Calico Ghost Town is a historic ghost town and former silver mining community located in the Calico Mountains of California's Mojave Desert. Founded in 1881 during the silver mining boom, the town prospered for over a decade before declining when silver prices collapsed. By 1907, most residents had left, and Calico was eventually restored and transformed into the county-operated attraction known today as Calico Ghost Town.   Situated just off Interstate 15, about 3 miles from both Barstow and Yermo, Calico has become a popular stop for travelers exploring Southern California or driving between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. We visited in February 2026 during our trip to Las Vegas and were impressed by the dramatic desert scenery, unique rock formations, and panoramic views from the surrounding hills.   Today, visitors from around the world come to experience the atmosphere of an authentic Old West mining town. The park offers a variety of amenities, including RV and group camping, cabins and bunkhouses, mountain biking trails, off-road vehicle areas, shops, and restaurants. Throughout the year, Calico hosts several special events such as Civil War reenactments, the Spring Festival with Americana music, Calico Days celebrations featuring burro races and mining-themed activities, and the popular Halloween Ghost Haunt in October.   Only minutes from Interstate 15 and a short drive north of Barstow, Calico Ghost Town makes an enjoyable roadside stop for food, shopping, sightseeing, and a glimpse into California's mining history. However, I would recommend visiting Calico Ghost Town during the spring or winter months rather than in the summer, when desert temperatures can become extremely hot and less comfortable for exploring the outdoor attractions and surrounding hills. read more

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Whats happened to this place ? I am sad to say that Calico has seen better days. Ive been going here since the 1980s. I miss what it felt like, even 15ish years ago. Yes its an OLD run down ghost town but it truely feels OLD and run down now. Trash everywhere. Spiderwebs and dust everywhere. Its not the Calico look, its literally no one cleaning around here. It looks so unclean everywhere we went. Also...I dont feel many workers are in Character anymore. I miss that. If they are even dressed up they are just sitting around on their phones or talking to each ither. Zero interaction. Zero immersion... just so disappointed. We keep coming back but its just getting worse. read more

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What a charming town! We ate a quick lunch at the entrance area, where there were a few picnic tables, then went to three activities: touring the Maggie Mine, experiencing the Mystery Shack, and riding the Calico and Odessa Railroad. Each one has a reasonable cost, and there are bundles available for multiple attractions. The mine was cool to see. There were exhibits inside explaining how mining was done back in the day. Arrows on the ground served as a decent guide. We went through in a little under 15min. The shack was my favorite. The main part consisted of 2 rooms that were slanted and full of perception illusions. It was a little bit dizzying at first. But the guide was very interactive and my boys partook in the activities! We also got to see how visual perception could seemingly change how we experience gravity. It was really cool. I like the storytelling aspect of the tour. The railroad was very scenic, and I like how the audio guide pointed out different aspects of the town, including some mines, tools, and historical context. The boys loved the ride! One thing to note about the shack and the train ride is that they run off of a schedule, so I recommend checking with estimated start times to be efficient with a visit. We also stopped by several of the shops and picked up some tea, coffee, stickers, and coins. One of my boys got himself a pretty cool arrowhead, and another got himself a scorpion marble. It's oddly charming there. Also, when we went earlier in April it was super windy. read more

Calico Ghost Town - Parks Near Me - Yermo, California

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This well-preserved old Western town offers an authentic mining history that's worth exploring. It's a great place for a family day trip, with attractions, shops, and restaurants to enjoy. You can even explore an actual 1880s silver mine tunnel, take a historical tour on the Calico & Odessa Railroad, or catch a gunfight stunt show if you're lucky. It's a very affordable and worthwhile visit. read more

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Even though it's a small place, you can't really complain about the entry fee. Came for a field trip and not only did the kids have a blast, but it was like a living memory! I am pretty certain that 90% of the stuff they had was exactly the same as it was when I came here as a kid over 20 years ago. They do take card for most everything but also have an ATM if you needed to do cash. They have little souvenirs at each main attraction, but some of it feels out of place... like a mini gun that shocks you when you pull the trigger. The food is decent and there are many shops full of stuff to spend your money on. I loved the old town feel and the different stones and handmade crafts that seemed unique to the area. My only complaint was that the whole place seemed short staffed. Watching the employees run from one attraction to another, and standing in line for 15+ mins because there was only one person doing everything seemed like bad planning when the field trip was booked in advance. The employees that hopped around were amazing, the guy who gives the tour of the Dover house gave the impression that he truly loves his job. This is one of those places that you have to try at least once in your life just to say that you did. Plus the history is truly interesting! read more

