Haunting for a Boo-tiful Place to Visit? Try Camp Calico Ghost Town!
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150 years ago in Ft. Sumter, SC Confederate forces attacked a federal military installation and the War Between the States began. California was in its infancy as a state when the Civil War broke out, however the lines were drawn its residents’ sympathies. Southern Californians were not happy with the way things were going in the young state and wanted to secede from it; Northern Californians were pro-Union and formed Volunteer Regiments that moved into Southern California to quash any attempts of ceding from the state. Nevertheless, 17,000 troops from Southern California found their way back east to fight with the Confederates in the Civil War.
Calico will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War with a re-enactment taking place over Presidents Day weekend, February 19-21. Living history will occur across the scenic hills of town complete with troop inspections, drills, canon firings, sharpshooting, and battles. Life during this time period will also be presented from the civilian perspective in that there will be encampments showing how troops lived, fashion shows, ladies’ tea and music.
Calico Ghost Town offers 265 camping sites with full, partial or no hook-ups – camp Calico any way you like it! There are hot showers, restrooms, grills and fire rings for your convenience. The price of camping includes admission into the Ghost Town, and if you book for the Presidents Day weekend, the price of your camping also includes admission for up to six persons per unit to the Civil War Re-enactment! Reservations may be booked online at www.sbcountyparks.com where you can view your site before making your selection.
Calico Ghost Town is located between Los Angeles and Las Vegas off I-15 at Ghost Town Road. Once the site of the largest silver strike in the State of California, Calico was a booming town from 1881 to 1896. When silver prices plummeted, and the near-by borax mining was relocated to Death Valley, Calico went from boom town to ghost town as its population abandoned it. But it’s old West charm lives on. Visitors can experience Maggie Mine, to see how miners lived and worked; the Mystery Shack, a tilted house where water runs uphill and utensils suspend from mid-air. The Lane House Museum contains photographs, documents and artifacts from Calico’s origins. On weekends children and adults alike can roll up their sleeves and pan for gold. And the Calico & Odessa Railway is a replica narrow-gauge mining train that rides around the circumference of the park. The town also has 14 shops and three restaurants.
