Calico Ghost Town is a former silver mining town that was transformed into a family attraction by Walter Knot of Knot’s Berry Farm fame in 1951. Walter replaced most of the original buildings with ‘modern’ replicas based on photographs. Some original buildings do remain as well as equipment from the 1800′s and an original mine shaft which is open for tours.
giant silver smelter, the ore cars, the mine shafts and…
So why is an old silver town turned amusement park listed here on a gold rush site? How could it not be? I remember going as a kid and the lack of authenticity did not dissuade my excitement at all. I knew some of the buildings were not real. I knew the paved walks and cotton candy were not there in 1881. None of this mattered because I did get to see many things that were real. Like the giant silver smelter, the ore cars, the mine shafts and the giant piles of tailings. I learned so much about hard rock mining and mining in general at a ripe old 8 years old.
I remember going as a kid and the lack of authenticity did not dissuade my excitement…
Silver was discovered there in 1881. By 1890 the town had over 500 mines and 3500 residents. By 1896 the price of silver dropped to the point that hard rock mining for silver was no longer profitable. Calico is now a State Historic Landmark and one of my favorite childhood memories.
I returned to Calico Ghost Town in April of 2014 with my wife and kids. They enjoyed exploring the old building ruins of Chinese street, mine shafts, dozens of authentic wagons and buggy’s as well as the cemetery.
Enjoy the photos from our trip below. If you found this post interesting or visit Calico please leave a comment below as well!
2 Comments
Hi I’m looking for a mine called the Mari Posa. I was told it was in Mari Posa Ca. Back in the days my Grandfather and a friend of his leased it and actually found gold nuggets there. I have such good memories of that place. Thank you so much for your time.
Ramona
Dear Ramona,
There are a number of mines in Mariposa County and a Mining District that carry the name Mariposa. In an unpublished e-book on Mariposa County, California, six of these mines are:
Mariposa: (37.28.48N by 119.59.07W – #3) (Gold)
Coordinates are for trenching associated with this underground past producer.
USGS MRDS Data Base Record 10260562; Released December 4, 2013; Based on a record of June 1, 1973: Trenching associated with the Mariposa is shown at 37.28.48N by 119.59.11W (Decimal Equivalents of 37.47993 by -119.98628), placing it along and on the South side of the Central Yosemite Highway (Highway 140), about 785 feet Southeast (135o) of the intersection with Bumgardner Mountain Road and in the area included on the USGS Mariposa 24K, Shaver Lake 100K and Mariposa 250K maps. The location accuracy of these coordinates is shown as +/- 1,000 meters. The Public Land Survey System locators are Section 23, Township 5 South, Range 18 East. Gold is present and is shown as a primary commodity. The geology, in the area of the trenching, is described as Jurassic Marine rocks, Unit 1 – Western Sierra Nevada and Western Klamath Mountains. The Land Status, Ownership Category is “Private”.
USGS MRDS Data Base Record 10110805; Released December 4, 2013; Based on a record of June 1, 1985: This record shows the site of the Mariposa at 37.28.48N by 119.59.11W (Decimal Equivalents of 37.47993 by -119.98626).
Mariposa 002: (37.33.33N by 119.54.32W – USGS) (Gold)
USGS MRDS Data Base Record 10062892; Released December 4, 2013; Based on a record of June 1, 1973: The site of the Mariposa Mine is shown at the above coordinates (Decimal Equivalents of 37.55937 by -119.90898), placing it in a saddle between two mountains, about 0.31 miles directly West of Carstens road at a point about 1.1 miles North of the intersection with Plumbar Creek Road, about 0.55 miles directly East of the big curve (to the South) near the end of Ponderosa Way, about 0.60 miles directly North of the East –West section of Carstens Road and in the area included on the USGS Feliciana Mountain 24K, Yosemite Valley 100K and Mariposa 250K maps. The Public Land Survey System locators are Section 27, Township 4 South, Range 18 East. A note to file describes the location of the Mariposa as being in the Colorado Mining District and in the NW 1/4 of the section, near the junction of Long Canyon and Saxon Creek. Gold is present and is shown as a primary commodity. The geology, in the general area of the site, is described as Mesozoic Volcanic rocks, Unit 2 – Western Sierra Foothills and Western Klamath Mountains. An undated record shows the Operator as C.W. and Velma Worley. This Patented Property of 6.45 acres was developed (as of 1914) by a 75-foot shaft, 450 feet of drifts, several raises and 4 crosscut tunnels each about 140 feet long. The property was worked by H. Artru for about 15 years, ending in 1912. No material amount of worn has been known to have been done since 1912.
