At its height,
Calico boasted a population of 1,200 people, and over 500
silver mines. Besides the usual assortment of bars, brothels,
gambling halls and a few churches, Calico also supported
a newspaper, the Calico Print. During the mid 1890s the
price of silver dropped and Calico's silver mines were no
longer economically viable.
With the end of borax mining in the region in 1907 the town
became completely abandoned. The last original inhabitant
of Calico before it was abandoned, Mrs. Lucy Bell Lane,
died in the 1960s. Her house remains as the main museum
in town.
In 1951, Walter Knott, founder of Knott's Berry Farm, purchased
the town and began restoring it to its original condition
referencing old photographs.
Though five of the original town buildings exist today,
many others were recreated as replicas of their originals
on preexisting foundations. In 1966,
Walter Knott donated the town to San Bernardino County,
and Calico became a county regional park.
Calico is a registered California historic monument, and
is the "official state silver rush ghost town"
of California. During the year Calico has various seasonal
events. |
