Gold Rush Returns to California, Thousands Flock to Calico

The Gold Rush Returns to California, Thousands Flock to Calico Ghost Town

USATrương Atlanta02/24/2026 02:48 AM

Thousands of visitors flocked to Calico Ghost Town last weekend for the "Calico California Days" event, recreating the atmosphere of the gold and silver mining era as modern mining companies once again eye this mineral-rich region.

Reliving the Gold Rush Era at Calico Ghost Town

The two-day event in San Bernardino County transported attendees back to the 1850s with pony rides, cowboy shootout demonstrations, hand spinning, simulated train robberies, and gold panning experiences. The "Beard and Mustache" contest and horseshoe tossing game attracted a large number of participants.

History of Calico Ghost Town

Calico was once a vibrant silver mining hub in the Mojave Desert starting in 1881. When the silver market plummeted in the 1890s, miners left and the town was abandoned. In the 1950s, entrepreneur Walter Knott – founder of Knott's Berry Farm – purchased and restored Calico based on old photographic documentation, then handed it over to San Bernardino County to operate as a living historical park.

Mining Companies Eye a Return

Currently, mining companies are considering re-establishing operations. Three entities sponsored the festival: Mitsubishi Cement Corporation, Apollo Silver, and Equinox Gold Castle Mountain Mine. According to sponsorship records cited by SFGATE, Apollo Silver contributed $5,000 and proposed the Calico Project with an estimated resource of approximately 180 million ounces of silver – a figure far exceeding the town's 19th-century production. Equinox Gold supported with $2,500, while Mitsubishi Cement Corporation contributed $2,500.

San Bernardino County Rich in Minerals

San Bernardino County spans over 20,000 square miles and is rich in minerals ranging from sand, gravel, and gypsum to salt and iron. Approximately 90 mines are currently active, including the Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine – the only large-scale rare earth mine in the Western Hemisphere, according to MP Materials.

While the weekend event evoked nostalgia, the investment figures suggest that Calico's mineral story might be entering a new chapter.

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