Ballarat Store really isn't much a store- though you can buy some cold drinks and beer and local souvenirs- as much as it is a landmark. Ballarat's only resident (also self-proclaimed mayor, president, sheriff, undertaker, et al) Rock Novak will give you some helpful tips if you are planning on riding the local 4x4 trails. Ballarat Store & Outpost also has some areas for picnicking, camping and RV hookups as well as some really interesting exhibits around the town including an old cemetery, buildings, and the truck owned by Manson Family killer Bobby Beausoleil. I loved this place and consider it a Death Valley landmark if you are in the area. it's about 30 miles from Trona, and 30 miles from Panamint Springs. There's no gas in Ballarat, so fill up in Trona where you can get it for $4. If you wait til Panamint Springs you will pay $5-$6 a gallon. read more

There's not a lot here and not really worth a stop unless you know the history as I did. There's really a lot to take in here, a lot of walking. The buildings are all condemened and very dangerous to wander near... a lot of rattle snakes and black widow spiders. The caretaker was very nice and told us a lot about the history and who lived in the buildin gs including a local celebrity miner named Slim. He also showed us Charles Manson's pickup truck. read more

Love u Rock, rip George. this place is a landmark and dont let the weathered look fool you, there is a lot of life in Ballarat. stop by, have some drinks, shoot the sh$t with Rock, look around. Places like this are dying and who knows how long Ballarat will be around with million dollar mining outfits wanting to blast and drill the area. read more

Stopping here you can smell the history -- it smells like salt. Seldom Seen Slim, Shorty Harris, George Novak, Don Connoly, Ballarat Bob Dunlap, Harry Briggs, Chris Wicht, Indian George Inyo... Do yourself a favor and while sucking down one of Rock's $2 beers, look around his museum and take in the history. read more

Ballarat is as close to a ghost town as you can get, though there is a somewhat functioning store where you can buy cold drinks or whatever Rocky has to offer. The town is a bunch of rundown, deteriorating adobe buildings, junk cars and debris. A true ghost town worth visiting. read more