Calico Ghost Town sets the mood for Halloween

September 3, 3:23 PMLA Escapes ExaminerJennifer Marlo

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 Old Buggy wheel in Calico, Ca. Photo by Jennifer Marlo.

Although there are an estimated 50,000 ghost towns in the U.S.A, Calico is one of the few remaining ghost towns on the West Coast of America. Calico’s rickety old wooden saloons, shops, church and school speak of bygone days when Americans were brave (or crazy) enough to challenge death for a chance at making their fortune.

Calico lived a short life, booming in 1881 through 1896. Men spent many dark days carving their way into Maggie’s mine in hopes of finding the hunk of metal that would help them to retire, but by 1904 that dream died along with Calico. Calico’s birth and death were determined by the brief silver-rush of the late 19^th century; when the price of silver dropped the folks of Calico had no reason to remain in the hills of the hot Mojave Desert.

Today Calico and Maggie’s Mine are open to the public. The town is open from 8am to dusk with plenty of opportunities to cool off from the heat in the various stores and shops. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children. Overnight campgrounds are available for under $30.

Every year, Calico features a ghost haunt around Halloween. On October 23^rd, 24^th, 25^th, 30^th, 31^st and November 1^st Calico offers a guided ghost tour though Maggie’s Mine as well as pumpkin carving, trick or treating, costume contests and ghost storytelling. Visit these sites to brush up on your Calico ghost stories. 

On the route to Las Vegas, Calico is memorable stop only two hours northeast from Downtown Los Angeles. For a map to Calico click here.