Calico Ghost Town
Yermo, CA
Photo courtesy Chris & Ginger

Pulling off Interstate 15 near Yermo, this old roadside sign pointed the way toward Calico Ghost Town. The handcrafted lettering and prospector carrying his shovel made a fitting welcome to an old mining camp. After spotting this fellow beside the road, there wasn’t much doubt about which way to turn. Just follow Ghost Town Road into the hills and watch the desert slowly give way to weathered buildings, mine shafts, and plenty of Old West scenery. 06-07

Calico sprang to life during the silver rush of 1881, with the rich Silver King Mine helping turn the rugged canyon into a busy mining town. The boom did not last. Falling silver prices emptied the camp, and by 1907 Calico had become a ghost town.

Calico Man
Yermo, CA
Photo courtesy Kwong Chang

Walter Knott of Knott’s Berry Farm purchased the remains in the 1950s and restored the town as a look back at its mining days. He later donated Calico to San Bernardino County in 1966. The ghost town remains open today, complete with old buildings, mine tours, shops, and enough desert dust to make the setting feel convincing.

UPDATE: Here's another shot of the Calico Man found off the roadside on the road that leads to the Calico Ghost Town. 02-09

UPDATE: The familiar vintage signs along Ghost Town Road were removed in March 2026 and replaced with modern designs. The original prospector sign was saved and placed on display in nearby Daggett, so the old miner hasn’t disappeared completely. 09-26