Episode 10 - Calico Ghost Town

WEBVTT 1 00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:09.679 Well, how do you folks, and good morning, afternoon or evening, 2 00:00:10.039 --> 00:00:14.679 wherever and whenever you may be listening. My name is Tim and welcome to 3 00:00:14.960 --> 00:00:19.879 one day in so cal. Whether you've lived here your entire life or visiting 4 00:00:19.879 --> 00:00:23.960 from across the world, whether you only have one day in so cal or 5 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:27.199 one month, I want to share some of the coolest, most fun and 6 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:32.079 most unique things to do right here in southern California, whether that's solo or 7 00:00:32.119 --> 00:00:36.840 with friends and family. So join me on my next adventure and hopefully yours. 8 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:48.280 Right now on one day in so cal. Welcome to episode ten of 9 00:00:48.280 --> 00:00:54.439 the one day in so cal podcast. It's Friday Septem and I'm recording from 10 00:00:54.520 --> 00:00:58.679 beautiful right with California. Visit me on the web one day, in SOCAL 11 00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:02.960 DOT COM, one day and social dot com for the latest episodes, travel 12 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:07.799 loog videos, interactive map, social media links hand more new episodes of this 13 00:01:07.840 --> 00:01:12.159 podcast or at leased each Friday morning, but in this case I'm releasing this 14 00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:17.280 podcast a few hours late this Friday. It's been a pretty busy week for 15 00:01:17.319 --> 00:01:19.920 me, and last night was no exception, when I went last minute to 16 00:01:19.959 --> 00:01:25.640 a socal theater event. That'll be highlighting on next week's episode. I went 17 00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:29.519 to this event on Thursday evening, which is when I usually record this podcast. 18 00:01:29.640 --> 00:01:33.120 So apologies for the delay, but without further ADO, here is the 19 00:01:33.200 --> 00:02:09.439 latest episode of the One day and so cal podcast. All right, so 20 00:02:09.479 --> 00:02:13.719 what I wanted to do here at the beginning of this episode was add an 21 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:17.680 old commercial to where I went this week, Calica ghost town. But they're 22 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:22.719 simply isn't one available. I searched the net high and low and couldn't find 23 00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:25.159 one. But yes, those of you that know your music can you're back 24 00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:29.840 to the future. That is double backed by Zz top from the Hill Valley 25 00:02:29.879 --> 00:02:34.680 Festival in back to the future part three and coming to CALICO. Besides all 26 00:02:34.680 --> 00:02:38.000 the modern dress people, of course, you'll likely feel like you've been transported 27 00:02:38.039 --> 00:02:46.919 to Hill Valley. That's because CALICO was experiencing a silver rush in eight CALICA 28 00:02:46.919 --> 00:02:50.639 ghost town is a former mining town in Sanfordino County, where I've lived most 29 00:02:50.639 --> 00:02:54.240 of my life, about three miles from both barstow and your Mo, California. 30 00:02:54.840 --> 00:03:00.960 It was found in eighty one when four prospectors were traveling between Barstow and 31 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:06.319 a mountain peak in the northeast. They described the area as Calico colored and 32 00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:10.919 the name stuck. Discovering silver in the mountains, they opened the silver King 33 00:03:12.039 --> 00:03:15.759 Mine, which was California's largest silver producer in the mid eighteen eighties. John 34 00:03:15.759 --> 00:03:21.000 C king, who was the uncle of Nottsbury farm founder Walter not and a 35 00:03:21.159 --> 00:03:24.639 sheriff of San Marino county at the time Calico was founded, also financed the 36 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:30.800 venture of the silver king which had a big strike Andrew really drew others to 37 00:03:30.840 --> 00:03:35.840 the site. By eighteen eighty two CALICO had a post office and a newspaper 38 00:03:35.879 --> 00:03:38.599 called the CALICO print. Soon there were three hotels, five general stores, 39 00:03:38.680 --> 00:03:44.360 a Meat Market, bars, brothels, three restaurants, a wells Fargo office, 40 00:03:44.360 --> 00:03:46.879 as well as a telephone and telegraph service. The town also had five 41 00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:52.840 county commissioners, two doctors, a deputy sheriff for the Samo County Sheriff's department, 42 00:03:53.199 --> 00:03:55.159 two constables, two lawyers, as well as a justice of the peace, 43 00:03:55.719 --> 00:04:00.199 or what we call a judge. At the height of the town's silver 44 00:04:00.240 --> 00:04:04.080 production, CALICO had over five hundred mines and a population of one thousand two 45 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:09.319 hundred people. In addition to silver, the bar at mine, colmanite was 46 00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:14.800 discovered in Calico, and fortunately for that, because the mines did eventually dry 47 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:19.319 up. In Borak, I should say Bor eight, became basically the number 48 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:26.680 one mind material there. By eight ninety, the ten had a population of 49 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:30.839 three thousand five hundred people, including foreign nationals from China, England, Ireland, 50 00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:36.759 Greece, France and the Netherlands. In many typical silver and gold mine 51 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:40.839 towns, when the mines dry up the town turns into a ghost town. 52 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:45.560 But in CALICO's case the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of eighteen ninety greatly drove down 53 00:04:45.560 --> 00:04:48.800 the price of silver and it eventually was no longer economically viable to mine. 54 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:54.279 By CALICO was a former Shill of its glory. In by nineteen o seven, 55 00:04:54.439 --> 00:05:00.160 after borax mining ceased altogether, it was completely abandoned. It's so it 56 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:03.000 sat there for half a decade. In the nineteen fifty, Walter, not 57 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:08.879 a California native that created and owned not sberry farm, purchase the town and 58 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:13.120 architecturally restored all but five of the remaining original buildings to what they looked like 59 00:05:13.160 --> 00:05:15.920 in the eighteen eighties. Not Sperry Farm, a Silk Cal theme park that 60 00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:20.120 we will eventually get to on this podcast has its own western town called Ghost 61 00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:26.480 town, and Walter not spent seven hundred thousand dollars restoring the town that is 62 00:05:26.519 --> 00:05:29.600 Calico with the help of old photos and the memory of people that actually lived 63 00:05:29.720 --> 00:05:32.639 or visited there in nineteen sixty six. Walter not donated to the town, 64 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:36.319 to the county of Sanmardino, and it has easily become the county's most popular 65 00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:43.879 and frequently visited Regional Park. Getting into Calico, the entrance fee is eight 66 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:49.519 dollars and includes free parking with admission. So when I first arrived, I 67 00:05:49.560 --> 00:05:54.759 have to admit I was a little concerned. Um, when I walked in, 68 00:05:54.839 --> 00:05:58.319 it was literally a ghost town, no people, even though it was 69 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:01.000 a Sunday. Um, I started feeling bad for Calico, wondering if it 70 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:05.160 was struggling to attract visitors way out in the desert, and so I walked 71 00:06:05.160 --> 00:06:11.319 around for a bit and uh, Um, I just wondered if anybody was 72 00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:15.199 actually gonna come. Uh, there was plenty of there's plenty of people working 73 00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:18.680 there, people that work for the county as regional park employees. But uh, 74 00:06:18.720 --> 00:06:23.199 you know, I'd see one or two visitors walking around, but Um, 75 00:06:23.240 --> 00:06:27.519 I was wondering what happened to Calico. Then the tour buses started showing 76 00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:30.879 up and around ten thirty, Um even more cars, and before I knew 77 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:34.240 it, the parking lot was full and Calico was just full of people. 