Whiskey and women made the dance halls, and the red-light housesthe main stage for gun battle. The isolated nature of the town led to much lawlessness, as gunfights were recorded in its time. [28] Underwood stated plans to develop the town into an artist destination for tourists and group events, while maintaining the historic nature of the property. At its peak, over 4,500 miners called Cerro Gordo home. Robert Shea/Flickr Cerro Gordo was founded as a silver and lead mining town in 1865. [4][13][14], In February 2016, Underwood published a photo of his foot on Amazon as a book titled Putting My Foot Down. last time I was there you could get a tour for a fee. When silver was discovered on. He documented his time in the abandoned ghost town and shared it on social media. The purchase included over 360 acres and 22 structures. Exploring The 900 Level of The Union Mine! "Things during the silver period were wild," said Roger Vargo, an expert on Cerro Gordo. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". It would grow to become known as 'the next Cerro Gordo' as it be Two Years Living In An Abandoned Ghost Town! The town has more recently made headlines after one of its new owners, Brent Underwood, became trapped there alone in a snowstorm. It may be abandoned now, but back in the 19th century, Cerro Gordo was once a bustling hub for mining silver. Some of the old mines are also still accessible. The road is made of gravel, so be careful when driving down it. [2] Falling silver and lead prices were the final straw, and most of the inhabitants left as quickly as they came. In this video we picked up small samples of ore from all over Cerro Gordo. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. We have had a CRAZY few months up here at Cerro Gordo. Whether they will succeed or if the settlement crumbles back into the earth is a question only time will tell. Because of my advancing age I no longer enjoy shelf roads. Directions: Starting point from the west: California 136 at Keeler, 12 miles east of Lone Pine. Primary Menu. Once you commit to the road, it will be difficult if not impossible to turn around. Aurora Gallery/Wes Shrader Photography, Copyright: The Aurora The day is finally here! If you haven't alr Hey guys! "The briefcase just had everything about these miners' lives their highs, their lows, their bank statements, their divorce settlements, lawsuits, mining claims, love letters, hate letters," Underwood told Insider. The only east bound road from town. The town was the silver thread to Los Angeles, being partially responsible for its growth and economic development. Brent gets to explore the mines, which haven't been touched in decades, and the stuff that he finds all goes into his museum. See. Cerro Gordo is a privately owned Mining Town located in the Owens Valley near Lone Pine, California. When Climate Change Activism Becomes More Dangerous Than Climate Change, It's OK to Shout Fire on a Crowded, Burning, Planet, Do Presidential Candidates Get Secret Service? ", "A long time," he replied. Cerro Gordo is open all week (depending on road/weather conditions) from 9 a.m to 4 p.m standard time and 9 a.m to 5 p.m daylight savings time. They hope to use the money to restore the town. 94% of travelers recommend this experience. In the summer of 2018, Brent Underwood got a text in the middle of the night from a friend saying, "Look at this ghost town for sale!" Within a month, Brent had purchased Cerro Gordo, California . "The Rise and Fall of Cerro Gordo Legends of America", "California ghost town with a bloody past suffers a new calamity", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cerro_Gordo,_California&oldid=1166693944, Former settlements in Inyo County, California, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 23 July 2023, at 05:43. Of course, even Underwood's biggest fans eventually head back down the mountain. A little over a month after a 19th century ghost town in California called Cerro Gordo went on sale, Brent Underwood bought it for $1.4 million, real . LMNT has been a huge supporter of the town, I drink it basically every day, so I hope you'll check it out! Date of experience: April 2021. . Even the doctor of the town had enough and left scared for his life. At Keeler. Now, 13 months later, he is still living his faux-pioneer life in the ghost town. Check out https://drinklmnt.com/Brent for a FREE 8 sample pack with any purchase. Valley were We charge a $10.00 tour fee, kids 5-12 are free. The route is primarily used for scenic drives and hikes. Mining operations spanned 1866 to 1957, producing high grade silver, lead, zinc ore, and more rarely gold ore and copper ore. [1] Courtesy David A. Wright, Copyright: The Hey guys! First discovered Legends of America Traveling through American history, destinations & legends since 2003. And in this video, I took ore that I mined myself 450 ft underground and made a ring. just did this road last week and have to disagree with the 4WD recommendation this is just a dirt road that climbs up the mountain and can be done in any 2 WD vehicle there were several cars in Cerro Gordo seriously 4WD is not needed Amazing place with amazing host! This past week, I found a book published in 1886 that walked through