste2899]

Running out of water in Death Valley.

[@PashPaw]

...that’s news since the road from Trona, CA to Death Valley and Scotty’s Castle both got flooded in 2015 and I don’t think Scotty’s Castle has recovered yet. It’s also been pretty wet (for us) in the region over the past three years. Lack of water isn’t a major concern, I think.

[@Toomuchbullshitt]

PashPaw Lack of water is a major concern. Monsoon rains flood the desert only so it would dry up quickly and raise the humidity even higher.

[@grantglow4206]

@@Toomuchbullshitt the water is coming from a year-round spring no need to worry

[@RickZackExploreOffroad]

No where in DV are you more than 24 miles from fresh water. Butte Valley, just east of Ballarat has at least 4-5 full time springs..

[@RickZackExploreOffroad]

@@Toomuchbullshitt I just got back from DV, had some snow and the humidity was about 10%.

[@OikPoinFive]

I remember seeing him at the beginning of another Death Valley documentary! about the legendary George Johnston!

[@AndrewLida]

That was great! Loved it!

[@mallikarjunakoppada1467]

You're one lucky man on this earth to enjoy..

[@1950norton]

Spent a day with George hearing about his pet Burro who had a pet Bobcat that rode around on the Burros back. When one of our guys got sick George drove him into Trona, a ride he will never forget. I miss the shady cabin at the mouth of Surprise canyon with the stream diverted to water the Cottonwood trees. They were/are great and don't forget the $2 to keep up the road! I gave them $10 so it could be a bit better....

[@jackking4749]

If I could I'd move out and keep him company!

[@BrassyTack]

Stopped by Ballarat in 2010, on our way to Death Valley National Park. Then, there was Rocky and his brother George running the store. We stopped, had a beer (only $2!) and chatted for awhile. Nice enough guys, didn’t care about much. They told me they still prospected for gold up in the hills; from the looks of the place, don’t think they found much. Ballarat has a small “jail”. George told us, “I don’t think they ever kept anyone there, they’d just shoot the bastard”.

[@thedustyartist]

George was his dad

[@BrassyTack]

@@thedustyartist Oooops, you are indeed correct.

[@trentslvis4332]

Used to hang out in Ballarat back in the 80's!. But Rocky wasn't there!, and neither was the Dodge WC-12 pickup!!!.

[@coloradoraptorguy9250]

Really? The dodge wasn’t there? What’s with all the Manson family stories? Wonder where it was previously?

[@TightwadTodd]

@@coloradoraptorguy9250 At Barker ranch..

[@OikPoinFive]

what is a WC-12 pickut ?! an oil for future car oil changes?

[@HiAdrian]

Interesting piece, I like it.

[@AR_119]

Wasn't this guy in an episode of american top gear?

[@xfirehurican]

Yep

[@OikPoinFive]

also in 2006's "The Lone Fugitive" about George Johnston. is on youtube.

[@OikPoinFive]

@@xfirehurican also in 2006's documentary "The Lone Fugitive" about George Johnston. is on youtube.

[@StevenLoitz]

"This truck belonged to Charles Manson." Hah

[@Toomuchbullshitt]

Even the truck is haunted by a ghost lol!

[@rockymaxiful]

Tex Watson, actually.

[@rubydawn1]

it did

[@greyjay9202]

My kind of town, my kind of mayor.

[@MiauxCatterie]

points out the town hotel sign says jail/morgue i like his sense of humor

[@bennettlockandkeymattandja9671]

No way it's almost 130 degrees. He ain't even sweating.

[@rubengutierrez19]

I live in a humid area but when I visited Nevada whilst it was hot I did not sweat at all compared to where I live which is much 'cooler' but humid af lol

[@LDazz]

This is good

[@EliteXtasy]

He reminds me of the old blind guy from The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. Also, don't drink the water of this place if you ever plan to go there. I read on Wiki some hippies got Hep A after drinking its water.