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Calico Ghost Town made for a fun and slightly nostalgic stop on my drive home from Las Vegas. I spent about an hour wandering up and down the main street, and it brought back memories of visiting decades ago as a kid. The highlight for me was the self guided mine tour, which was interesting to explore and also a welcome break from the blazing desert sun. Most of the shops lean heavily toward souvenir style items and the food looked like typical theme park fare, so I mainly stuck to browsing rather than buying anything. Even so, it was enjoyable to walk around and take in the old west atmosphere for a while. It's not a place I would plan an entire day around, but Calico Ghost Town is definitely a worthwhile stop if you are already passing through the area. read more

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I came at the end of the day when it was still really hot out but much fewer visitors. What a fun experience this was! It was brought to life by Walter Knott who most would recognize from Knott's Berry Farm. He authenticated this along with his family so you know this is a true treat to visit. Some of the stores had already closed for the day but some still open. The candy store was such a joy as I reminisced over some of the candy I grew up on then buying a true Sarsaparilla. It went down so smooth and sweet! Then spent some time in the gift shop with lots of fun cards and various Calico Ghost Town gifts. The old timey history of this place puts you back in time. You can get dressed in old time clothing and have your photo taken for a fun souvenir, imagine the wagons and tools being used from back in the day, lots of leather workings and various other shops along with some fabulous food. It's a fun day out that won't break the bank. Worth the visit. In Yermo, CA near Barstow. $8.00 for parking and that is all. No entrance fees. There is a dirt road you walk through this old timey town in so most can visit easily. It has a slight incline to walk up and there are steps to get into these old timey wood framed stores. I did not notice if there was handicapped parking but likely yes. There is also RV and oversized vehicle parking if needed. The look back on the city is pretty and the mountain this sits on is beautiful in its colors. It can get warm here so bring your hats, cover ups and sunscreen. read more

Calico Ghost Town - Entrance and exit - Parks Near Me - Yermo, California

Went here yesterday for their California Days and boy was it a blast! We got there right when they opened, 9 AM, and was there until about 1 PM. Thank goodness we got there early because right when we left about 30 people were walking in. It was a Saturday, so it was busy but there were cars and people everywhere. We got a paper of the timeline of events, so we went to get tickets for the train right away. Got them at 9:30 for the 10 o'clock train robbery and thank goodness we did because it got super crowded right after we got our tickets. The train robbery was so fun! The train itself isn't that long, but with the robbery, it was so fun and the kids loved it. The actors gave the kids some fake money and they hid it from the robbers. Next we got the 3 attraction tickets for the mine, mystery shack and the gold panning. The mine was interesting and definitely worth the trip to go see. You get to go in the caves and see how they mined back in the day. The mystery shack was a hard no for me, I thought I was going to be sick. But I won't ruin it because you have to see it! I thought it was a ghost haunted house but it was just a slanted house. It was still cool though. The gold panning was cool! The line is long, but the lady did her best to get everyone through. We opted for the additional $3 glass bottle so the kids had a little souvenir to take home. After that we went to the Calico restaurant and everyone was super nice and pleasant. Took about an hour to get our food, but we went to the gift shop across the road to pass the time. I got the pulled pork sandwich and it was really good. Their fries are so good too! The drinks were refilled often and I even got a to go container. I loved that all the actors came through the restaurant and stayed in character so that was fun to see. Then we left, but I will say a couple things to keep in mind: This is primarily cash only! I didn't have any cash with me, but luckily my parents were with me and paid. The mine and gift shops accept tap to pay, but the train and park entry is cash. There is no handicap parking, at least not any that we were shown. There is a ton of stairs into the park and only hand rails on one side of the stairs to get up and there are a ton of stairs to get out of the mine area. Yes you could go back through the entrance to get out, but we wanted to go the other way. So keep that in mind, people did have some scooters so you can get around that way, but it wasn't very handicap friendly. Overall, would definitely go back. I feel like we missed a lot of the historical areas because we got the mine, shack and panning tickets. That took a lot of time and we wanted to get out of there before there was a lot of traffic. read more

