Own your own California Ghost Town

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Own your own California Ghost Town

June 12, 2018, 07:28:47 pm

For all you lovers of the Eastern Sierra, what a great price (only $925,000) to own a California ghost town in Inyo County. Unlimited parking and camping for your Lazy Daze, and mining rights included! Only 22 miles from Lone Pine. Anyone want to chip in?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=14&v=0gnEHOYzINY

California ghost town on the real estate market | The Tribune

Re: Own your own California Ghost Town

Reply #1 – June 12, 2018, 08:37:22 pm

Have they done the termite inspection? Soils samples?
More info from the WIKI

Re: Own your own California Ghost Town

Reply #2 – June 12, 2018, 10:02:34 pm

Shade is a little scarce! Nice views, sort of, a little brown for my taste. No worries about keeping the site next to you open, probably safe to leave the tuba at home. Plenty of peace and quiet I imagine. Now about the various critters hiding under rocks...?

Re: Own your own California Ghost Town

Reply #3 – June 13, 2018, 06:51:56 am

We found it to be an interesting place. We took the caretaker a bottle of wine and the days newspaper and he gave us the grand tour. Spent half a day listening to him tell the story of the mine. [Not an option anymore] Great view of Owens Valley to the west and Saline? to the east. We came down the long steep grade in 4WD Low to save the brakes.

Re: Own your own California Ghost Town

Reply #4 – June 13, 2018, 08:48:47 am

I figure for the historical value alone it's worth it. Just think of all the tourists that will visit with proper marketing- it could be a gold mine (or silver mine, in this case). Not to mention the look on people's faces when you tell them you live in a ghost town. Now that's priceless! And all for less money than the price of a condo in San Francisco!

Re: Own your own California Ghost Town

Reply #5 – June 13, 2018, 12:29:33 pm

Cerro Gordo is fascinating place, one of the few intact old mines left in California.
The previous owners, who ran tours, have died off. I'm happy they still have caretaker, if not the place would be stripped and destroyed within months, just like so many other old mines and towns.
It's worth visiting if you have a Jeep, not sure what shape the road is in these days, other than being a long climb up and down.
The area has some interesting 4X4 roads, one that enters a remote part of Death Valley NP, coming in the back way.

Larry

Re: Own your own California Ghost Town

Reply #6 – June 13, 2018, 07:08:13 pm

Never been there before but looking at satellite images, looks like a pretty decent road. I'm wondering if it's doable in an Outback?

Re: Own your own California Ghost Town

Reply #7 – June 13, 2018, 08:25:01 pm

I was up to Cerro Gordo several times many years ago when the late Jody Stewart owned and ran the town. She had grown up in Big Pine and had become successful on TV and in real estate in the LA area. Her life changed when her uncle, who owned the property at the time, had financial problems and called her to see if she could help. Her investment made her a co-owner of a property she came to love and she eventually bought out her uncle's share. I remember her telling the story of her driving up to Cerro Gordo in her Porsche, dressed up and wearing high heels. She met Mike Patterson when he was in the area doing surveys for wind power. Mike and Jody jointly worked to preserve the mine and town until she was diagnosed with cancer. Concerned about the property, she and Mike were married to insure he would inherit the property. Sadly, only a few years after Jody died, Mike also died and the property passed to his sons. For many years water had to be trucked up the mountain. During her ownership, they got the hoist for the main mine shaft working and discovered that the lower parts of the mine were flooded. For several years, they had a pump down in the mine shaft and had a local water supply. One of the last times I was up there, I think the pump system had failed.

There is a public event still planned for Sat. July 14. Cerro Gordo Mine Day

Art

Re: Own your own California Ghost Town

Reply #8 – June 13, 2018, 10:49:49 pm

Thanks for the info and link, Art and Barbara! I like the historic photo on the webpage of the way the site used to look. It would be fun to attend the celebration, although in mid-July it will be quite toasty, I'll bet!

I'm guessing if a Porsche and high heels can make it up that road, my Subaru and hiking boots will have no problem. The friend of mine from Owenyo whom I mentioned in another thread a while back lived in Keeler before their family moved to Owenyo and he is familiar with the mine. I'm hoping I can talk him into making a trip up there. He suggested visiting in early Spring.

Re: Own your own California Ghost Town

Reply #9 – June 13, 2018, 10:55:17 pm

"He suggested visiting in early Spring."
---
Definitely preferable to mid-July!

Re: Own your own California Ghost Town

Reply #10 – June 13, 2018, 11:17:49 pm

"I was up to Cerro Gordo several times many years ago when the late Jody Stewart owned and ran the town. She had grown up in Big Pine and had become successful on TV and in real estate in the LA area. Her life changed when her uncle, who owned the property at the time, had financial problems and called her to see if she could help. Her investment made her a co-owner of a property she came to love and she eventually bought out her uncle's share. I remember her telling the story of her driving up to Cerro Gordo in her Porsche, dressed up and wearing high heels. She met Mike Patterson when he was in the area doing surveys for wind power. Mike and Jody jointly worked to preserve the mine and town until she was diagnosed with cancer. Concerned about the property, she and Mike were married to insure he would inherit the property. Sadly, only a few years after Jody died, Mike also died and the property passed to his sons. For many years water had to be trucked up the mountain. During her ownership, they got the hoist for the main mine shaft working and discovered that the lower parts of the mine were flooded. For several years, they had a pump down in the mine shaft and had a local water supply. One of the last times I was up there, I think the pump system had failed."

Art,

Thank you very much for sharing this. It's always nice to hear about people like Jody and Mike that were willing to spend their time and treasure to preserve something that many would find not worth saving. I may not ever get to see this up close, but I like the fact that I could if I had the opportunity...for now anyway because of their efforts!

Bill

Re: Own your own California Ghost Town

Reply #11 – June 14, 2018, 10:52:04 am

There are several other 'ghosts' that can be explored... many folks have "been to Bodie" but how many of you have been to Aurora, just a few miles east of Bodie. Lazy Bones 2 and I spent the night in the cemetery there, camping out of my '77 IH Scout.

Re: Own your own California Ghost Town

Reply #12 – June 14, 2018, 12:24:16 pm

The road does not require high clearance or 4WD. My comment was we used 4WD Low and first/second gear on the way down to avoid heating up the brakes. It's a long steep descent, but if you are OK warping the rotors go for it.

Re: Own your own California Ghost Town

Reply #13 – June 14, 2018, 04:56:28 pm

Quote from: JCT - June 13, 2018, 10:55:17 pm

"He suggested visiting in early Spring."
---
Definitely preferable to mid-July!

Just remember that Cerro Gordo is at an elevation of 9,000 ft. This is higher than Mammoth Village which is usually tolerable in mid summer. They do get a fair amount of snow at Cerro Gordo. When Jody Steward was alive, the road was kept clear for maintenance access to a communication tower above the town. The road surface has always been fine whenever we've been on it, but it is a steep and switchbacked climb/descent. The roads down the backside of the mountain or over to the salt tram summit station are a different class and often require a serious 4x4 (even when they are not blocked by snow).

Art

Re: Own your own California Ghost Town

Reply #14 – June 14, 2018, 06:10:17 pm

I’d like to go to Aurora. How do you get in there (with a wrangler)?

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