Calico Days

Calico Days

The Town of Calico or "Calico Ghost Town"

On the drive back from Vegas, hubby announced that he was hungry and we needed gas to continue our drive back to Los Angeles.

If you have ever driven from Las Vegas to Los Angeles (or vice versa), you probably will understand this:  There is NOTHING other than Barstow and a sprinkling of fast food joints on the drive back (or to). 

Fast Food is good for my hubby (he keeps his Valley Boy card proudly on display), while I don’t like the stuff.

It wasn’t an argument, as so much a gentle push to “stop somewhere we haven’t been before,” when I rolled my eyes after my hubby announced that he was hungry (Code for: I rather eat at a dirty diner than at a fast food joint)..

Entrance to the Town of Calico or "Calico Ghost Town"

Well, I am so glad we did, because we stopped by Calico Ghost Town – a first for both of us, but definitely not the last.

Although I can’t remember exactly the distance between Las Vegas and Calico, it felt like a nice middle ground to stop and enjoy a nice stroll through a piece of history while eating some good ‘ol American fare.

The Main drag of Town of Calico or "Calico Ghost Town"

For only $8 per adult to park and enter the town, we enjoyed a few hours strolling through town.

We had fun browsing through curio shops, a general store, candy and candle stores, all while taking a very mild hike up the hill.  There were steeper hills were more experienced, and better-equipped tourists, could hike up to. 

The wood plank buildings are all original and many of the artifacts are historical in Town of Calico or "Calico Ghost Town" (this is my hubby walking through town)

Doggy parents REJOICE!  The town had a doggy store inside of the “Bottle Shop!”  So Cal natives might find this a bit curious and ask themselves, “why isn’t there a bottle shop at Knott’s Berry Farm?”  The answer is yes!

This is the "Bottle Shop," similar to the one in Knott's Berry Farm

The Knott’s family actually built the bottle shop inside of Calico Ghost Town and restored the rest of the small mining town.  Isn’t that awesome?!

Although we didn’t walk into the Calico Museum, we did stroll into a few buildings that were restored with period furniture, and mannequins dressed in period costumes.  Travelers into town can also do a little gold panning or tour the mines (we didn’t do either).

The "Calico Ghost Town" Train, which you can ride for a fee

We later saw a train that, according to our very nice waitress at Calico House Restaurant, told us we could pay a small fee to ride.  We were a bit worn out and ready to drive back to LA, otherwise we would have choo-choo’d our way through town.

Yes, this is our menu, peanuts and dining utensils at our "Calico Ghost Town" diner

Which brings me to the restaurant.  We had lunch at the first restaurant we saw when we walked into town (I did mention that my hubby was hungry, right?). The menu, like any other diner, was heavy on the sandwiches and burgers, and good ‘ol American fare.  I opted for an Ortega-chile burger (I know, I know, don’t judge!) while my hubby had a roast beef sandwich. 

I think I clogged an artery with this lunch - although the shoestring onion rings were DELISH!

The service and the awesomeness of it all was better than the food, although not bad for a diner (Insert snobby eye-rolls).

Since we both decided to come back, the waitress told us about the upcoming Calico Days celebration, which is in essence, Calico’s annual celebration.

As the name would elude too, expect Wild-Wild-West entertainment, including stagecoach rides, a burro run, line dancing, and gun fights (no, I am not joking).

You might also want to visit for some good ‘ol Country and Blue Grass Music, and enjoy the music of The Folktones, Tumbleweed Rob, Pico Pistolero, among other musical acts (no, I am not making these names up!).

A little bit of Americana Fashion at one of the "Calico Ghost Town" Shops

Reads like all sorts of fun, and a vacation of sorts.  So, if you happen to have an RV, you can stay at the local campground.  For those less adventuresome (or more, depending on how you rate it), there are also a couple of cabins that you can rent ON the Calico Ghost Town grounds.

Personally, day trips are great for us – on the way to or from Las Vegas.  But if you happen to stop by and spend the night, do let me know.  I would love to here what your experience was like.

Hubby and I were both fascinated with the amount of historical artifacts in each of the shops.  Almost like walking back in time (actually, we were!)

Calico Ghost Town is located just minutes north of Barstow, California and hosts various celebrations throughout the year, including Calico Days in October, Calico Ghost Haunt in late October, Heritage Fest during Thanksgiving Day Weekend, a Civil War Reenactment during Presidents Weekend, and a Spring Festival.

Sunset over Calico Ghost Town

Learn more about the history of Calico Ghost Town by visiting their website: www.calicotown.com

1-15 exit Ghost Town Road

Visit www.calicotown.com for a calendar of activities or call (800) 86-CALICO.

For online camping reservations go here: www.sbcountyparks.com.