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Good experience. Question is: Will I come back? probably not unless I have kid. It is a good experience with little kids or family. read more

A lot more fun than I expected and worth the entry fee! They balance history and tourist attraction. I highly recommend the train ride, it's a few extra dollars but it is fun. There is also a free climb up to a lookout point and a lot to look at. It is very touristy, even a few tourist busses pulled up while we were there, but it's charming kitschy. Probably avoid it if you're looking for a purely museum/historically accurate experience, but it's a fun stop for 2-3 hours. read more

Calico Ghost Town - Town - Parks Near Me - Yermo, California

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Nice little break between LA and Vegas. We came on a Saturday morning and found plenty of parking. I had 0 expectations and overall had a great time. My kid has fun just running around after being in a car for 2 hours. There are a lot of stores that sell knick knacks, the candy store was a nice treat to see a lot of the old school candy. My did the gold panning and it was worth it for a few bucks. We only stayed for less than an hour and I think that's enough time to walk around. The staff were great and I really love these places to stop by during a road trip. read more

We visited Calico Ghost Town on Easter Sunday (April 5, 2026) specifically for their advertised Easter event, including the egg hunt. Unfortunately, our experience was frustrating, disorganized, and ultimately inaccessible for our family. We paid $40 for admission around 10:25 AM, expecting a well-organized, family-friendly event. Instead, we quickly found that most activities (train ride, cavern walk, petting zoo) required additional fees and strict timed entry. This was not clearly communicated ahead of time, and the scheduling made it nearly impossible to participate in more than one activity without conflicts. We ended up spending over $100 total, far beyond what we anticipated. The biggest issue: we were completely unable to participate in the Easter egg hunt, the main reason we came. Nowhere did it clearly state that wristbands needed to be obtained hours in advance (as early as 9:30 AM). We arrived before our child's scheduled age group, thinking we were being proactive, only to find out we had already missed our chance entirely. Most concerning was the complete denial of ADA accommodation. My child has autism and cannot tolerate long lines. I respectfully requested an accommodation and even offered to provide documentation. My request was dismissed without any effort to offer an alternative solution. This made it impossible for us to participate in the event at all. Situations like this are exactly why accommodations exist, and it was extremely disheartening to be turned away without consideration. I want to make it clear I don't expect the world to make exceptions for my child. But my child isn't the only one in the world with special needs and ADA is there for families like mine to be able to enjoy events like this one. To make matters worse, the staff interaction was highly unprofessional. The employee assisting me was eating during our entire conversation and speaking with food in her mouth, which felt disrespectful. During a moment when my son became understandably upset, another staff member (presumably, they were dressed like one) responded by saying, "we don't cry in Calico," I frustrated responded "that is not helping, please stop" and the person responded with "then make your child quit crying" which was both insensitive and completely inappropriate given the circumstances. Due to poor communication, lack of transparency about costs and scheduling, denied ADA accommodation, and missing the primary advertised activity, we left early without being able to enjoy the event at all. This was a very disappointing experience, especially for a family-oriented holiday event. I would strongly urge management to improve communication, staff training, and most importantly, accessibility for families who rely on ADA accommodations read more

Come on down with your boots and hats, and hope you don't get shot for trespassing. Adults are $8, children are $5 and toddlers 3 and under are free. The woman at the front gate was very nice and helpful. She even pulled out stickers for the babies. Parking is easy and plentiful. We went straight for some grub and ordered tenders, fries, milk, a Monster and a white beer from a local brewery. Service was fast and everything was delicious. We spent about $33 not including the tip. We walked around and there was so much to see. Unfortunately, we got there two hours prior to closing and two hours is just not enough to see and experience everything. Next we took a train ride. The conductor was also very kind. We tried doing the mine attraction but unfortunately we were told that since it was thirty minutes prior to closing, we were not allowed to pay with cash and cash was all we had. The woman was pretty rude as well. Not just to us but to other guests as well. Yikes! We then went to the glass house where we were warmly greeted and bought a stuffed alien for $10. The woman accepted cash. We climbed a huge mountain and took some more pictures. We saw small museums and gift shops. I was looking to spend some money at the coffee shop but unfortunately they also turned my cash away. Overall we had a great time. My suggestion to fellow miners is to bring your debit cards and come early so you can cover ground and take your time exploring. read more