all the different steps. It is privately owned and operated by the Cerro Gordo Historical Society. Cerro Gordo, on the western slope of the Inyo Mountains, was the first major silver strike in Owens Valley, and one of California's best ghost towns. Our goal is to continually upgrade amenities and keep the town intact to be enjoyed and explored as a true historical site in California. The views down to the Owens Valley are spectacular since you get up to 8000 feet elevation. His priority, Underwood says, is to rebuild that town hotel that burned down so he can start hosting paying customers. Zak Bagans and the crew trek a treacherous cliffside trail to investigate a forgotten mining town in California, haunted by the lost souls of its former residents. Among the properties in Cerro Gordo, the Belshaw House is a two-bedroom home that once belonged to Mortimer Belshaw, one of the town's leading figures. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. From the lakeside port the bullion was transported via Mule teams toLos Angeles, 275 miles away. 80' long and powered by steam. I did THREE explorations of the Union Mine that led to some of the coolest (mineral finds) yet and a whole new passion for me. The business of running a ghost town. Hey guys! Maybe Cerro Gordo has one last boom in it after all, "It was here before I was here," he said. The road to the Saline Valley Salt Tram could also be accessed from here, with a high clearance 4 wheel drive (not AWD) vehicle. Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more. It was the first major silver strike in Owens Valley. Beveridge was established in the late 1800s, and is tucked far away from anything in a canyon. Read More. 1927 due to the incoming streams being diverted by Los Angeles At one point, the town averaged around a murder a week, and miners used to put sandbags in their bunks to stop stray bullets during the night, he told Insider. Burbank asked, "How long do you think you're going to stay here? After switching from silver to zinc, the Union Mine finally closed down in 1938, causing the towns population to dwindle. Turning 100 Pounds of Silver Ore Into A Ring! Called Cerro Gordo, which means "fat hill" in Spanish, the . When Brent . Once at the ghost town, park around the church or at the turnout just before that. It's almost impossible for me to believe. It would have been so easy for the current owner to just place a sign at the beginning of the road to explain it was closed for a special event. Are the small bottles and/or any other items that you find for sale? Over the years, a series of different owners lived here and maintained the town before 34-year-old Brent Underwood bought it. I Got A 5 Ton Military Truck For My Ghost Town! Cerro Gordo is still quite difficult to reach. This 360-acre spread of land, complete with 22 structures, attracted him because of "the combination of hospitality and history," he said. We visited in 2012 and have some photos around town and inside the American Hotel if you are interested I can send them up. Its 5,000 residents were left to their own devices by law enforcement due to its distance from Los Angeles. Courtesy Dolores Steele, Inside mine office January 26, 2017 Dan Bonin. If you own an abandoned silver mine, it only makes sense to learn how to make silver! There are plenty of turnouts to let opposite traffic pass. [18][19] The resulting article in the New York Observer received attention from a variety of media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and from authors including Neil Gaiman and Nick Bilton. After literally years of waiting, the framing has begun on the new American Hotel. I cannot believe it has been another year up here. So we risked the very scary drive to the mine only to learn we could not walk around because there was filming going on that day. This week was a crazy week! You wont be able to get into the mine shafts themselves. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. Robert Desmarais, coincidentally a former miner, serves as the towns unofficial caretaker. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. That way the engine will assist you in breaking on your way down. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Check out https://drinklmnt.com/Brent for a FREE 8 sample pack of their electrolyte mix with any purchase. Below you find a gallery with all my pictures of Cerro Gordo Ghost Town. warrant a visit including the hotel, livery stable and other Thomas survived his injuries, Boland was shot dead on the street. And you're doin' it! The prosperity of Cerro Gordo demanded a larger port city and pushed LA to develop quickly. I've Been Living In A Ghost Town For 20 Months! Getting around in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area, Canon EOS 5D Mark II: How to Replace the Rubber Covers for the Interface Terminals. This mining town was established in 1865 and went on the be the most prosperous silver mine in Californias history. In July 2018, Underwood purchased the former mining town of Cerro Gordo alongside the Cerro Gordo Mines for $1.4 million with a group of investors. Creating A New Rock Climbing Route Near Death Valley. I have been to other so-called ghost towns but they were more like a tourist trap. 