78 00:06:34.839 --> 00:06:39.639 There was even a tour Bush full of French tourists. And you know that 79 00:06:39.720 --> 00:06:44.639 basically, probably we're back at home in France watching movies like tombstone and, 80 00:06:44.759 --> 00:06:47.240 uh, I don't know, wild wild west and I wanted to probably live 81 00:06:47.240 --> 00:06:51.160 out, you know, and see the old West for themselves, and that's 82 00:06:51.160 --> 00:06:55.120 what you're gonna get here when you come to Calico. Um, I love 83 00:06:55.160 --> 00:06:58.560 tourists. I'm really glad when when tourists come out and see some of our 84 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:02.120 great attractions, and uh, I mean when I go eventually to Europe, 85 00:07:02.120 --> 00:07:06.639 all certainly be torn all their attractions, but I just like that they come 86 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:11.040 out, they see the cool stuff on TV or or read about stuff and 87 00:07:11.160 --> 00:07:14.120 they come out and see it for themselves that they would spend, you know, 88 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:18.600 their precious money and travel time and holiday time. Basically, two come 89 00:07:18.600 --> 00:07:23.600 out and see a small ghost town and middle of the desert. When I 90 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:27.199 left Calico later that day, the upper parking lot was full so this town 91 00:07:27.319 --> 00:07:30.199 is definitely still pulling tourists and visitors to come out and see a real ghost 92 00:07:30.199 --> 00:07:34.160 town. Um. The main feature of Calico, well, not maybe not 93 00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:39.279 the main feature, but the the main street, I guess. Uh goes 94 00:07:39.399 --> 00:07:43.800 up a slight embankment and there's all kinds of shops and attractions on left and 95 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:47.600 right side. Um. Uh. So basically what I'm gonna do here is 96 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:51.399 I'm gonna go through some of the shops and attractions, from restaurants to uh, 97 00:07:51.720 --> 00:07:56.519 golden mining, and give a very brief overview of what you might expect 98 00:07:56.600 --> 00:08:00.439 when you walk through into the town. Um. The real event you're here 99 00:08:00.480 --> 00:08:05.439 in Calico, though, is exploring on our own, making discoveries. So 100 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:09.360 as we enter CALICO, it's obviously, you know, it's obvious where the 101 00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:13.639 town's name came from, Um, the CALICO colored hills around me. And 102 00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:16.240 when you get a chance to come up and when we get to the end 103 00:08:16.279 --> 00:08:18.480 of this tour, you'll you'll, you'll see a great spot I have for 104 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:22.480 you to basically see the whole town plus the hills around me. But it's 105 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:26.639 obvious where you are when you walk through, Um, the entrance to the 106 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:28.680 town, because the name is spelt out in the distance on top of the 107 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:33.039 mountain peak in White, kind of like the Hollywood sign, but but really 108 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:37.799 the rocks are kind of on the ground, um against the mountain, but 109 00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:43.399 it says Calico C A L I C O. to the immediate left of 110 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:48.000 the entrance is granny's ghost town craft. This, unfortunately, is temporarily closed, 111 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:50.840 so I wasn't able to stop in and see what they sold. Next 112 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:54.159 to that is the park office where you can obtain information and check in to 113 00:08:54.200 --> 00:08:58.759 reserve one of CALICO's mini campgrounds, and I do want to mention that real 114 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:03.159 quick too. There is camping here, including R vs tank camping. They 115 00:09:03.159 --> 00:09:05.519 even have a bunk house. You can run out if you want to. 116 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:09.600 Uh, you know you want to camp here. Um, in the summer 117 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:13.039 I probably wouldn't. I don't know if I'd camp out in a tent. 118 00:09:13.159 --> 00:09:16.519 It gets pretty toasty here even at night. Um, and the winter it's 119 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:20.399 pretty cold. So I would shoot for a spring or fall, monitor the 120 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:22.559 temperatures and see if that works for you. But I mean you could probably 121 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:26.519 bring an RV here just roun the a c what should be fine. But 122 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:28.519 it's not a bad little place to park in between that. Maybe you're going 123 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:35.120 between so callum Las Vegas or you know, so call and Utah. It's 124 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:39.399 not a bad place to spend the night. Um. So, passing the 125 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:43.200 CALICO Park Office on the left, which is where you'll get your camping reservations 126 00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:46.840 or, you know, check in for camping, you'll arrive at Calico leather 127 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:50.519 works on the right. The store features a lot of native American crafted goods 128 00:09:50.519 --> 00:09:56.679 and merchandise, as well as leather jackets, leather boots and belts, and 129 00:09:56.799 --> 00:10:00.919 a lot of these crafts are absolutely made by real native Americans as well. 130 00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:03.759 So just know that, and if you are a fan of leather products in 131 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:07.799 general, you certainly shouldn't pass up the shop Calico House and Fire House. 132 00:10:07.879 --> 00:10:11.039 Proceeding Up Main Street, we arrive at Calico House on the right. CALICO 133 00:10:11.080 --> 00:10:16.240 HOUSE HAS A lot of traditional comfort foods in a rustic, nostalgic old west 134 00:10:16.279 --> 00:10:20.600 themed building and Interior. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and have everything 135 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:26.279 you probably want at an American table service restaurant, from pancakes or flapjacks, 136 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:30.799 two sandwiches, Burgers, appetizers, soups, vegetarian options, fried chicken steak 137 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:35.679 meat loaf, desserts, drinks and beer and wine. Right next to Calico 138 00:10:35.720 --> 00:10:39.120 houses the old fire station. You can't walk around inside the old fire station, 139 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:46.000 but the doors are wide open. So, although you can't walk around 140 00:10:46.039 --> 00:10:50.039 the fire station, the doors are wide open with a fence in front. 141 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:56.559 Inside you'll see you restored ran steam fire engine number four, correction, number 142 00:10:56.559 --> 00:11:01.519 five for three. This fire engine was not original to Calico, but was 143 00:11:01.559 --> 00:11:05.799 originally purchased by the Los Angeles Fire Department and used in l a between eighteen, 144 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:09.840 eighty nine and nine. It is capable of pumping over six gallons of 145 00:11:09.879 --> 00:11:16.120 water a minute. The four Irwin Fire Department, which is a army base 146 00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:20.440 and not too far from CALICO, has taken up the responsibility to clean and 147 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:24.559 maintain and restore it to its original working condition. Continuing up main street on 148 00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:28.559 the left, we arrive at town hall. Town Hall has a little more 149 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:33.759 Um. Has Little more than a few stack displays and a huge collection of 150 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:37.960 frame portraits of all the performers and actors that have worked here at Calico over 151 00:11:37.000 --> 00:11:41.639 the years, including some of the animal actors. By the way, you 152 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:43.480 can also learn more about some of the floor and Faun in the area around 153 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:46.879 Calico, and some of that may surprise you. Um some of the fun 154 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:52.639 entertainer names that have that are forever framed here on these hollowed walls include cactus 155 00:11:52.720 --> 00:12:00.960 kate, dusty dynamite, Dan, crazy clay, the kerosene kid, the 156 00:12:01.080 --> 00:12:07.279 fall brick outlaws, ricochet and who, Dakota Dave, smokey Jack, Lonesome 157 00:12:07.320 --> 00:12:15.120 George Goldsmith, Walter not general, Jane Burgess, Wild Bill Eagel Arizona, 158 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:22.480 Charlie peniment, Duffy, courtside Kid and Felony Jones. I don't think you 159 00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:26.759 wanna run into Felony Jones. A head on the left is lanes merchandise. 