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This is one of my absolute favorite places to stop at and explore as there is always something going on! Extremely entertaining and very educational. Unfortunately for the first time, I had a bad experience with a guest service member that I felt was worth sharing. Kayla, at the mines, was extremely abrasive and rude to her customers before me, and rude to my boyfriend and myself after. She expressed it's been a long day and it's hot outside, which is totally understandable!! What is not, is the rudeness and blatant disrespect speaking to people like they are toddlers! Once I pointed out I did not appreciate her attitude, she did apologize and change her tune. However, I do not feel like WE should have had to help her get back to her customer service attitude. I understand it's hot, it's Saturday, and you would probably prefer to do something else, but that does not mean you get to treat your guests as if you are bothered by their presence. Again, I absolutely love this place and 99.999% of the people working here, but was extremely put off by Kayla's behavior. read more

We were on the way to Vegas from LA and this spot is right in the middle near Yermo. It's $8 to enter per person and you park your car in the dirt lot. In terms of how long you can spend here, I feel like 2-3 hour will get you enough time to do everything (not including if you plan to eat). In terms of activities these are the list of things that I did. Take the train - You get to experience an 8 minute train ride and see the entrance of the mine. It's honestly underwhelming and one of the saddest train rides I've been on but I love trains so it was still acceptable. If you're already here maybe worth a checkout, it was like $5.50 per person. (3/5) Explore the Maggie Mine - You get to walk through the only mine open to the public. It was $4 per person and it's a quick walk. It is very cool to see and I thought it was worth it to walk through. Only takes like 10 minutes or less. (4/5) They had a cowboy shootout show - Funny show that is free and located in the town. Short maybe 10 minute show though wouldn't recommend if you can't handle loud noises of gunshot. (4/5) Overall it is a cool spot to checkout once especially if you enjoy the wild west. Makes you really feel like you're walking in a ghost town. read more

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This was an interesting stop. The small ghost town offers some cute small shops to walk through. If you are in the area it is worth an hour to walk around and stretch your legs. read more

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Take the whole family for a good time and they also have restaurants to dine in with Live bands read more

Calico Ghost Town - Come in and enjoy a good time - Parks Near Me - Yermo, California

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Now this was a real ghost town. The way I expected one to be. It's a full town with a train ride through a mine. The staff all dress for the time when the town was when miners lived there. They also have a RV park too if you like history and those towns this in one to go see. read more

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Calico Ghost Town in California was founded in 1881 during the California silver rush. It became a ghost town in the 1890s when the value of silver plummeted. Walter Knott bought the town in the 1950s and restored it to resemble the 1880s.  Recommended it to do: Entrance per person is $8.00 Mystery Shack Tour for $4.50 Maggie Mine Tour for $4.50 Gold Panning Adventure is perfect for kids. $2.50 You can also ride the train. We didn't do it because it is a short ride. They accept Apple Pay or Cash. The bathrooms are very clean. read more

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Fun stop- great historical location with tour available- clean restrooms; restaurant- visitors center to learn the history of the ghost town- train ride- mine tour- pan for 'gold' experience- various stores - there is an admission fee per person. Good family fun. read more

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Historic and fun. Food was delicious. Staff was inviting and kind. Best dill pickle I've ever had in my life. These pictures are from my most recent trip but I went a few years back with my good friend and had an encounter I'll never forget. After getting off the Calico Odessa Railroad my friend and I were being followed by a man who tried to continue following us into the Maggie mine. Staff stopped him and removed him from the park. They saved us and we will forever be grateful. read more

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Stopped by after years of wondering about it. It was fun. At only $8 per adult, it's a great look back at what these mining towns were like. Visited most of the shops, and saw all of the views. It's really a great place to take the kids for a tour. read more