2023 Atlas Obscura. I would love to visit but driving on narrow dirt roads with shear drops terrify me. to Los Angeles for smelting and thence to San Pedro. REMAINS: Many $3 and 5 Minutes", "Man Reveals How Scam Artists Hack Amazon to Become 'Best Selling' Authors", "This guy became a 'best-selling author' in just 5 minutes here's how he did it", "Foot book is an Amazon bestsellereven though it doesn't exist", "How to become a bestselling author without writing a book", "They Bought a Ghost Town for $1.4 Million. No hotel would be complete without a bar and I was recently offered THE legendary bar from the 1800s to go inside the American Hotel. The pump stopped working again about 6 months ago a 13 Months Living In An Abandoned Ghost Town! There are bullet holes in the walls, bloodstains on the floor of the saloon, and a cemetery filled with the graves of hundreds of miners. The old mining of Cerro Gordo looks down on Owens Valley on the east side of the Sierra mountains from its site in the Inyo Range some 9,000 feet high. I've never taken a long road trip," Underwood said. This week I am back after my longest break yet with some happenings from around town. You can also see the 1877 Hoist Works, and numerous other remaining structures. Great images and history about Cerro Gordo from: GhostTownGallery.com Go to their full site. This he did to save the cost of hauling the ore Virginia City. ", "I do!" It's been over 2 YEARS?! The old store got transformed into an exhibit hall for all kinds of artifacts from the mines time period. "Here," perched on the edge of Death Valley, eight miles up a winding dirt road, is the abandoned mining town of Cerro Gordo, California. . Nearly $500 million worth of minerals were pulled from the hills. We were looking forward to our visit. Courtesy Dolores Steele, These charcoal kilns were built in 1876 to turn wood to charcoal This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Operations / CBS News, There might only be a few people on Planet Earth who can say they've been more socially-distant during the pandemic than Brent Underwood. [4], .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct,.mw-parser-output .geo-inline-hidden{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}363216N 1174742W / 36.53778N 117.79500W / 36.53778; -117.79500. Courtesy Dolores Steele, Was a Saloon -- 156 bullets in floor [6] Upon returning to New York, he founded a hostel in Brooklyn. These are the best ingredients for amazing adventures all over the globe. "And so, I packed up my truck, I drove out here.". The views from this town site are amazing. In 1866, local businessman Victor Beaudry had opened a store, as well as acquiring several mining claims, including partial interest to the lucrative Union Mine. My name is Brent Underwood and I own the abandoned mining town of Cerro Gordo. "Fat Hill" had become a ghost town by the 1890s. Cerro Gordo is a privately owned Mining Town located in the Owens Valley near Lone Pine, California. What started off as a casual Friday turned into a historic day thanks to a surprise visit from Heavy D and Diesel Dave. Their arrival is big news to me, and I even had to build a new home for them! There is two-way traffic on the road, be prepared to stop. CBS News Underwood isn't just Cerro Gordo's sole. [1] The town was left mostly abandoned, save for a few caretakers who stayed behind. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Steep and inaccessible from the east in winter without chains. From Lone Pine, you will travel east on State Route 136 until you meet the turn off to Cerro Gordo St in Keeler. This week, I take on a mine exploration I've been planning for nearly a year - the Newtown Mine. The town was largely abandoned by the 1950s. Phone: (760) 689-2443 New York born to SoCal via Puerto Rico and San Francisco, partner in crime and co-founder of The Adventure Portal, Lori has over 15 years experience in partaking of adventures in the American southwest, primitive camping, hiking and exploring in her Rubi. I got told, that you can request a special tour to get to the entrance and up to the tower, but you wont be allowed inside the mines for safety reasons. Rise and Fall of Cerro Gordo. By 1920, only 10 miners were employed at Cerro Gordo. Its private property and you have to pay the fee either for a self-guided tour or a tour given by the caretaker. He lives in the first house you see on your right while driving into the town. "This town was around when Spanish influenza hit, and it's still standing, so there's some kind of strength in that.". Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce has been manufactured since 1837. For the past two years I've been working on the property almost every day and drinking LMNT throughout it all to stay hydrated. In fact, Cerro Gordo was so successful that it eventually grew into the largest mining site for silver and lead in California. original buildings. Underwood finds solace among the remnants of the past, given these current uncertain times. From this abandoned town, now reached by eight miles of steep and winding dirt road, once flowed as much as $13,000,000 in silver and lead bullion. Underwood isn't just Cerro Gordo's sole resident; he also owns it, all 380 acres. