SalvageDiver Loc: Huntington Beach CA

Here are a few images of the Cerro Gorgo ghost town. It's an old mining town where silver was discovered in 1865. It's located off CA395 in the mountains east of Owens Lake. It's an 8 mile drive, climbing about 5000' up a narrow dirt road to get there. In it's most active time, there were about 1500 miners working the area. Silver, lead and zinc were the primary ores taken from the mines, but there was a small amount of gold found also.

There are a lot of stories about how lawless it was back then but I assume those were stores that morphed over time. Currently, the town's owned by young you-tuber named Brant Underwood. He's currently trying to rehabilitate the town into a tourist destination, but he has a looooong way to go. Here are a few images from our visit.

Image one is a pano showing the remnants of the town. Owens Valley is on the left with the Sierra Nevada mountains in the background. Just past the mine tailings on the right is a beautiful view of Death Valley. The remaining images are various pictures from around the town. The final image is a nice view of Owens Lake and the Sierra Nevada's. Mt Whitney, the highest peak in the continental US, is over on the right side of the mountain range. The water that normally fed into the Owens Lake has been diverted and is now a main source of water for Los Angeles.

1

(Download)

2

(Download)

3

(Download)

4

(Download)

5

(Download)

6

(Download)

anotherview Loc: California

Number 6 presents a spectacular vista of the geology of the area. Obviously, you like out-of-the-way places. Thanks for the well-done pictures of this old mining town.

The narrative adds to the interest of this piece of California history.

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Interesting! thanks for posting

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Great photo essay. I have never been to that ghost town, but I have been to Owns Valley, Death Valley, Lone Pine, etc.

rlv567 Loc: Baguio City, Philippines

Good pictures! I've never been to Cerro Gordo, but up 395 MANY times (from Burbank and Canyon Country), 17 years running for opening day trout fishing on Crowley Lake, and most summers camping at Lake Mary or June Lake - or somewhere in that area, plus ski trips to Mammoth most winters. It's all beautiful country, and great country to explore.

Loren - in Beautiful Baguio City

KindaSpikey Loc: English living in San Diego

HI Mike. Great set of images, thanks for sharing, and for the additional info to go with them! Just imagine actually "owning" somewhere like that, I'd love it personally. Places like that fascinate me, the history hidden there would be wonderful to uncover, and I could spend literally years exploring that site! I really like #5, I think that if I were the owner, one of my first projects would be to spend a lot of time, (and hopefully not too much money), restoring that truck. Not necessarily to "as new /showroom" condition, but just to make it so it's safe, and runs. Anyway, this turned out a bit longer than I intended, (was just gonna say "nice pics"), lol, so thanks for sharing, stay safe and have a great day!
Ray.

SalvageDiver Loc: Huntington Beach CA

While I was working, I accumulated a whole bunch of freq flier miles. During those flights, I would often look out the window and wonder about all the little tiny places that people live and visit down there. After I retired, my wife and I decided to see as many of those "out of the way places" as possible. So we do a lot of road trips to experience those little interesting places. This was one of those 'way' out of the way jewels.

Thanks for viewing and appreciating.

SalvageDiver Loc: Huntington Beach CA

Thanks for viewing and commenting. Like you, I've been up 395 many times and this is one of those places that you would never find by accident. My brothers wife's family lives in Lone Pine and we like to hike in the Sierra Nevada's around the Cottonwood Lakes area. The area you've been to is very interesting and photogenic.

SalvageDiver Loc: Huntington Beach CA

Thank you. Love the areas you've been to. I used to ski Mammoth every winter also. Great place to spend a week.

SalvageDiver Loc: Huntington Beach CA

Thanks Ray. It sounds like you would go crazy there. Pieces of machinery all over the place for the mechanically inclined. The young guy that bought the place explores all the different mines on his property and in the surrounding area. He's also fascinated with the place, but doesn't seem to interested in that truck, though.

angler Loc: StHelens England

Excellent and interesting set

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Thanks for taking me there. That old truck is amazing looking.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Great set of images!!!!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Irvingite Charles Loc: Irving, Tx