History of franklin and cerro gordo counties, iowa. Mining operations were undertaken from 1866 until 1957, producing high grade silver, lead, and zinc ore. This mining district lies near the summit of the inyo range, 5. The rise and fall of cerro gordo legends of america. The purchase of the town of cerro gordo in california included more than 300 acres of land, 22 buildings and, according to legend, three ghosts. An advertisement for this new centerpiece of the cerro gordo mining camp ran in the inyo register with a date of june 15. The cerro gordo mines are a collection of abandoned mines located in the inyo mountains, in inyo county, california. Cerro gordo, the california ghost town thats for sale cnn. Battle of cerro gordo project gutenberg selfpublishing. Jun 12, 2018 cerro gordo in the inyo mountains, california. The hundreds of movies and television shows shot in this high desert town are commemorated in a unique museum. With a murder a week in the 1860s and 70s, bloodshed permeates its history. Man is riding out coronavirus in an abandoned california.
Cerro gordo california ghost town in the inyo mountains. Our goal is to continually upgrade amenities and keep the town intact to be enjoyed and explored as a true historical site in california. Cerro gordo mines explore real california gold mines. Some ore was smelted on site, but larger capacity smelters were eventually constructed along the. But the quantity and quality of silver being harvested from these hills wasnt kept secret for long. In his book the rings of saturn, the german emigre wg sebald who was well aware of the terrible ghost towns created by the second world war and. A brief sketch of the mining history of the western mojave desert and southern sierra nevada 1991 by larry m. The town can be accessed by car via cerro gordo road. Said to be the oldest hotel in california east of the sierras, the american hotel was erected in 1871 by an englishman named john simpson and his wife.
A reallife ghost town called cerro gordo mines is for sale in california. A texas entrepreneur has been forced to quarantine in an abandoned california mining town with a sinister past after getting trapped there by a snowstorm. Cerro gordo death valley inyo mountains maps, ghost towns ca. Im coowner of cerro gordo, a 360 acre, 22 building ghost town that was once california s most prosperous silver mine. In this case, a dozen offers were made for an entire town, the 19thcentury mining hub of cerro gordo, on 300 acres in the inyo mountains outside lone pine, calif. Long before the area was developed, mexicans had been crawling the mountain they called cerro gordo, meaning fat hill, looking for silver. Cerro gordo, california, on the western slope of the inyo mountains about seven miles east of keeler and thirty miles south of independence, was the first major silver strike in owens valley. In 1949, barbara and a new boyfriend moved to cerro gordo as caretakers and were awarded ownership when the prior owner, w. The principal mines at this time were the san lucas, san ygnacio, san francisco, and san felipe.
Cerro gordo, on the western slope of the inyo mountains about seven miles east of keeler and thirty miles south of independence, was the first major silver strike in the owens valley. Cerro gordo county courthouse 220 north washington avenue mason city, iowa 50401 641 4256 cerro gordo county. Jun 12, 2018 the town also has a history straight out of the wild west. By 1905 mining activity was reviving in the panamint region, and hope was seen for many of the old productive mines. Search usa iowa cerro gordo county cerro gordo county. Although ghost towns are common in the rough and tumble california desert, cerro gordo stands out with its lethal legacy when silver was discovered on buena vista peak in 1865, a town was soon. Cerro gordo is a privately owned mining town located in the owens valley near lone pine, california. Youll soon be able to stay in this historic california. Cerro gordo, in the inyo mountains of california, became a ghost town after decades of disuse.
California, was so impressed by the quality of silver being taken out of cerro. Reviving a ghost town the sale of cerro gordo fittingly closed on friday the th. Mining history timeline 1862 lone pine mining district cerro gordo ghost town rise and fall of cerro gordo. The website says cerro gordo is closed, but i drove up there with my dad and met the caretaker at the town. Turning the haunted ghost town cerro gordo into a travel. Likes was introduced to california s gold mining history during his employment at north american rockwell in canoga park, california, where he joined that companys ghost town club.
The friends of cerro gordo is a 501c3 public benefit corporation established to assist in the preservation, interpretation of. Cerro gordo mining district, inyo mts inyo range, inyo co. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Jul 09, 2018 a popular destination for jeep and four wheelers cerro gordo fat hill is privately owned and shown only by reservation. After buying an entire abandoned ghost town in california. He kept cerro gordo alive through the hard times of the early 1900s up to the great depression. Cerro gordo got its start back in 1865 when a man named pablo flores started mining silver from the large hills that overlooked the owens valley in california cerro gordo means fat hill in spanish. Cerro gordo is a privatelyowned mining town located in the owens valley near lone pine, california. The cerro gordo mining district of inyo county california.