160 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:30.840 This is probably the biggest store on Main Street and has a little bit of 161 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:35.200 everything. On the front, the sign reads sells candy, clothing, supplies, 162 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:39.639 hats and a smile. Taking UH. Taking a look at some of 163 00:12:39.639 --> 00:12:43.919 the hats here you'll find traditional cowboy hats as well as crazy, steampunk or 164 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:48.200 apocalyptic wear. The candy they sell includes that hard to find independent brand stuff 165 00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:52.600 in clear bags. There's also an assortment of jam, syrups, pickled items, 166 00:12:52.600 --> 00:12:56.720 hall opinion, Quell Eggs and salsa. As a true sign you're no 167 00:12:56.799 --> 00:13:01.480 longer within the culturally restrict of confines of L A. You'll find lots of 168 00:13:01.480 --> 00:13:05.120 toy guns for the kids here, including those that look fairly real with an 169 00:13:05.159 --> 00:13:09.519 orange chip at the end Um. Honestly, guys, let the kids have 170 00:13:09.559 --> 00:13:11.320 a toy guns. They can play cowboys and Indians or cops and robbers, 171 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:18.720 like I did as a kid. Directly across the street from Lane's general merchandise 172 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:24.360 is Lane's original house and museum. The lanes owned the general store and lived 173 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:28.080 in this House across the street. The home was probably one of the most 174 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:31.559 fanciest in the entire town. Included piped water and sewage as well as a 175 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:35.000 heater. There are a few rooms to walk through here leisurely at your own 176 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:39.799 pace, and a lot of the original furniture from the witness Um to witness 177 00:13:39.799 --> 00:13:43.600 that homesteading lifestyle in the West, just like it might have been. So 178 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:48.759 as we continue on our journey, up on the left too, next to 179 00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:54.960 James Merchandise, is Calico photo studio. This shop is capable of creating old 180 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:00.320 fashioned, Fun Black and white Western style photos. There's a lot of different 181 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:03.559 scenes here where you can have your photo taken, as well as props for 182 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:07.840 you to wear and hold. I was witnessing some of the examples and they 183 00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:11.919 looked very well done, from two guys and two girls setting up a scene 184 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:18.960 of cowboys and two Barrow Women to a gang of outlaws. So, walking 185 00:14:18.039 --> 00:14:20.759 up the street a little bit to the right, you can smell the fresh 186 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:28.480 scented candles as you walk by the candle shop. Um. From there there's 187 00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:31.960 CALICO print. CALICO print, they sell posters that can cust that can be 188 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:37.240 customized with your names, such as wanted posters, advertisements for plays and reward 189 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:41.679 posters, and these paper headlines. There's also ten signs here you might hang 190 00:14:41.720 --> 00:14:46.759 in your garage or at the front door. One read if it's free, 191 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:52.720 come in, if it costs, get lost. Correction, actually that said. 192 00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:56.200 If it's free, come and see me, if it costs, get 193 00:14:56.279 --> 00:15:00.639 lost. And that's kind of my theme. Um, you know I'm not 194 00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:05.879 a big fan of salesman at all. Old License plates for sales. Um, 195 00:15:05.879 --> 00:15:09.799 I should say. There's also old license plates here for sale toy guns, 196 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:11.919 and I mean the realistic looking ones with Orange Tips, sling shots, 197 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:18.000 shirts, posters, flags, maps and more. From there there's the barbershop 198 00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:22.320 on the left. Next to the print shop and this features a display of 199 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:26.600 old fashioned dental, barber and bath house items, chairs and tools, so 200 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:30.720 like a little mini museum. Um. Moving up on the right is the 201 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:35.840 old fashioned drug store. Um, that's a correction. That's on the show 202 00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:41.240 on the left and it's a very small, um original drug store. There's 203 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:45.919 lots of old fashioned bottles and medicines and the display you can see here. 204 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:48.879 You can't go in, but you can look through the window at all the 205 00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:52.320 items that are in there. It's pretty neat. Um. As we come 206 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:56.960 up on the right is little saloon and drug store. So the drug stores 207 00:15:56.000 --> 00:16:00.159 on the Left and little saloon and drug store is on the right, and 208 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:03.639 that features all the kids favorites like hot dogs, pizza and Root Beer, 209 00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:11.960 and adult favorites like alcohol. Moving up on the left is Calico Rock and 210 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:17.000 gift shop, and this place has a large variety of rocks, minerals and 211 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:18.919 fossils. I took a nice long walk in here. I always like rocks 212 00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:26.559 and minerals and rock shops and they have all the real things, everything from, 213 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:30.360 you know, real gold and silver to UH, real fossils. You 214 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:33.679 can buy um any kind of mental you can think of. Geos, you 215 00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:41.039 can break arrowheads, basically all the all the cool little rock shop, rock 216 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:45.120 cown fossils and stuff you would you would like the you know, maybe buy 217 00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:48.200 and purchase. Um. Every time I passed by one of these shops I 218 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:51.519 would like to go in and just see what they have. I've always been 219 00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:55.320 fascinated with rocks and minerals and geology, even though I got a D in 220 00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:59.360 geology way back in the day. Um, it's always still been an interest 221 00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:04.359 in me. That was an high school Um. Mr Winkler was UH interesting. 