Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Northern California → Eastern Sierras → Silver City Ghost Town

Location: Eastern Sierras, California

Time Required: 1 – 2 hours

Red Tape/Notes: Open daily, 10am – 4pm (open Saturdays until 5pm); admission is $5.50. For more information, visit their website.

What’s Nearby?: Seven Teacups, Freeman Creek

Don’t let the slightly abandoned appearance of the entrance fool you – this place is openSilver City is not actually one town, but a collection of historic buildings rescued from early mining camps and settlements throughout the area. Buildings projects like the creation of Lake Isabella and highway improvements precipitated the removal of many historic buildings which would otherwise have been torn down or inundated by the new lake. Some of these buildings were rescued and moved to the current Silvery City location, where they formed a roadside attraction for several years until highway 178 diverted traffic, leading to a decline in attendance and the eventual closure of the site. Nearly 20 years later, the property and historic buildings were purchased by a new owner, who added to the collection of historic buildings and re-opened the site as we see it today. The buildings are maintained in a state of “arrested decay”, and a large collection of artifacts are displayed along with the buildings, causing the site to feel like something of a cross between an unrestored “natural” ghost town and a restored tourist “ghost town”. It’s a quick stop and worth the admission to learn about the history of the area and help support preservation of the buildings and artifacts.

Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Northern California → Eastern Sierras → Silver City Ghost Town