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Belshaw had a lot of influence; he owned the general store, built the toll road, and owned the mines. Cerro Gordo got its start back in 1865 when a man named Pablo Flores started mining silver from the large hills that overlooked the Owens Valley in California (Cerro Gordo means "fat hill" in Spanish). Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. In reality, you can do it in a 2WD car, but you should have some ground clearance. We brought the largest water tank to ever be up here to town thanks to the help of Heavy D Sparks and . Within four years, the number of mining claims would increase to more than seven hundred. Advanced reservations can be made on the homepage of the Ghost Town. I want to thank you all so so much for being part of Cerro Gordo. Cerro Gordo was once known for mining silver and lead, and. It was raining, so what My Biggest Mine Discovery Yet (Down A 1,100 Ft Pit). A 4WD-vehicle is recommended for the drive up to Cerro Gordo. LMNT has been a huge supporter of the town, I use it every single day, so I hope you'll check it out! He was staying in the allegedly haunted Belshaw House. [32] Visitors have included Jeff Goldblum, Cole Sprouse, G-Eazy, and others. Denied Protection, Why Americans Vote for Candidates They Don't Like, Melania Might Have Left Trump If Officials Resigned En Masse: Ex-Staffer, Oakland NAACP Blames 'Defund the Police' for Rampant Crime in City, Kim Jong Un Decorates Walls With Huge Portraits of Putin. Josh Britten Impact of Hollywood strikes being felt across the pond, Israelis stage massive protests after government pushes through key reform, Ledecky breaks Phelps' record for most individual world titles, Ukraine moves Christmas to distance itself from Russian Orthodox Church, Judge blocks Arkansas law that allows librarians to face criminal charges, Mega Millions jackpot hits $1 billion mark, 4 killed, 2 hurt in separate aircraft accidents near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, World Cup athletes, family and colleagues remember Grant Wahl's legacy, Swift's "Eras" tour concerts cause seismic activity in Seattle. Back in 2018, he and some business partners bought it to turn it into a tourist destination by restoring the town and its old hotel. A group of investors just bought a unique vignette of history for $1.4 million a 22-building, Old West ghost town in California. This led to over a murder per week in its heyday. Directions: From the west: take CA 136 at Keeler, 12 miles east of Lone Pine Site Location and Description: Cerro Gordo Road provides an alternate off-road entry point into Death Valley and Saline Valley Road. Inside Cerro Gordo, The Abandoned California Boomtown With A Sordid History. The caretaker said everything was authentic, it wasn't. Site Location and Description Cerro Gordo Ghost Town located in Death Valley, is considered one of the best ghost towns in California. I've tried many times during my stay here, but never fully got the hang of it. This IS a must see place near to the main road! Ultimately the owners plan to transform the ghost town into a retreat center for conferences, workshop events, and film shoots. I do not. Law enforcement wouldn't go to Cerro Gordo and miners were expected to solve their own problems. Cerro Gordo is located 200 miles north of Los Angeles and 200 miles west of Las Vegas. Check out https://drinklmnt.com/Brent for a FREE 8 sample pack of their amazing electrolyte mix with any purchase. If he gives you a tour, please feel free to leave a generous tip as it goes to the maintenance of this amazing piece of historical Death Valley. [13][21] Underwood was then offered a publishing contract from Thought Catalog to turn Putting My Foot Down into an expanded paperback version. I have been to other so-called "ghost towns" but they were more like a tourist trap. The town is said to be haunted. of China's massive, uninhabited ghost cities. Hey guys! From this abandoned town, now reached by eight miles of steep and winding dirt road, once flowed as much as $13,000,000 in silver and lead bullion. "It's crazy to find something like that, and it just takes you back into an era. at Cerro Gordo! The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". | Photo: Amanda Bungartz What Los Angeles is, is due to Cerro Gordo. "It's almost impossible for me to believe. This trade brought prosperity to Los Angeles and, by the end of 1869, 340 tons of bullion had passed through the city. he said. The town's miners made a habit of putting sandbags in their bunks to top stray bullets from killing them at night. Mining operations in Cerro Gordo began in 1866 and lasted until 1938. Private Guided Hiking Tours - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park Self-Driving Audio Tour, Sequoia National Park Adventure from Tulare, Full-Day Private Tour and Hike in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Thank you for the review KAHNMAN805. I dont think so. silver mine. Nestled in the Inyo Mountains of California, roughly 200 miles north of Los Angeles, lies the forgotten town of Cerro Gordo. All visitors must check in and sigh a waiver. I bring LMNT with me everywhere (including 90 feet underground) and it's a game changer wh Month 