I posted an article on Cerro Gordo on June 4, 2012, so
please check it out to learn more about this remarkable ghost town http://rosswalkerphotos.blogspot.com/2012/06/cerro-gordo-california.html
We returned to Cerro Gordo
on April 29 this year, so this is a supplement of sorts. Caretaker Jim has been replaced by Cat and
Matt, but there haven’t been many other changes. Here they are with my camping buddies, Bruce
and Steve, in front of the beautiful American Hotel, which is the oldest hotel
still standing in California east of the Sierras.
Cerro Gordo’s old mining town buildings look great in black
and white. The assayer’s building is on
the left, and the cribs from Lola’s Palace of Pleasure are on the right. Cerro Gordo had numerous businesses,
including a red light district.
There are artifacts from the mining days scattered
everywhere, like these ore bins that used to ride the tram from the mines to
the smelter here in town.
The streetlight outside the general store seems to be out of
order, and the store is a museum now.
Other odd objects include a worn saddle pommel and a rusty
lock.
This view shows some of the water storage tanks that were
once needed for a population of 4500.
When I first started exploring ghost towns, Cerro Gordo was
famous, but off-limits. People could
take pictures from the road but had to stay away from the private
property. Fortunately, the Friends of
Cerro Gordo now help preserve the town and provide caretakers, so we were able
to visit this great old town.
Please note that my photos are copyrighted and cannot be
used without my permission.
