Location: Calico Ghost Town, Yermo, CA
[Get Directions ➔]
Hey AV explorers, Thomas here – if you’re looking for a day trip that hits history, adventure, and pure Western fun all in one shot, Calico Ghost Town is your next move. It’s about 1.75 hours from the AV, sitting just outside Yermo in the Calico Mountains. The town is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and admission is just $8 per adult – one of the best deals for a full day out in Southern California.
Calico was a real silver boomtown in the 1880s, pulling over $86 million in silver and borax out of these desert hills at its peak. By 1896 it was nearly abandoned — a true ghost town. Walter Knott (yes, the Knott’s Berry Farm guy) bought and partially restored it in the 1950s before donating it to San Bernardino County, and today it’s one of the most authentic Western heritage sites in the state. Kids go absolutely wild here.
There are mine tunnels to explore, a narrow-gauge train to ride, gem and gold panning, a working saloon, and dozens of period buildings to poke around in — it plays like a Western theme park that’s also genuinely historic. San Bernardino County even designated it California’s first official Silver Rush Ghost Town.
Making it a Full Day:
On your way home, swing off the 15 South onto old Route 66 at Oro Grande and stop at Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch – a completely free, utterly bizarre roadside art installation where hundreds of metal sculptures are covered in colored glass bottles that hum and ring in the desert wind. It’s one of the most unique stops in all of SoCal and takes about 15–20 minutes. Back in Yermo/Barstow, the Mojave River Valley Museum is a hidden gem – free admission, friendly volunteer staff, and surprisingly excellent exhibits on fossils, meteorites, Native history, and Route 66 relics. Perfect for curious kids.
Thomas’s Local Tips:
- 🎟️ Buy tickets at the gate or online – At $8 per adult it’s already a steal, but check the Calico website for any discount days or combo deals before you go. Kids 5 and under are free.
- 🚂 Ride the Calico–Odessa Railroad early – The narrow-gauge train is a highlight for kids and fills up as the day heats up. Hop on during your first hour while the crowds are light.
- ⛏️ Budget extra for the activities – Admission gets you into the town, but gem panning, the mystery shack, and the mine tour each have small additional fees. Budget $10–15 extra per person so no one has to skip the fun stuff.
- 🌡️ Go in the morning and plan for heat – Calico is high desert. Even in spring it gets warm fast. Arrive at 9 AM when the gates open, bring plenty of water, and use the afternoon shade of the saloon or restaurant for your lunch break.
- 🛣️ Don’t skip Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch on the way back – It’s free, it’s weird, it’s wonderful, and the kids will talk about it for weeks. It’s right on National Trails Highway (old Route 66) in Oro Grande – punch it into Google Maps before you leave Calico so you don’t blow past it.
Nature’s calling, it’s time to pick up… See you out there!
