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California Ghost Towns

D

DetectorIsMyCoPilot

New member
Anyone explore/detect any ghost towns in California...specifically the San Francisco Bay Area? The only ones that I know about are at Old Almaden (off limits to detecting) and Alma and Lexington (under water). I know there's a lot of history here, but I'm wondering if the high cost of real estate has buried the treasures that may be found at the old sites forever.

thanks!
 
AGUA FRIA, Mariposa County, Calirornia

An 1849 era mining camp located west of Mariposa. It was the original county seat for Mariposa County, but in 1851, the honor was transferred to Mariposa and Agua Fria faded from history. The town consisted of two communities of gold miners about a mile apart...Lower Agua Fria and Upper Agua Fria/Poverty Flat.

The historic marker is located on SH 140, 3.2 miles west of Mariposa (milepost 17.2). The camps were located on Agua Fria Creek, a half mile east of the junction of SH 140/ Mt. Bullion Cutoff, north of SH 140, about 3.5 miles west of Mariposa.

Lower Agua Fria was the main camp, and was located about a quarter mile above Agua Fria Springs and Carson Creek. When Mariposa County formed on Feb 18, 1850, (Lower) Agua Fria was designated the county seat. It held that honor until Nov 10, 1851, when the seat was transferred to Mariposa. A post office was established on Oct 7, 1851. The town burned Jun 22, 1866, sparing only 1 building.



From the Mariposa Free Press June 23, 1866

 
ALUM ROCK PARK, Santa Clara County, California

About eight miles northeast of Downtown San Jose, this is the crumbled remains of a once-grand resort that capitalized on the mineralized waters and hot springs that flowed from the sedimentary rocks along the bottom of Penitencia Creek in Alum Rock Canyon. Some of the springs included: sulfur, magnesia, iron and carbonated soda springs. The 720 acre park was established by the City of San Jose in 1872, the first municipal park in the state of California. It was originally known as The Reservation, the City Reservation or Penitencia Reservation. The name Alum Rock Park wasn
 
BAGBY, Mariposa County, California

The gold mining and milling town of Benton Mills was originally located on the south side of the Merced River, just east of the SH 49 bridge, 11.2 miles south of Coulterville. Later a river resort named Bagby, was established directly across the river on the north side.

The community began as a ferry called Ridley
 
Bagdad, San Bernardino County, California

Bagdad is located along the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad and Old US 66, midway between Barstow and Needles, 7.5 miles west of Amboy, and 21.5 miles southeast of Ludlow, 0.5 miles west of the major dirt road that heads north from Old US 66 to the Lava Hills.

In 1883 the Southern Pacific laid the tracks through the Mojave Desert between Needles and what is now Barstow. This station was named after Bagdad, Iraq due to the inhospitable climate. Some sources erroneously claim the name came from the Bagdad Mining & Milling Co., which was named after that mid-eastern city. The station was established before the mining company was established however. In 1889 the post office was established.

Bagdad was a major station that supplied coal, fuel oil, and water to westbound trains that had to work to climb the Ash Hill Grade to the northwest. Water was brought in with 10,000-gallon tank cars from Newberry Springs. It also served as a shipping point for gold mines in the area during the 1900-1910 boom.
 
BEAR VALLEY, Mariposa County, California

Bear Valley was a major gold mining town located at the junction of SH 49/CR J-16, 12 miles northwest of Mariposa grew to a population of about 3000-5000 people. Some of the folks included miners from China, Cornwall (England), and Mexico.

The first gold was found about 1850 by Mexican miners who were consequently driven out. By 1851 the population had reached several thousand. The placers were exhausted by 1852, and it was the hard-rock lode mines that kept the town alive.

The town was first named Haydensville, after pioneer miners Charles, David and Willard HAYDEN, who owned and operated the Great Johnson Vein in 1850. When the first post office was operated between 1851 and 1852 it was also called Haydensville.

In 1852 the name changed to Biddle
 
BEND CITY, Inyo County, California

Bend City a gold mining town is now piles of adobe, and foundation depressions. It was located on a bend of the now-dry Owens River, north of Mazourka Canyon Road, just west of the end of the pavement at the (now-gone) Carson & Colorado Railroad grade, 4.5 miles east of Independence.
Two nearby locations include
 
Benton is sometimes referred to as Old Benton or Benton Hot Springs. It got its start around 1863 with the discovery of silver in the nearby Blind Springs Hills and along the western base of the White Mountains in the Montgomery Mining District.

By 1865 it was the largest town in the county and in 1867 or so, the post office was established. In 1873, the price of silver declined and so did Benton.

Location

Latitude: 37.8002103 / 37
 
BODIE, Mono County, California

About 20 miles southeast of Bridgeport, Mono County, California is the century-old gold mining town of Bodie. This is your stereotypical ghost town with its wood frame buildings lining the street. Bodie is now a tourest attraction. Entire book have been written about Bodie.

LOCATION:

Latitude: 38.2121401 / 38
 
Hello DetectorIsMyCoPilot,

I got lots more coming......
I'm trying to get a little on every state for everyone and continue to fill in more later.
California has thousands of ghost towns!

Together we'll create the #1 Ghost Town site on the Internet for Treasure Hunters. :thumbup:

You've got to check out the site that I just posted under <RESOURCES> It has loads of California Ghost Towns and Pictures!

Check back often....and if you get any pictures please post them.
 
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