Calico Ghost Town

The old west is something that I only really saw in movies. Growing up in New York City was a great opportunity for some things, but lacked in other regards. For example, I was 19 the first time I had ever been to a desert. And I’m still 19! It bums me out sometimes, that there’s still so much I haven’t done and seen, but it’s exciting other times, as all it means is that there are more memories to make and experiences to have down the road.

Stock Image of Calico

Wax Statues Inside a Saloon, Calico, 06-04-2022

Let’s talk about Calico Ghost Town. An old west-themed town located a couple of hours outside the LA area in Calico, California. They turned the town into a national park, and in doing so, kind of ended up tourist-izing it. Don’t get me wrong I loved Calico, but to say it felt incredibly authentic would be a lie.

Calico Ghost Town, 06-04-2022

I’d say I liked how they maintained the town. There were some things that was claimed to have been untouched, but the old west was primarily made of wood throughout the 17th century, so if they hadn’t done as much maintenance as they did, I’m confident Calico wouldn’t exist at all. The reconstructions and maintenance looked as legit as they could make it, so A+ for the efforts in rebuilding and redesigning.

Blurry Cross Atop a Mountain, 06-04-2022

This wasn’t Collin’s favorite location. He liked it, but he said it was definitely on the lower tier compared to places we had been to before. For example, in Joshua Tree, Collin and Nickel often climbed the tall rocks, not to mention the desert- for the most part- is flat, so the sunsets were surreal. Salvation Mountain was an artistic and educational experience, and the mountain itself has an amazing story behind it. Anza Borrego was incredibly rewarding, as we had to find each and every individual statue ourselves (google maps cucked us on that one). But Calico? Every running shop was selling some sort of pickle, rock or trinket that had little to no value outside the fact it came from Calico. I think he didn’t like it as much because it felt fabricated in a way, or maybe like we didn’t find it, rather came across someone else’s discovery. Less rewarding, not as beautiful. Haunting, sure, but as the result of reconstructions and rebuilding.

Esme and Collin, 06-04-2022

We had also tried to go to a poppy field on this trip, but the poppy’s were out of season and the fields were barren. We ended up stopping at a pretty crazy gas station, one with dogs out front and a beautiful wooden interior that resembled a vacation-esque log cabin far more than a place to pump gas. We got food (fish n chips + my favorite asian black milk tea which I was shocked they even had) and Collin met a very nice local who when he told was from MS, informed Collin that he loved MS and had a fake from there in high school.

Collin at Calico, 06-04-2022

I liked the trip. In fact I really liked the trip. I’d go again and change nothing (but maybe the time of year so we could actually see poppy’s). The food was strangely good, the people were nice, I’d just have to wear my hair back because it was wildly windy my hair did not like that. In the end, 9/10 Calico, you did well. Maybe one day we’ll be back with more asian teas and desert gas log cabins :)