Cerro gordo california ghost town cerro gordo is located in the inyo mountains, high above dry owens lake. Formerly known as the dogtown territorial quarterly. The cerro gordo mines are a collection of abandoned mines located in the inyo mountains, near lone pine, california in inyo county. Cerro gordo, in the inyo mountains of california, became a ghost town after. A historic ghost town in california is up for sale. Heres a sample of an article published in the california tewrritorial quarterly. The cerro gordo mines are a collection of abandoned mines located in the inyo mountains, near lone pine, california in inyo county, california. A history by kevin starr, the library book by susan orlean, island of the blue dolphins by scott odell. From 1880 to 1911, cerro gordo suffered a decline in mineral production. The cerro gordo historical foundation was founded to preserve and improve the townsite of cerro gordo.
Cerro gordo, located at a remote location east of owens lake in the inyo mountains of southern california, was californias largest. Youll soon be able to stay in this historic california ghost. This california ghost town is being turned into an. Cerro gordo, meaning fat hill, is an old west settlement in the shadow of mt. The lead, silver, and gold ores were said to be comparable to those of cerro gordo, besides being easy to smelt because of the nearby pinyon pines and clay necessary for the reduction process. Buyer of this authentic ghost town can own piece of the. Clear lake, lake township offsite clear lake historical society site includes clear lake history timeline bayside. Smart news keeping you current youll soon be able to stay in this historic california ghost town cerro gordo was once a lively mining town. Advertisement according to the towns website, a man named pablo flores struck silver on the land in. Originally a smallscale operation worked by mexicans between 1862 and 1866, the mine was included in. The particular details of the discovery are obscure, but it is thought that the first discoveries of silver ore were made by mexican miners in 1865.
History edit edit source parent county edit edit source 1851 cerro gordo county was created 15 january 1851 from unorganized territory. If you are into california history, and particularly its mining history, then this is a must. Called cerro gordo, which means fat hill in spanish, the. Likes was introduced to californias gold mining history during his employment at north american rockwell in canoga park, california, where he joined that companys ghost town club. Jun 15, 2018 smart news keeping you current youll soon be able to stay in this historic california ghost town cerro gordo was once a lively mining town. Cerro gordo found new life, second to bodie, as california s bestpreserved ghost town. The friends of cerro gordo, tujunga, california, usa.
Exploring a really cool old ghost town, way up at 9,000 feet in the inyo mountains. Mining history lone pine mining district reopening of cerro gordo. After world war i, the district continued to account for a large portion of california s silver, lead, and zinc output. This street sign marks the beginning of the journey. The town is classified as a ghost town but is inhabited by the care taker restoring the town.
Were now working to turn it into a destination retreat that preserves the unmatched history of the town. Cerro gordo mine, cerro gordo, cerro gordo mining district, inyo mts inyo range, inyo co. Underwood, a selfdescribed history buff, read four books on cerro gordo in anticipation. Cerro gordo mine, cerro gordo, cerro gordo mining district. Sample history article from the dogtown territorial quarterly. On 1 february 1873 four notices were posted in the mountains of the panamint range, informing the. Nov 10, 2010 he was a contributing author for desert magazine from 196971 and coauthored the book from this mountain cerro gordo, published in 1975. History of iowa, embracing accounts of the prehistoric races. Cerro gordo became the leading producer of zinc in the state. In 1948, an rko employee named barbara left her assistantdirector husband at lone pine and found herself on the death valley side of cerro gordo. It was attached to floyd county prior to organization 29 december 1855. He researched the town and read books about its history. Jul 18, 2018 the american hotel, in the ghost town of cerro gordo, looking out toward the sierra nevada in california in 2006.
Cerro gordo mines, a real life ghost town, is for sale. Cerro gordo is located on the western slope of the inyo mountains about. Cerro gordo county, iowa genealogy familysearch wiki. Jul 16, 2018 in this case, a dozen offers were made for an entire town, the 19thcentury mining hub of cerro gordo, on 300 acres in the inyo mountains outside lone pine, calif. Entrepreneur on lockdown in abandoned california mining. Situated near the summit of buena vista peak at an elevation of 8,500 feet, the isolated mining outpost became known as cerro gordo, meaning fat hill, the meaning, of course, that it was fat with silver. After buying an entire abandoned ghost town in california, a. The cerro gordo mining district of inyo county california us department of interior, kerby. Cerro gordo history cerro gordo, located at a remote location east of owens lake in the inyo mountains of southern california, was californias largest producer of silver.
The battle of cerro gordo, or battle of sierra gordo, was an engagement in the mexicanamerican war on april 18, 1847. Cerro gordo, california, on the western slope of the inyo mountains about. Cerro gordo mines keeler 2020 all you need to know. Outside of this blog ive written random stuff for random outlets. Between 1911 and 1915, however, the discovery of zinc ores resulted in a new boom. The battle of cerro gordo, or battle of sierra gordo, 2 in the mexicanamerican war saw winfield scotts united states troops outflank and drive santa annas larger mexican army from a strong defensive position. The town also has a history straight out of the wild west. He was a contributing author for desert magazine from 196971 and coauthored the book from this mountaincerro gordo, published in 1975. One year after buying cerro gordo, brent underwood and jon bier are. Welcome to our cerro gordo county family history research page.
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