Calico Ghost Town, Yermo, CA

 Calico Ghost Town is a fun overview of mining in the area.  At one time, there were 45 silver mines nearby.  In 1881, a town was founded with saloons, boarding houses, a dentist, general store, laundry and more.  The discovery of a borate mineral seemed to make the town's fortunes bright.  However, in a few short decades, the value of silver crashed and the mines and town were abandoned.

The town has been restored and some of the buildings are original.  The history is well-represented with a museum.  There is a restaurant (we had some excellent ice cream) and some nice shops, including a rock and mineral shop.  We spent about 45 minutes.  We were on our way to Death Valley and could have easily spent more time.  There is a railroad ride, gold panning and mine tours available.  It would be easy to spend most of a day.

There are restrooms and a large parking lot.  The area is unpaved and the rustic walkways are wooden and quite uneven.  They require caution.  

We didn't have time to explore the Liberty Sculpture Garden, which is nearby in Yermo.