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Calico is an old West mining town that has been around since 1881 during the largest silver strike in California. With its 500 mines, Calico produced over $20 million in silver ore over a 12-year span. When silver lost its value in the mid-1890s, Calico lost its population. The miners packed up, loaded their mules and moved away abandoning the town that once gave them a good living. It became a ghost town.
Walter Knott purchased Calico in the 1950s architecturally restoring all but the five original buildings to look as they did in the 1880s. Calico received State Historical Landmark 782 and in 2005 was proclaimed by then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to be California's Silver Rush Ghost Town.
Today Calico is part of the San Bernardino County Regional Parks system visited by people from around the country and all over the world. The park offers visitors an opportunity to share in its rich history and enjoy the natural beauty of the surrounding desert environment. Along with its history and attractions, Calico Ghost Town has shops,restaurants and offers camping and outdoor recreation not available at most of our other park facilities.
Maggie Mine - Explore an authentic silver mine from the 1880s, with mining exhibits and historical displays. Open daily from 9 am.-5 pm.
Lucy Lane Museum
Gold Panning - Experience panning for gold just how the miners did it, Open daily from 9 am.-5 pm.
Silver King Mine Tour - This Extreme Calico Mine tour is a two hour educational and historical hands-on, venture of a lifetime! The Silver King Mine, Level #6 is now accepting adventurous individuals to enter a world unknown for over 125 years. Step back in history and experience the Calico mines as early settlers did. Time required:3 to 4 hours
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