222 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:07.400 I guess. I don't know what to say about that guy. Uh. 223 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:11.960 So, from there we drive the Zenda building, Um, which which 224 00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:15.960 is on the right side and displays a lot of the original mining equipment that 225 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:19.759 was used here in Calico. Um, everything from what old sticks of dynamite 226 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:26.799 and explosives medal looked like to pick axes and UH um other mining tools, 227 00:17:26.839 --> 00:17:32.599 hard hats, lanterns. Um. Continuing up main street on the left is 228 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:37.519 the popcorn wagon. And what else they serve? Popcorn and drinks. Now 229 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:41.200 up on the right is where you can pan for real gold and they have 230 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:45.000 a little shop here where you can pick up a few items. They also 231 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:48.279 sell real gold panning gear here. So if that's an interest you want to 232 00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:49.720 get into. Um, I had a good friend that used to love to 233 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:55.279 gold pan and he really would. He would go out, um, he 234 00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:59.119 wasn't no you know, uh vagrant or anything, you know, but he 235 00:17:59.160 --> 00:18:00.960 always would go out where I live now and right wood, way up in 236 00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:07.079 the angels National Forest and go way out for days and just go pan for 237 00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:11.160 gold. And he even got some. Um, not enough to make him 238 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:15.519 rich. You know, that's like casinos. That's the typical reality of, 239 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:18.799 you know, prospecting. They're probably not gonna make enough to get rich, 240 00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:22.559 but you know, the idea of it drawn and draws people. But anyways, 241 00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:29.400 behind the store is a gold panning station and it's just like the one 242 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:32.839 they have antsberry farm. There's water that rushes through and there's real gold flakes 243 00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:37.240 that they put in there and this is really especially tailored for the kids to 244 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:40.640 Pan for their own gold and be taught how to Pan for gold. A 245 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:45.640 lot of fun. On the left side from continue at main street is the 246 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:51.480 blacksmith despite, despite all the despite, besides all the blacksmith displays here, 247 00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:55.960 there's also a real wagon. Hearse Um that's should make good use of that 248 00:18:56.039 --> 00:19:00.759 during Halloween, I guess. Huh. CALICO potty pottery works is up on 249 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:04.200 the right side across from the blacksmith and they sell all kinds of handcrafted local 250 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:08.559 pottery, cups, bulls and other household goods. Then there's a mystery shack. 251 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:14.319 It's kind of a very small version of the I guess, of the 252 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:18.279 CALICO, not CALICO. Well, I should say that there's a place called 253 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:25.960 mystery shack and that's up in Um, up in Monterey California, or you 254 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:33.279 know what I'm thinking actually of of gravity falls from Disney. Mystery spot is 255 00:19:33.319 --> 00:19:37.599 what I'm thinking about near Monterey, and that's basically a I guess they describe 256 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:42.720 it as a strange natural phenomena area, but what it really is is a 257 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:48.359 slanted house where you could take photos and it looks like people are like doing 258 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:53.200 the gravity defying things, like leaning forward on a on a on a table 259 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:57.759 when they should be falling down but they're actually still standing up right. Um. 260 00:19:57.759 --> 00:20:00.759 It's kind of hard explained, but basically it's like a slanted house we 261 00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:06.920 can walk through and pick photos in. Um. Yeah, nothing that really 262 00:20:06.920 --> 00:20:10.640 interests me, but you might like it. So up on the right side 263 00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:15.000 next to the mystery shack is Dorsey's Doghouse. Inside is a ton of pet 264 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:22.640 related items and it's specifically a tailored for dogs, but everything from food to 265 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:26.480 callers to uh Um, name tags, you name it, if it's dog 266 00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:30.880 related, beds Um, they have it here. Sweets foot shop is also 267 00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:36.160 on the right side and that's a uh well, it's a candy store. 268 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:41.640 Basically They Sell Candy, Unique Soda's, coffee and, of course, fudge. 269 00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:45.720 Old Miners cafe is now up on the left and this place is pretty 270 00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:48.920 cool. We'll go into a little bit more Um when we get down to 271 00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:52.759 all the places to eat here, but it's built on a pier with a 272 00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:56.920 small bridge or the crossover to get to it. Also up on the left 273 00:20:56.079 --> 00:21:00.799 and the end of the line from main street as far as the side is 274 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:06.599 Calico schoolhouse. CALICO schoolhouse was originally operated out of a boarding house until the 275 00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:10.240 new school house was built. The one present here is only a replica of 276 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:14.599 the original, but the original was built in two and ran the school until 277 00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:19.960 the fall of eight after the decline of the mining boom. It averaged thirty 278 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:25.720 students and at its height and the average daily attendance was about half that amount. 279 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:33.240 Monthly teacher salaries were between seventy two dollars, ten dollars. Nine would 280 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:37.759 be just over three thousands six hundred fifty two dollars today. According to a 281 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:41.759 long time resident, Miss Lucy Lane, who we talked about earlier, Um, 282 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:45.440 who had her furnished home and around the general store, the school was 283 00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:48.880 also used for church services. In an interview with Miss Lane answering questions, 284 00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:55.240 Um, basically, what what did the kids do around uh, during recess, 285 00:21:55.319 --> 00:22:00.680 she stated the Games that were played included catch the ball, blind man's 286 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:04.200 bluff, dropped the handkerchief, run sheep run, tossed the bean bag in 287 00:22:04.359 --> 00:22:08.880 marble's. Um. I think I only know two of the Games that are 288 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:12.920 on here. I wonder what the others were. CALICO's last school teacher, 289 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:18.200 Miss Margaret Kincaid Oliver, is buried here at the CALICO cemetery. And by 290 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:21.359 the way, there is a cemetery here. Um, it's up near towards 291 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:25.880 the entrance of town and uh, it's got a lot of different folks that 292 00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:30.480 lived in Calico and died here in Calico. Now, up on the right 293 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:36.240 towards the end of main street is what's left of Hyena House hotel. Built 294 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:40.400 as early as one Hyena house was a was used as a temporary hotel until 295 00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:44.160 proper wood and building materials could be brought in. Hyena house is gone, 296 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:48.880 but was a unique landmark in the area because it was built into the side 297 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:53.519 of a large rock. Different caves served as the room and as rooms and 298 00:22:53.920 --> 00:23:00.759 what was only used for the entrance and exterior part of the building. So 299 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:03.920 that's kind of cool. A small portion of this building is still here as 300 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:07.759 far as the wood section, but unfortunately you can't go in anymore. Um, 301 00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:11.680 but that was kind of a unique way to uh when there was a 302 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:15.240 lack of building materials. You know, basically you can't. You can't build 303 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:18.440 a home out of wood. And then you know mine at home. There's 304 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:23.480 plenty of mining materials, that's for sure. Um. Now up on the 305 00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:30.319 right side also is Calico and Odessa, Odessa Railroad, and let me tell 306 00:23:30.359 --> 00:23:33.000 you, they missed a heck of an opportunity to put in a real railroad 307 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:38.240 here. You Frog. You folks probably know that I love trains and Um 308 00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:42.160 and diese electrical gasoline power trains that are made to resemble steam trains have their 309 00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:48.160 place in your local mall and that's what the Calico Odessa rail road is. 310 00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:52.160 A train fit for your local mall, in my ever so humble opinion. 