Calico Ghost Town
Calico Ghost Town is located about 10 miles north of Barstow, California. The town was founded in 1881 and is a historic silver mining town where some lucky people struck it rich, but other unfortunate people lost everything that they had ever owned. There are many ghosts to this day in the old town, and they are all diverse and unique. These include the spirits of friendly town drunks, billiard players, miners, children, and school teachers. There is also a famous ghost of a Border Collie that goes by the name of Dorsey. The town thrived until the 1890s, when the value of silver was no more.
The town was still able to support itself by the rich deposits of borax in the Calico Mountains. However, by 1910 better resources were found and the town started to crumble. In 1950, Calico was purchased by Walter Knott who restored it to its former glory. Knott then went on to donate the town to the County of San Bernardino. Since 1967, it has been a County Regional Park that’s main purpose is to preserve the history of the silver mining town. Ghost walks are currently given and many times ghosts are encountered. One popular sight is the moving of a curtain by a small hand in one of the front windows of the schoolhouse. The town is also famous for the “Lights of Calico”, where moving lights or energy clouds can be seen.
(Source: Belanger, Jeff. Encyclopedia of Haunted Places. 2005.)