[@apocyldoomer]

Man, you got that right, I want to move to a private Island, haha, wake me up when the chaos is over!! Crazy times we live in, Armageddon is NEAR! But, the world was insane from the beginning!!

[@mobiltec]

He's gone now. I hear he got a place in Ridgecrest. I hope he's OK. I don't support the store any longer. The way they just washed their hands of Rock and threw him out on his ear was just terrible.

[@jodie6925]

Oh that makes me so sad. He was brave enough to try to live the way he wanted own his own terms. Wish I could do that.

[@martymcfly5842]

Part of 1969's Easy Rider was filmed here.

[@JohnJohn-jq7cd]

Casting was on point for this guy.

[@NESherv]

He's real. This isn't fiction.

[@JohnJohn-jq7cd]

Of course not.

[@jerryabear]

@@JohnJohn-jq7cd in case you aren't trolling, he's definitely real. I met him in Ballarat yesterday.

[@JohnJohn-jq7cd]

@@jerryabear Well, either I'm joking, either I can' tell a documentary labeled as such and... zzz

[@cd6243]

what piece of music is this? please it sounds familiar

[@kimle190]

I see so much sadness in his lines. He must have been very hurt by people.

[@xfirehurican]

Not really. 'Desert rats' like Rocky look years beyond their actual age.

[@hypercomms2001]

Here is a place named after Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.

[@timothycurtin5552]

How much would you sell the Dodge Truck for?

[@Crmsnraider]

"His Eye!" Like the old man in the "Fall of the House of Usher"- Cool

[@pedrosimas2642]

he kind of reminds me of a beat-up version of Vigo The Carpathian, from Ghostbusters 2

[@slonktonkster9680]

Love this dude

[@mirkacuadros779]

I kinda wanna live there

[@Toomuchbullshitt]

Fannypacklover 06 Hope you like dusty living conditions, weather hot as Venus and the evergrowing insanity buildup.

[@RickZackExploreOffroad]

It is a fascinating and beautiful place.

[@FrenchToastMashedPotatoes]

If only 1 person lives there can it really even be considered a town.

[@minionprime7683]

This guy is basically the nerfed version of brent from cerro gordo

[@brendtoconnell6119]

Salute to the Mayor of Ballarat.

[@_S-O-S_]

I like him...

[@NoName-pu5ls]

Kinda Clint Eastwood vibe, I'd definitely hang out with

[@NoName-pu5ls]

Oops hit button too soon

[@m-bronte]

Population 1 LOL! Space aliens have a channel called - Comedy Earth LOL!

[@barbaraogden5294]

I lived just south of the little gas station it was a grapefruit farm.

[@alkaford6259]

Watching from Ballarat Australia

[@RickZackExploreOffroad]

The founder of Ballarat CA was an Australian immigrant.

[@TheIonizator]

I feel kind of FReEeEeeeeE

[@dankadybong7948]

Р. К. . I just feel REEEEEEEEE

[@rubydawn1]

its amazing

[@bfredericks9086]

I have been there... and met him. He is the real deal.

[@rrrrsorry8408]

I remember this gentleman, he was the guy who stopped my car and informed me he was the mayor, sheriff and judge of Ballarat and the speed limit in ballarat was 100 mph in first gear lol. When I was on my way to work at a new mine down south in the Panamints . That was a long time ago ,

[@scottrodriguez6925]

Love you Rocky. Miss you at ballarat

[@chuck4x5]

this is my date plant

[@Toomuchbullshitt]

LagiNaLangAko23 LOL!

[@marisam9803]

In 35 years it'll have dates.

[@grantglow4206]

I've been watering that date plant for two years. You can do it too juat ask.

[@MsNevadakid]

the keeper of the past and don't give a flyings hoot about the present ! ....happy trails always....

[@coloradoken3159]

I'm President and CEO of my household. RIP Glen Campbell.