311 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:56.599 As you may know, nottsberry farm has a real working steam locomotive and train. 312 00:23:57.279 --> 00:24:00.119 Um, as well as cars it, you can actually ride it, 313 00:24:00.119 --> 00:24:03.559 and I don't mean open air cards like a day's line, I mean full 314 00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:10.279 Um coaches that you can ride in. There's also, by the way, 315 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:11.559 we'll get into it when we actually get the mossberry farm, but there's also 316 00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:17.519 actually a train robber that takes place on every loop. But it's only the 317 00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:22.599 loop is only five eighth of a mile long and it's still an amazing experience 318 00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:25.559 and probably the first time many have ever written a steam train when they go 319 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:32.799 to Knotsbury farm. But Um, the real genuine steam trains should not be 320 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:37.480 relegated to a five eighth mile track loop. These things should be running on 321 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:41.880 miles of track and if anything, the training knotsbury farms should be here and 322 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:47.680 the tracks extended and the Calicuna descat railroad should be over at Nottsbury Fun. 323 00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:53.079 But if you do ride, tickets are over an additional eight dollars and it's 324 00:24:53.119 --> 00:25:00.839 only a seven minute journey around the loop. Very short and U Um, 325 00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:03.400 I don't know. I also I can't recommend it. It's I don't think 326 00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:04.799 it's worth five bucks if your kids really want to go on it. You 327 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:08.039 bring kids and they want to grab the steam train and you know, by 328 00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:14.640 all means, but in my humble opinion I don't think I would. Uh 329 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:17.400 Uh. If you're bringing adults here, yeah, maybe skip this one. 330 00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:22.279 It's just, it's just, it's just fills out a place. You have 331 00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:26.920 a real western ghost town and then you have this basically mall train just that 332 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:30.160 takes you on a loop. I don't know, I'm kind of spoiled because 333 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:33.920 obviously I go regularly to the Orange Empire Railway Museum, also called it, 334 00:25:33.880 --> 00:25:37.720 and it was a so call railway museum in Paris, and you know, 335 00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:41.319 they got full working trains and steam trains and diesels and coaches and cars and 336 00:25:41.319 --> 00:25:48.480 exhibits and all kinds of great amazing railway history. Um, what that said. 337 00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:52.920 What isn't a waste of your time is Maggie's mind, and this is 338 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:57.680 probably my favorite attraction here at Calico. The Maggie Mine was a real silver 339 00:25:57.720 --> 00:26:02.400 mine worked in the eighties and is currently the only mine in Calico that is 340 00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:06.519 safe for guests to walk through. The one thousand foot self guided tour starts 341 00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:11.039 with a backlit display of some of the minerals and rocks found here, and 342 00:26:11.160 --> 00:26:14.759 there's also exhibits that will give you an overview of the history of the mine, 343 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:18.799 as well as how miners lived and worked underground. Walking in through the 344 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:22.720 mine takes about fifteen minutes and it's lit up just enough to safely walk, 345 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:26.119 but the pathway is also flat with no bumps to trip over. At one 346 00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:30.240 point in the Sturn I got a glimpse of Indiana Jones from the temple of 347 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:33.160 Doom, and by that I mean a pathway light behind me create a shadow 348 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:37.960 with cowboy style hat I was wearing, and it looked just like Indiana Jones. 349 00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:41.920 One thing you'll notice about this mine, or any mine you walk through, 350 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:45.680 is the fact that it's much cooler than the outside. Some of the 351 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:48.440 deeper minds I've actually been through Um, where it was a hundred degrees outside, 352 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:52.599 were as cool as the mid sixties. And Maggie's Maggie's mind's case, 353 00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:57.359 there's enough ventilation being pumped through from the outside that it's probably about twenty degrees 354 00:26:57.400 --> 00:27:03.039 cooler than the outside ambient amperature, but still definitely a nice little break from 355 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:08.319 the from the Mohave Desert Heat. And thinking about that, if I had 356 00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:12.519 lived in a western mining town Um back in the day, I would have 357 00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:17.599 probably been happy to be a miner as, though dangerous, the conditions would 358 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:21.319 have been much more favorable to me than working up at the hot surface. 359 00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:26.359 Honestly, I just I do not like the heat. Anything over ninety degrees 360 00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:30.599 and I'm not very happy. But that's why I live up in the mountains. 361 00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:33.240 But at a minimum, I would have paid someone a mind, or 362 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:37.880 maybe a mind claiming who owned a mind, to live in an unused portion 363 00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:40.880 of the mind, maybe something that they tried to dig through but they didn't 364 00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:44.920 find anything, so, you know, so they continue down mining. I 365 00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:45.519 would have said, you know, hey, you know, I'll pay you 366 00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:49.480 a five bucks a month for just to live in this little corner hol yer. 367 00:27:51.880 --> 00:27:55.240 But anyways, entrance is only four bucks and it's cheaper than the so 368 00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:59.480 called train and is a longer experience and, most importantly, it's something that's 369 00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:03.319 real. You're actually walking through the real thing. Somebody was actually living here 370 00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:07.319 in minding you and, uh, the displays they have here showing you, 371 00:28:07.319 --> 00:28:10.720 you know, different sections and where they struck it big and everything else is 372 00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:14.319 really cool and it's fun. It's an adventure. Um, it's not even 373 00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:18.119 it's not even a straight walkthrough. You get through about halfway and there's actually 374 00:28:18.119 --> 00:28:19.759 a fork in the road. You can go left or right and you get 375 00:28:19.880 --> 00:28:22.680 you know, I suggest going right because it is a dead end. But 376 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:26.640 it's more of the mind to explore and just a lot of fun overall. 