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Neat place to walk around. Stayed longer than we thought. Grabbed a root beer at the saloon. Enjoyed the walk around and break from driving. Maybe it was an off time of year (April) but some things were closed. read more

So worth the drive from Downtown LA ! We came for the Halloween event and it's our first time here , the people are super friendly. We missed the only Sara Winchester presentation, we got there right when it finished , so we decided to wait for the reading of the Raven next, when the actors saw us they said "come on in, we will do a quick Sara Winchester just for the 4 of you " Oh my god! That right there, made the whole experience worth it! Such a great place for family fun. Will definitely be back. read more

First time visiting Calico Ghost Town. We went right before Halloween and we were surprised to see all of the Halloween decorations. Very fun time. We wanted to get information about the old time photos, but the man working never stopped talking to one of his friends that came in. That was a bit disappointing, I guess they didn't need our business. We walked out without ever being greeted. The train was fun, and we enjoyed all of the little shops. read more

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This was so disappointing. It's a bunch of shops and other "pay to do" experiences. It's like a strip of shops in any number of tourist trap towns across the US...but this one, you have to pay to enter the town. The whole "ghost town" vibe is lost by all the commerce. Any aspect of the ghost town that is unique (like Maggie's mine), you have to pay extra to go see. read more

So much has been written about Calico. Bottom line...it is well worth the drive to see it. We had a wonderful time. Staff were very nice. Property was well maintained. Great history. My critique.... The Blacksmith Shop....you can clearly see an old plastic tub and some bottled water in plain view. That's pretty easy stuff to hide. The Maggie Mine is really wonderful and great tour overall. The many displays showing miners at work were well done. However....one display in particular (sleeping miner) had several neon hoola hoops very visible and large fake lion. I know it's the Halloween season but this was just odd. Otherwise, it's a fine place to visit and spend an afternoon. Lots of areas to explore and hike around. Good prices too. You won't go broke visiting Calico as with other places and you'll learn something too. Check the weather before you visit. Also, they have many great events throughout the year. read more

Very nice place located far from any villages, towns or cities which makes it tranquil and more attractive. The Ghost Town is walkable, well organised, structured and it's clean. There are many shops selling various souvenirs. You can also go on a short train ride too. If you get hungry or thirsty for coffee, there is one restaurant where you can have some munchies or drinks. read more

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What a fun place to visit! We just happened to be here when a festival was occurring so there was live music, arts and crafts for kids, and my favorite, a quickdraw shooting challenge! It was $10 per person to enter. Parking attendants help you park and then guide you to the vans waiting to take you up the hill to the beginning of the street. My first thought is it reminded me of Knotts Berry Farm, only more authentic. Turns out, this is where Calico Mine in Knotts is based. The "townspeople" (aka employees) are dressed in period costumes, and some of the visitors also got into the act and dressed the part. The stores are mostly unique so you'll find something different in each of them. The restaurant was great (we had breakfast there), and the exhibits and history were fun. If you don't have "hill legs", it's a steep climb to the top of mine so be prepared for some sore legs and maybe take a break to breathe, but it's worth it. When we had to leave, a "salesman" was setting up his display to sell us his "magic potions" to cure whatever ale's you. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see his act, but I'm sure it was great. read more

My mom really likes it here. Admission is 8$ per person but everything inside costs an additional fee. They used to have shoes with actors but not sure if they do that anymore we were there for over 2 hours last time and no show. Seems mostly like a commercial business than a ghost town in my opinion. They had store for gemstones, leather goods, candy, gift shop, dog treats, ice cream, popcorn, etc. panning for gold is available which makes no sense since this was a silver mine? Haha read more

Calico Ghost Town - Parks Near Me - Yermo, California

If youre looking for a quick stop attraction this is worth a try.. We were driving from Vegas back to California and we stopped over here for a little bit. Its kids and dog friendly. Theres small shops and restaurant. The feels are like really walking on a ghost town. read more

