Top Things to do in California
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Top 10 Ghost Towns in California, United States
California is a fertile, peaceful place where you’ll find a near-equal balance of vineyards and deserts, beaches and mountains, hippies and traditionalists. Catch an epic wave in Big Sur or swirl a glass in Napa Valley. Be dazzled by the Joshua Tree night sky or just star-gaze in Hollywood. Swish down the slopes of a Tahoe ski resort, or cruise across the Golden Gate Bridge with the top down and the music blasting. Above all, don’t forget to soak up some Golden State sunshine.
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1. Bodie State Historic Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,470 reviews
One of the best preserved ghost towns.
Reviewed By eel217 - St. George, United States
I loved my visit here! It is well worth making time to come here (you can spend 1/2 day and absorb a lot). It is such a fascinating place. The state park has done a great job of preserving the buildings. Take your time as you walk around and make sure you look through the windows of the buildings and you will see some amazing things - a cool glimpse into what life was once like. Nothing has been restored on the inside of these buildings (everything is in a state of arrested decay), so it is truly a ghost town - what remains is exactly how the people who lived here left it. Too cool!
2. Cerro Gordo Mines
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 23 reviews
Cerro Gordo is a privately owned Mining Town located in the Owens Valley near Lone Pine, California. The town was the silver thread to Los Angeles, being partially responsible for its growth and economic development. It features original buildings and artifacts relevant to the town and is open for guided tours, photography groups, mineral and rock groups, schools and historical groups. There are NO OVERNIGHT ACCOMODATIONS. Tour fees are $10.00 per person, kids 5-12 are free. All proceeds go to the Cerro Gordo Historical Foundation 501(c)3founded to preserve and improve the townsite of Cerro Gordo. Our goal is to continually upgrade amenities and keep the town intact to be enjoyed and explored as a true historical site in California. All visitors must check in and sigh a waiver.
Reviewed By TheFlyingSanJose - San Jose, United States
Great place to visit to see the living history of an old silver mining town that paid for the building of Los Angeles. Visit the Hotel and learn about who died at the poker table; then go to the assay office to find out how the ore was assayed.
3. Dublin Gulch
4. Goffs Ghost Town
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By Perkadventures - Banning, United States
Real name is Mojave Desert Heritage & Cultural Association which has the Goff School house and other buildings here. . This is a large area and the museum is currently closed because of the virus restrictions, but you can walk around the out side and look at all the different things. Lots to see with exterior buildings, mining equipment, farm tools, vehicles and more expect to spen at least 1 hour outside. Bring water and food, barren area without most services.
5. Mentryville
6. Shasta State Historic Park
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 147 reviews
This historic park houses the remains of Shasta City, alive and bustling in the Gold Rush days, and now a ghost town with restored stagecoach, barn and courthouse.
Reviewed By jdc8mbc
This hidden gem of a ghost town is about 6 miles west of downtown Redding on Hwy 299. Our original intention was to spend the day at Lassen Volcanic National Park but the park was closed due to snow (in May!). This State park was a good substitute. The museum, which is housed in the old courthouse, provided a good context of life in Shasta during the gold rush. There's even a jail and gallows in the building. At the other end of the park is the Litsch store which replicates items and merchandise that were for sale during the 1880s. In-between the courthouse museum and Litsch store are ruins of brick buildings. Park rangers offered interesting facts and stories. Allow an hour. The park is open Thursdays through Sundays; free admission but donations gratefully accepted.
7. Family Golf Center of Palm Desert
8. Silver City Ghost Town
9. Skidoo Mill
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By elizabethlascheid - Marina del Rey, United States
This area of Death Valley has roads that are not maintained. Personally, I would not attempt this drive without a high car or a 4X4. The road starts out okay, but becomes rough, all dirt and narrow. Drive slowly and carefully, there is little room to pass anyone and if you get in mud, after a flash flood, just drive it slowly. It is worth the drive, even if you don't make it to the old mill. Sometimes it is closed because part of it appears to be collapsing on itself. But if you make you, the area there is marked, there is a place to park and getting as near to the mill as you safety can is a great adventure. It is amazing to imagine the people that used to work this mill, in the God awful heat of Death Valley and the chilly winters. It is a harsh area. Along the way there are a few places you can pull over enough out of the way of others and just start hiking, but if you are not a seasoned hiker or don't have any compass or GPS with you, I suggest keeping your car in sight. The desert is a tricky girl and she loves to get you lost and that is scary as hell. So be careful. Always take water with you. If you want, you can just drive and it is magical. The desert is truly beautiful and it is not like something you will see again. Be safe, be smart, and try to avoid if you can May through August. Have a great time.
10. Ghost Town of Purissima
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By KSB_2 - San Francisco, United States
Having lived in half moon bay and having passed by this unknown, long forgotten cemetery many many times without ever knowing it existed, we were quite surprised to find that it was brought back to “life”. It’s worth a trip if you’re into learning about the history of Purissima, a town that disappeared around 1900. It’s a very mysterious place, with just a bit of creep factor thrown in. Very beautiful setting with an odd combination of stones that are dated from the 1800s to the more recent burials that are completely natural (wood or wicker caskets, no vaults, no embalming, hand dug graves with mounds of earth as their markers). On our visit, there was a burial taking place on the back end of this 5-acre remote setting. If you go at sunset, you just might be lucky enough to catch a photo like this. And if you’re a little skittish, I suggest you bring a friend.