377 00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:30.079 Um, like the kids would really like walking through mind I mean I'm an 378 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:36.119 adult and like walking through minds. Just something unique in the underground. And 379 00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:41.640 it's safe. Like I said, it's completely renovated and and restored for guests 380 00:28:41.640 --> 00:28:48.319 to safely walk through and regularly inspected. Um. So that's basically CALICO and 381 00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:52.160 a nutshell, I do want to go over a couple of things as well. 382 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:56.200 That is around CALICO. Um. Well, I just got a message 383 00:28:56.240 --> 00:29:00.519 here. Sorry about that that I turned that off. Um, basically it's 384 00:29:00.599 --> 00:29:04.839 a central casting asking if I want to do it background. I can jump, 385 00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:10.400 but I'll look into that in a minute. This comes first Eddie world. 386 00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:15.599 Eddie world is what I like to call the Disneyland of Yourmo, which 387 00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:19.400 is to say it's impressive by Yourmo standards, I guess. Um. I 388 00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:22.640 remember I was bringing some friends here the first time I experienced Eddie's were Eddie 389 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:26.160 world. I was like, okay, so that's that's a large gas station 390 00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:30.960 and and, you know, travel center. I guess there's probably some it's 391 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:34.559 probably like a truck stop, but it doesn't care to trucks. Um. 392 00:29:34.599 --> 00:29:37.519 And then I went in and I was like wow, this guy, somebody 393 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:41.079 put a lot of money into this, and they really did. Um. 394 00:29:41.119 --> 00:29:44.519 I brought some friends here and I kept telling them the whole way this is 395 00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:48.960 the Disneyland of Yourmo and they were expecting it to be something stupid and ridiculous, 396 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:52.839 but they were impressed and they still go out and drive, you know, 397 00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:55.240 an hour, hour and a half of this place sometimes just to get 398 00:29:55.279 --> 00:30:00.680 candy and stuff. Um. But basically it's a really huge travel center that 399 00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:03.720 has a very large gas station, Tesla charging station and EV charging station. 400 00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:08.960 But the inside of Eddie world is a store with virtually any kind of road 401 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:12.799 trip snack food you can imagine. And I mean this is like a quarter 402 00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:18.400 sized, Walmart sized travel center. Um, and I do mean anything, 403 00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:21.680 everything from your typical fare of chips, beef, Jerky and Coffee Too, 404 00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:26.119 Specialty Soda, unique candy like chocolate covered crickets, if that's your kind of 405 00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:30.200 thing, lots of stuffed animals and toys to keep your kids busy on a 406 00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:33.359 road trip. Because also clean restrooms and lots of made to order dining options 407 00:30:33.359 --> 00:30:41.000 here, including Burgers, Pizza, ice cream, Mexican. Um. It's 408 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:42.839 just a really cool place to stop if you're on a road trip traveling between 409 00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:47.839 so cal and uh Las Vegas. I I don't suggest missing Eddie world, 410 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:49.759 because you're gonna need some snacks to make the journey. It's a long journey. 411 00:30:51.359 --> 00:30:52.720 Um. For me, I love road trips. I can go miles 412 00:30:52.720 --> 00:30:57.599 and miles and hours, but some people they need to regularly, regular breaks, 413 00:30:57.640 --> 00:31:03.079 and Eddie's world, I keep calling eddies, it's Eddie World, Um, 414 00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:04.480 fits that bill. You know, if you can't make it to the 415 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:07.960 NAD Greek and Baker on the halfway point for many of us between skell and 416 00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:12.039 Vegas, make a stop at Eddie world. Um. On that note, 417 00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:17.240 also there's Barstow, by the way, don't forget the the last remaining, 418 00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:21.759 well, maybe not last remaining, but the the oldest operating, del Taco. 419 00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:26.359 Del TACO is a popular brand of Mexican food here and in so cal, 420 00:31:26.839 --> 00:31:30.799 and I say Mexican loosely. Most Mexican Hispanics and Mexices don't consider del 421 00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:36.559 Taco to be Mexican food, but it's. Uh, you know, they 422 00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:40.720 have some unique options here, but any case, there's also downtown Yearmo and 423 00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:45.279 down Tan armo is what the old West would probably look like in Um. 424 00:31:45.319 --> 00:31:49.039 Typical sixty six looking town with Moma pop shops, small Burger joints, rock 425 00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:53.319 shops, UM, no traffic lights, two lane downtown street, that sort 426 00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:56.640 of thing. So, as I mentioned, parking is free here at Calico 427 00:31:56.720 --> 00:32:00.119 with paid admission. You pay your mission fee right before you enter the park 428 00:32:00.599 --> 00:32:06.480 and right before you find a parking spot. Um. Just to briefly go 429 00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:09.839 over food real quick to Um. I live an hour and a half away 430 00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:13.480 and so I had a big breakfast, so I didn't eat here during my 431 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:15.359 visit, but there are some great dining options here that I do want to 432 00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:21.920 go over, most of which I already went over Um at the beginning. 433 00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:27.119 As we took a tour down main street. But there's also Um, you 434 00:32:27.160 --> 00:32:30.720 know, basically everything from grab and go snacks to full services down restaurants. 435 00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:34.599 The full services down restaurants Calico House, and that's the only one that's really 436 00:32:34.599 --> 00:32:37.359 here. Um Old miners cafe that I briefly went over. Um you get 437 00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:42.359 to it by crossing a bridge over a small ravine. That in itself is 438 00:32:42.440 --> 00:32:45.240 kind of an attraction. It's not like a huge ravine, but it's a 439 00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:50.279 small, little little ditch. You walk over on a bridge and it's set 440 00:32:50.359 --> 00:32:53.039 up on a pier and it has a great overlook. It's mostly outdoor dining, 441 00:32:53.079 --> 00:32:57.079 so you'll be eating outside. Maybe not perfect for a hot day, 442 00:32:57.119 --> 00:33:01.839 but Um to bad spot if you're looking for, you know, cafeteria style 443 00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:07.000 Burgers, hot dogs, French fries. There's also Vegan options here and sprinkled 444 00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:10.000 throughout as a whole host of the other smaller shops that I mentioned. Um 445 00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:15.440 CALICO also has a few events throughout the year. CALICO days is probably the 446 00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:20.720 biggest event and takes place around September of this year. In fact, I 447 00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:23.519 missed it by a week. CALICO days is next week and I may still 448 00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:27.279 go um, but I'm not sure I'll hit it up on the podcast. 