Founded in 1881 during California's largest silver strike but later abandoned in the mid 1890s until the 1950s when Walter Knott, the founder of Knott's Berry Farm, purchased and restored it, with the intention of recreating its 1880s appearance. It's a fun roadside stop halfway in between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. I would say it is more geared toward children and the whole property is surprisingly small. You could easily walk all the grounds in about 20 to 30 minutes and the main attractions are the mystery shack, which is a copy of the mystery spot up in Santa Cruz and also the mine train but that is especially aimed at children. It's fun to visit at least once but not this sort of place for adults to stop often. I will say that the staff there is very friendly and parking was luckily really easy. It's $15 per person for adults and it's important to know that this part of California can get very warm so you'll want to have sunscreen, and make sure to drink plenty of water. I would suggest going in the morning before it gets too crowded and too warm and I feel it is worth a stop for any fan of ghost towns or Knotts Berry Farm. read more

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I. Love. Coming. Here. I always have such a wonderful experience! The people have always been so kind and so sweet! The food is more decent than most places, the bathrooms are clean, what more could you ask for from a ghost town? A tattoo shop. LOL But seriously, never had a bad experience here! Love Calico! Maggie Mine is a favorite attraction of mine (pun not intended), but over the years I've developed sciatica, and at the end, you have to climb stairs. Sciatica and stairs? Yeah, no thank you. There is an option of retracing your steps and going through the entrance. Love that their mine is handicap accessible! That's worth six stars in my book! read more

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Such a fun experience for the entire family. There's little shoppes, mini museums, restaurants and a few fun attractions. We ate at the main restaurant- decent especially if you're starving. We shopped at the little souvenir and candy shoppes. Did the train ride, hiked around and up the mountain side and did the cave tour and the shack tour. Our little family had so much fun. Us in our 40's to the 22 year old, 18 year old all the way down to the 2 year old. read more

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So I've passed by this place a hundred times over my life and never stopped to check it out. Well... This year we decided to have a ghost town adventure and this was one of the spots on the list. We didn't do any research on the place other than it was a popular stop. It was $8a person to enter. I didn't realize it was a functioning ghost town so I was a little taken aback but we were doing this. Straight out of Knott's Berry Farm, this was the original mining town that inspired the theme park Ghost Town. There were a lot of buildings to meander through. Just about every one has done type of business selling something. It was a lot more touristy than I would have liked but we did have fun walking around. Everything cost an additional fee. You want to walk through the mine... That's more $$. Take the train... $$. See the vortex house...$$. Pan for gold.. $$$ Eat..$$. Drink..$$. You get the picture. If you are coming with kids, expect to spend what you almost spend going to Knott's after it's all said and done. It is a really cool place to visit.. Once. We're glad we went but there are way cooler ghost towns that are free. read more

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It's a nice place that has many activities to do with your family. Nice to walk around and is also pet friendly. Everything is well preserved Jason is awesome worker and very nice and friendly thank you read more

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Calico is such a neat place to explore. I've been a couple times and I feel like the weekend there is more going on than the weekdays. There is a fun train that goes around that shows you the area that is pretty cool to see. It's a pretty rocky, uneven area so wear proper shoes and definitely watch where you step. The shops are fun to check out too! read more

Such a fun place for the entire family. Lots of small shops packed with cool unique items. read more

Calico Ghost Town - Parks Near Me - Yermo, California

We were a family of 4 visiting on Feb 10, 2026. All of the staff we interacted with were polite and sociable. Especially the attendant at the whacky . All but 1, the panning for gold attendant was unpleasant. My sister complimented her nails and there was no thank you or even a smile. We thought maybe she didn't hear the compliment. After 2 of us had finished panning for gold. The attendant grabbed my mom's pan and proceeded to finish off the process. I was not nearly close but my pan was also taken from me. At the beginning, we were told "when you can see the bottom" she would finish the process. I don't know if it was on off day for her but we had just lost a family member and we're stopping to enjoy little moments. I hope her week got better. read more

I've gone twice. One during a regular day and another during the Calico days. I would definitely recommend visiting during the Calico days. They open the school house and provide a bit od history. They have several show and tells, contest and music. It's family friendly but I would say it's hard for older people. It's an old town so the 'streets' are not paved. Its a dirt road with plenty of loose rocks. Note their is a train ride but its just a quick loop around the hill. read more

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