39: Finding Lost Graves In An Abandoned Ghost Town. Some of Peters photos are published on corporate websites, in-flight magazines, travel guides, and much more. But the quantity and quality of silver being harvested from these . An engineer named "So it was, 'Let's secure this thing, and let's figure out the rest later.'". "Because the meat was so bad, they needed to put a lot of sauce on all of the meat that was here. According to Underwood, the town has a long and bloody history. Must see & experience it! The brothers, who have remained anonymous, inherited the property from their parents that reportedly lived on the site from the 1980s up until the early 2000s when they passed away. Mexican miner showed some silver ore to some mining people in We saw the Bodie Ghost Town the day before. ALL VISITORS MUST SIGN A WAIVER. Ageneral store, restaurants, and saloons replaced the canvas shacks that has been scattered throughout town. During the height of its mining production, the town was home to 5,000 residents. The town briefly came back to life for a few decades, starting in 1905, as it was used for zinc processing. Writers Zak Bagans Jeff Belanger Brittany Breen Stars Zak Bagans Aaron Goodwin The drive from the intersection of Cerro Gordo Road and CA-136 to the ghost town is just under 8 miles. Since March last year, he has had many visitors, including celebrities like Jeff Goldblum, Cole Sprouse and G-Eazy due to his internet fame. This trip took over 6 hours underground. "People have been going through issues since people existed," Underwood told Insider. This past year has seen a lot get done, along wit. Savage River in Denali National Park This lawless type of miner/prospector found Cerro Gordos remoteness arefuge, and was responsible for the bloody record of shootings compiled during the bonanza days. Tons of history up there. Now They Want to Revive It", "California ghost town sells for $1.4 million; buyers plan to develop it as a tourist attraction", "Search California ghost town sells for $1.4 million", "A real-life Westworld in California sold for over $1 million to a group of Los Angeles investors who plan to use it for festivals and photoshoots", "I bought a ghost town - then got trapped there", "Cerro Gordo Is TikTok's Favorite Ghost Town With a Dark Past - YouTube", An influencer who bought a California ghost town is ready to die there, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brent_Underwood&oldid=1149299302, Articles using Template Infobox person Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 11 April 2023, at 10:53. It was named for the vast amount of silver it contained. Underwood stated plans to develop the town into an artist destination for tourists and group events, while maintaining the . The town is now protected under the Cerro Gordo Historical Foundation. He was always friendly showed his "museum" and other historical places in town. sawmill up in the headwaters of Cottonwood Creek in the Sierra It was something I was looking forward to for a long time, and it was a blast. It does not store any personal data. Cerro Gordo brought in thousands of minersand various unsavory characters. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. By the 1930s, Cerro Gordo was all but abandoned. It's now been 3 YEARS(?!) He was very knowledgeable about the history of the town and all the artifacts around the place. Check out https://drinklmnt.com/Brent for a FREE sample pack with any purchase. 40,000 gallon tank 2.5 Years Living In An Abandoned Ghost Town! David Lofink/FlickrThe property keeper confirmed ghostly sightings around the site at night. It may be abandoned now, but back in the 19th century, Cerro Gordo was once a bustling hub for mining silver. Hiking The Steepest Tramway In The US! Secret Service provisions typically apply to major presidential and vice presidential candidates 120 prior to a general election. Check out this week's sponsor, Aura, https://aura.com/ghosttownliving , to get a 14 day free trial and see if your personal information has leaked online. Cerro Gordo was the largest producer of the two between 1865 and 1938 when its supplies ran out. It found ardent fans at Cerro Gordo. Today the town is privately owned by a group of investors but still open for tourists. Winner will be selected at random on 08/01/2023. At the time I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into. It has been an absolute battle to get here and I can't thank ever To get 5 free travel packs of AG1 and a year supply of their Vitamin D3+K2, go to https://athleticgreens.com/ghosttownliving #AthleticGreensPartner ", Burbank asked Vargo, "Have you been pleasantly surprised at how he's thrown himself into it? The property keeper confirmed ghostly sightings around the site at night. "We talk about a wild west town right out of a Clint Eastwood movie. The town has a cemetery of miners who died during the height of Cerro Gordo's silver mining production. Twice in a month our road has been completely wa We Found A Secret Silver Stash While Metal Detecting! At its peak, there were about 5,000 residents living in Cerro Gordo. The current owners hope to rebuild the town and add a music studio and observatory.
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