449 00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:31.160 We'll just go over right here. But during CALICO Dagel experience and even higher 450 00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:35.759 degree of life in the old west and the eight hundreds. There are gunfighting 451 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:40.559 shows, musical entertainment, actors come out all dressed up, a minor's triathlon, 452 00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:45.400 a burrow race, costume contest, pioting contest and a lot of basically 453 00:33:45.400 --> 00:33:51.240 cool activities for the kids. This in addition to all the activities areas all 454 00:33:51.240 --> 00:33:52.880 ready to do at CALICO. So if you happen to be in the area 455 00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:57.920 during a Calico days event, which is in September, I would suggest it. 456 00:33:58.359 --> 00:34:04.559 Um Kelich also has an annual run which takes place in and around January 457 00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:07.440 of each year. It's it's actually a trail run um and then it includes 458 00:34:07.480 --> 00:34:10.599 a fifty K and a thirty K run. That is a long way to 459 00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:15.920 go and it's a good thing they're doing in January because it's just way too 460 00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:19.400 hot to be running around the summer. The civil war re enactment is held 461 00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:22.519 each February. This is something I don't want to miss either and I'll probably 462 00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:24.760 come out to see that because I've always wanted to see a civil war or 463 00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:30.320 revolutionary war re enactment and I just haven't had the chance to yet. Um, 464 00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:31.679 some of you may be wondering what on Earth is there a civil war 465 00:34:31.719 --> 00:34:36.559 reenactment here in California, out in the middle of the desert? When you 466 00:34:36.559 --> 00:34:39.679 think civil war, usually think eastern United States, maybe a few skirmishes in 467 00:34:39.719 --> 00:34:45.079 Texas or Kansas, but mostly in the east in places like Gettysburg and Shiloh. 468 00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:52.079 But California and so cal in general did experience some civil war fights between 469 00:34:52.199 --> 00:34:57.400 union. Nothing between the and the confederacy. Um, there were campaigns here, 470 00:34:57.480 --> 00:35:00.960 but as well as union for its camps in prison throughout the state. 471 00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:07.159 But California was primarily a Pro Union and Union Union held territory largely with Union 472 00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:10.239 militias and army volunteers for most of the war. Most of the campaigns were, 473 00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:14.679 unfortunately, against native Americans and that was the secure land for the Union, 474 00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:20.079 as California was a recently added state and part of the United States after 475 00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:23.840 the Mexican American war. Campaigns include the snake war, Bald Hills war, 476 00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:30.239 Owens Valley Indian war, Cher Cahoo wars and Carson's campaign against the Navajo. 477 00:35:31.400 --> 00:35:37.119 Um those were real battles and campaigns that took place here in California by Union 478 00:35:37.159 --> 00:35:42.880 troops against native Americans. The bluegrass festival is in Spring and besides music, 479 00:35:42.920 --> 00:35:45.719 there's food and games for all ages. In October there is also the annual 480 00:35:45.760 --> 00:35:50.880 ghost haunt. Their version of Halloween is described as the one time a year 481 00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:54.320 CALICO actually becomes a ghost town. There's costume contest, pumpkin carving, ghost 482 00:35:54.320 --> 00:35:58.960 stories and, of course, trick or treating. There is also a haunted 483 00:35:58.960 --> 00:36:02.039 walk through the man's mind during this event, which is already dark enough during 484 00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:05.880 the day, but I don't know what kind of scary things they throw in 485 00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:12.519 there during the during the night and during uh during this ghost haunt, holiday 486 00:36:12.519 --> 00:36:15.239 fest is in November, with Western music, living history displays and shops that 487 00:36:15.280 --> 00:36:21.679 are open for fine Christmas gift purchases. So these shops really do kind of 488 00:36:21.679 --> 00:36:24.400 have a lot of cool items for the person that has everything and it's hard 489 00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:28.639 to shop for. You might take a walk through around Christmas time or in 490 00:36:28.679 --> 00:36:32.320 November if you're looking for a unique Christmas gift or somebody just kind of likes 491 00:36:32.360 --> 00:36:37.360 that the western themed or maybe Um Antique stuff. You'll find a lot of 492 00:36:37.360 --> 00:36:43.400 that here. Finally, in December there is the annual winter wonderland masquerade ball 493 00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:47.480 Um winter colored attires and curaged of White, silver and blue ice, and 494 00:36:47.559 --> 00:36:53.280 in addition there's carnival games and a weekend long champagne brunch on New Year's Day 495 00:36:53.280 --> 00:36:59.880 at the Calico House. So kids, I think kids do have a lot 496 00:36:59.880 --> 00:37:02.679 of fun here Um. There's a lot of places I go to where I 497 00:37:02.679 --> 00:37:07.280 do not recommend taking kids, and especially young kids, and that includes next 498 00:37:07.320 --> 00:37:12.960 week's episode of the one day Socal podcast Um, which you'll receive a hint 499 00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:16.559 here at the end, as always, in piano rendition. But regarding kids, 500 00:37:16.719 --> 00:37:20.039 bring the kids, get the get the kids a toy cap, gun 501 00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:22.079 and a little cowboy hat and they'll be ready for whatever comes their way at 502 00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:25.599 Calico Um. I've seen a lot of kids here and the add on things 503 00:37:25.599 --> 00:37:30.880 to do are especially tailored towards children. The gold panning station is of Special 504 00:37:30.920 --> 00:37:34.719 Fund. You know, anything interactive really is fun for children, which is 505 00:37:34.719 --> 00:37:37.800 why all the science centers are always interactive. And Uh, and UH. 506 00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:40.639 Kids don't like to read displays. You guys know this here have children. 507 00:37:40.639 --> 00:37:45.960 They don't like to read displays and and uh, just look at stuff. 508 00:37:45.960 --> 00:37:49.559 They want to get hands on and play with things and and, you know, 509 00:37:49.719 --> 00:37:52.480 learn, um in that fun kind of way. And there's a lot 510 00:37:52.519 --> 00:37:58.599 of that here. Um. Uh watching this at the gold pans panning station, 511 00:37:58.639 --> 00:38:01.400 watching the eyes of kids light up when they find gold flakes, real 512 00:38:01.440 --> 00:38:06.440 gold flakes that they get to keep and take home. Uh, in you 513 00:38:06.440 --> 00:38:08.840 know, in sand, as the water slowing by. It is just entertaining 514 00:38:08.880 --> 00:38:13.079 to watch in and in and of itself, they also have fun right in 515 00:38:13.159 --> 00:38:15.239 the train. I don't have fun right in the train because, like I 516 00:38:15.280 --> 00:38:19.880 said, I write real trains. But they have probably have about as much 517 00:38:19.880 --> 00:38:22.320 fun riding the train as they would it in the mall. Maybe a little 518 00:38:22.320 --> 00:38:27.079 more because at least it's outside and goes around a hill and everything else and 519 00:38:27.119 --> 00:38:31.159 across the bridge. But Um, they definitely will have fun exploring Maggie's mine. 520 00:38:32.039 --> 00:38:35.960 This is just a Munique experience that a lot of kids don't you know. 521 00:38:36.119 --> 00:38:38.000 We we live in modern society. We don't have mines anymore and to 522 00:38:38.119 --> 00:38:44.239 walk through a long dark tunnel is just a lot of fun. Um. 523 00:38:44.320 --> 00:38:47.280 So on that note, Um, CALICO is way out in the middle of 524 00:38:47.320 --> 00:38:52.000 the majabb but there's still a couple of UH. It's still close enough to 525 00:38:52.159 --> 00:38:55.280 Eddie's world in barstood proper, so you'll fill you've put civilization behind you, 526 00:38:55.440 --> 00:39:00.880 or travel in the Liddle Loreen, just as you shouldn't a town, but 527 00:39:00.119 --> 00:39:04.480 in and out the barstood outlets and your favorite nel salon will probably be down 528 00:39:04.519 --> 00:39:07.960 the road if you've had enough of roughing it. So, because it's out 529 00:39:07.960 --> 00:39:10.079 in the middle of nowhere, there's no vagrance or really any criminal activity