Mariposa Creek (a.k.a. Trebor Dredge): (37.29.04N by 119.58.05W – #3) (Gold, Silver)
Coordinates are for a placer past producer.
USGS MRDS Data Base Record 10261913; Released December 4, 2013; Based on a record of November 4, 1983: The site of the Mariposa Creek is shown at 37.29.04N by 119.58.09W (Decimal Equivalents of 37.48433 by -119.96908), placing it about 600 feet West-Southwest (249o) of the intersection of County Park Road ad Stroming Road, about 1,190 feet directly West of the Golden Chain Highway (Highway 49) and in the area included on the USGS Mariposa 24K, Shaver Lake 100K and Mariposa 250K maps. The Public Land Survey System locators are Section 23, Township 5 South, Range 18 East. Gold is present and is shown as a primary commodity with Silver tertiary. The geology, in the general area of the site, is described as Mesozoic Volcanic Rock, Unit 2 – Western Sierra Foothills and Western Klamath Mountains.
Mariposa, Las Palomas: (37.34.47N by 20.12.24W – USGS) (Gold)
USGS MRDS Data Base Record 10261913; Released December 4, 2013; Based on a record of June 1, 1973: The estimated coordinates of the Mariposa, Las Palomas are shown above (Decimal Equivalents of 37.57969 by -120.20661), placing it just West of Cotton Creek Road, at a point about 3 ¼ miles North of the intersection with Bear Creek Road and in the area included on the USGS Hornitos 24K, Oakdale 100K and San Jose 250K maps. The location is estimated as the original record contained no geographic coordinates and they were estimated based upon the Public Land Survey System data, using the center of the Township. The general Public Land Survey System locators are Township 4 South, Rage 16 East. Gold is present and is shown as a primary commodity. The geology, in the centroid location, is described as Mesozoic Volcanic rocks, Unit 2 – Western Sierra Foothills and Western Klamath Mountains. The Operator of these Unpatented Claims is shown as N. Sanchez, in an undated record.
Mariposa Mine: (37.29.02N by 119.57.32W – USGS Mariposa map) (Gold)
See Mariposa, as this may be the same mine referred to there, and the Mariposa Mining District for further information.
Bulletin 193, California Division of Mines and Geology, 1998, 89: The Mariposa Mine has a recorded production of $2,935,000 in gold. It has been prospected in recent years.
Reina de los Meriposas (a.k.a Mariposas, Reina De Los; Back, Big Bull Shoot; Reina De Los Mariposas, Big Bull Shoot, Buck, Snapp; Snapp): (37.37.46N by 120.00.27W – #3) (Gold)
Coordinates are for the main entrance to this underground operation.
USGS MRDS Data Base Record 10034742; Released December 4, 2013; Based on a record of June 1, 1973: The site of the Reina De Los Mariposas, Big Bull Shoot, Buck, Snapp is shown at 37.37.53N by 120.00.57W (Decimal Equivalents of 37.63131 by -120.01571). An undated record shows the Operator as John D. Moore. Bulletin #135 shows Placer Mining in the area, with approximately 32 Unpatented Claims.
USGS MRDS Data Base Record 10034742; Released December 4, 2013; Based on a record of February 1, 1979: The site of the Reina De Los Mariposas is shown at 37.37.49N by 120.00.26W (Decimal Equivalents of 37.6302 by -120.00709), placing it 0.91 miles West-Southwest (258o) of the intersection of Ponderosa Way and Briceburg Road and in the area included on the USGS Buckhorn Peak 24K, Oakdale 100K and San Jose 250K maps. A note to the file indicates the site is 2 miles East of Quartz Mountain. The Public Land Survey System locators are Section 32, Township 3 South, Range 8 East. Gold, in a Vein deposit with a gangue of Quartz, is present and is shown as a primary commodity. The geology, in the general area of the site, is described as Paleozoic Marine rocks, undivided, Unit 4 – Western Sierra Nevada. This mine was originally identified in the Twenty-Fourth Report of the State Mineralogist, done in 1928 for the California State Mining Bureau.
Hopefully one of these are the one you are looking for.
I have done about 30 Amazon e-books on the historic mines of the American West, done at the individual County Level. This includes all of the Counties of Arizona and about a half a dozen Counties in California, which I am working to expand. These can be previewed on the Amazon Kindle System or on my Amazon Author Website.