to 530 00:39:10.079 --> 00:39:14.920 be aware of. I mean I did see a couple gang tagging in the 531 00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:19.559 bathroom, but that's about it. You know, Um, you'll be pretty 532 00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:23.599 safe here. It's a county run location, regularly regularly patrolled by the sheriff's 533 00:39:23.599 --> 00:39:28.199 department and has Park Rangers here, so nothing to worry about as far as 534 00:39:28.199 --> 00:39:30.679 safety and UH. What you do need to keep an eye on, though, 535 00:39:30.719 --> 00:39:34.400 is the heat. It gets hot here and from the entrance to the 536 00:39:34.440 --> 00:39:37.320 schoolhouse or overlook it's a bit of a climb up main street. Main Street 537 00:39:37.400 --> 00:39:42.360 is not flat but kind of goes uphill slightly, UM, so be sure 538 00:39:42.400 --> 00:39:44.840 to dip into some of the stores for water and they see if you need 539 00:39:44.880 --> 00:39:47.480 it, or take a walk through Maggie's mine, which is usually twenty degrees 540 00:39:47.519 --> 00:39:52.239 cooler and tolerable. Um. But there is an overlook at the very end 541 00:39:52.239 --> 00:39:55.239 of main street which you can see the whole town, the Calico hills, 542 00:39:55.639 --> 00:40:00.360 some of the mines up on the mountain side, the Calico, you know 543 00:40:00.840 --> 00:40:05.519 sign. Um. So it's worth a hike up to the top. It's 544 00:40:05.559 --> 00:40:07.920 it's a really, really short hike, but the over you is really cool 545 00:40:07.960 --> 00:40:10.840 to see. And Uh, if you're doing it in the heat, you 546 00:40:10.840 --> 00:40:15.079 know, like I said, bring water, a hat, go buy some 547 00:40:15.199 --> 00:40:16.519 from the store by a cowboy hat, get your kids a cowboy hat and 548 00:40:16.639 --> 00:40:20.400 uh, and even if, even when you go on Maggie's mind, there's 549 00:40:20.400 --> 00:40:23.320 these little toya miner's hats they can wear with a little light on top and 550 00:40:23.360 --> 00:40:28.360 they can walk through. But so, no, no, you know, 551 00:40:28.519 --> 00:40:31.719 nothing, nothing of serious consequence to be wary of. It's the whole town 552 00:40:31.840 --> 00:40:37.199 is old and rustic and but it's it's built for visitors and it's safe and 553 00:40:37.360 --> 00:40:39.679 there should be no issues with that. Um. Oh, by the way, 554 00:40:39.719 --> 00:40:42.920 there's also I wanted to mention. On main stre there's also a the 555 00:40:43.039 --> 00:40:45.760 you know, the Marshall's office, and it has a jail that you can 556 00:40:45.760 --> 00:40:49.119 actually take a photo in where it looks like you're in jail. You know, 557 00:40:49.199 --> 00:40:54.119 stuff like that. Um. But final thoughts here on Calico. The 558 00:40:54.159 --> 00:40:59.159 best way to make use of CALICO is if you are already on a trip 559 00:40:59.199 --> 00:41:04.280 between so cal in Las Vegas or some other southwest destination. I'm not sure 560 00:41:04.320 --> 00:41:07.320 I would recommend driving from L A or San Diego to spend a few hours 561 00:41:07.320 --> 00:41:10.079 at CALICO, but if it's already on the way or you happen to be 562 00:41:10.159 --> 00:41:14.719 up in the high desert for one reason or another, um it might be 563 00:41:14.719 --> 00:41:20.840 worth the trip. It's Um, there's there is, there is tours that 564 00:41:20.880 --> 00:41:22.280 go from L A to CALICO and back. So there, there. If 565 00:41:22.280 --> 00:41:24.920 you don't, you're coming to south cal you didn't bring a car, you're 566 00:41:25.039 --> 00:41:29.360 mostly getting around and Uber a public transportation and you really want to see a 567 00:41:29.440 --> 00:41:36.360 real southwest, you know, old West Ghost town. That the mind silver, 568 00:41:36.679 --> 00:41:38.639 the real thing. You know, you want that experience. It is 569 00:41:38.679 --> 00:41:43.239 definitely possible to do it. Um or there's tour buses that go to Vegas 570 00:41:43.280 --> 00:41:46.320 to stop here. Um, it's also, you know, it's inexpensive. 571 00:41:46.400 --> 00:41:50.440 It's a real ghost town and, unlike the one in knots. It's fun 572 00:41:50.480 --> 00:41:53.039 to explore and learn about the old West because it's real. Um, the 573 00:41:53.079 --> 00:41:57.840 one in knots is really cool and really well set up and it was created, 574 00:41:57.840 --> 00:42:00.400 obviously, by the same guy that bought and created and restored CALICO ghost 575 00:42:00.480 --> 00:42:04.960 town. But the one and knots is is not a real ghost town. 576 00:42:05.000 --> 00:42:07.719 This is this is actually has real history associated with it. People lived, 577 00:42:07.840 --> 00:42:14.679 breathe and died here and uh in the eighties and eighteen, nineties and UH. 578 00:42:14.800 --> 00:42:17.719 I think adults will appreciate the history and the kids will appreciate the the 579 00:42:17.760 --> 00:42:22.760 adventure and if you're me, you appreciate the history and the adventure of coming 580 00:42:22.760 --> 00:42:27.800 to CALICO. So give it a consider, especially if you're on your way 581 00:42:27.840 --> 00:42:31.880 to Las Vegas, Utah or from those locations down to so cal. And 582 00:42:31.960 --> 00:42:36.760 that's gonna wrap it up here for episode ten of the one day in Socal 583 00:42:36.920 --> 00:42:39.639 podcast. Episode one zero. We made it to ten. Uh, now 584 00:42:39.719 --> 00:42:44.519 let's make it to fifty and a hundred and on. There's so many cool 585 00:42:44.519 --> 00:42:47.400 places that I can want to explore. Um. Unfortunately my schedule has gotten 586 00:42:47.400 --> 00:42:52.480 pretty busy lately. Full Time School, full time work, things I have 587 00:42:52.519 --> 00:42:55.119 to do around the house, as well as volunteer things I've committed to, 588 00:42:55.400 --> 00:42:59.760 such as the so cal Railway Museum, where I work as an I TV 589 00:42:59.800 --> 00:43:04.360 along here. Um. So, that said, I'm not giving up on 590 00:43:04.400 --> 00:43:07.159 this, uh, this adventure and this podcast that have started. Um, 591 00:43:07.159 --> 00:43:09.719 I will definitely be. It gets in the way a little bit, which 592 00:43:09.760 --> 00:43:14.559 is why I'm releasing this episode a couple hours late on this Friday, but 593 00:43:15.480 --> 00:43:20.440 I'll definitely be going out minimum someplace once a week to go explore something and 594 00:43:20.440 --> 00:43:22.800 share it with you guys and really give you, guys, ideas of what 595 00:43:22.840 --> 00:43:25.559 to do because, like I said, you know life, life is just 596 00:43:25.599 --> 00:43:30.320 too short, isn't it? And Uh, we want to spend as much 597 00:43:30.360 --> 00:43:32.440 time, you know, a family and friends, doing going out and seeing 598 00:43:32.440 --> 00:43:37.760 cool things and enjoying it as possible. So that's what I want to do. 599 00:43:37.840 --> 00:43:39.280 I want to share all these places that I've been to, most of 600 00:43:39.280 --> 00:43:43.280 which I've been too already, but I go back to for each new episode 601 00:43:43.440 --> 00:43:45.159 to learn the latest thing and I want to share it with you guys and 602 00:43:45.199 --> 00:43:49.079 I want you, guys, to go out and have an adventure. Um, 603 00:43:49.079 --> 00:43:52.039 this is sharing my adventure and my advice, but this is really about 604 00:43:52.039 --> 00:43:57.039 you guys. Going out and experiencing your own trips and adventure and places to 605 00:43:57.079 --> 00:44:00.480 see. So hopefully this podcast gives you a little bit of, uh just 606 00:44:00.519 --> 00:44:02.679 brief overview of each place as I go. Some will be longer than others. 607 00:44:02.719 --> 00:44:08.559 This one is actually forty one minutes long so far and uh, as 608 00:44:08.639 --> 00:44:13.679 far as me talking. But Um, some will be longer than others, 609 00:44:13.760 --> 00:44:15.400 I guess. Uh, that's what I'm trying to say. Some are two 610 00:44:15.480 --> 00:44:17.760 hours long, some we're gonna be like twenty minutes long. It just depends 611 00:44:17.760 --> 00:44:22.199 on where I go. CALICO has enough to talk about, but if I 612 00:44:22.239 --> 00:44:24.800 go and, you know, drive down to watch towers or something like that, 613 00:44:24.920 --> 00:44:29.800 then you know I might be five minutes because there's just there's just not 614 00:44:29.840 --> 00:44:32.400 a lot to do there. But Um, one one day at a time, 615 00:44:34.000 --> 00:44:36.679 one day and Silk Hell out of time, we'll get through all the 616 00:44:36.679 --> 00:44:38.800 cool things that is to do here. So thanks for listening, folks, 617 00:44:38.880 --> 00:44:43.679 and tune in next week. Here's a little hint about where I'm going next 618 00:44:43.679 --> 00:44:47.480 week, and some of you will get it immediately. Others have never done 619 00:44:47.519 --> 00:44:52.639 this. Like me, I've never done this. I never thought I would 620 00:44:52.639 --> 00:44:58.039 go do this, but I did and Um, well, here's the hand. 621 00:44:58.519 --> 00:46:32.760 Thanks for tuning in, guys, you next week. Thanks for listening. 622 00:46:32.800 --> 00:46:37.840 Folks, please visit the website one day in so cal dot com and, 623 00:46:37.960 --> 00:46:42.119 if you enjoyed this podcast, consider suscribing. Feel free to leave me 624 00:46:42.239 --> 00:46:45.679 tips and Info on how I can improve. Thanks again. Back The blue