Abandoned towns

Old Ivanpah

Founded around 1869 at the foot of Clark Mountain, Old Ivanpah was one of San Bernardino County’s earliest and most promising silver camps. Prospectors from the Providence and Mescal districts discovered rich silver-lead ore in the nearby hills and organized the Ivanpah Mining District soon after. Within a few years, a small but thriving town developed to serve the mines. It included a general store, boardinghouses, assay office, blacksmith shop, and several saloons. Freight teams hauled ore south to San Bernardino and later to mills along the Mojave River.

The Beatrice and Lizzie Bullock mines were among the most productive, and for a time Ivanpah enjoyed a steady output of high-grade ore. Yet the district’s isolation and lack of a local mill proved costly. When richer or more accessible strikes appeared in neighboring regions—especially Providence and later Calico—miners drifted away. By the early 1880s, the old camp had nearly been abandoned, and activity had shifted southward to a rail-connected settlement, sometimes referred to as New Ivanpah, later known as Ivanpah Station.

By the twentieth century, only stone walls and a few graves remained to mark the site. Wind and time reclaimed the streets where wagons once rattled and miners swapped stories in the shade of Clark Mountain. The 1985 Desert Magazine article described Ivanpah as quiet, dignified, and enduring—one of the earliest desert towns to rise and fall before the railroad age had reached the Mojave. It remains a symbol of the first great wave of silver exploration in the eastern Mojave and the restless pursuit of ore that would shape the region’s history for decades.

References

Desert Magazine, February 1985, Vol. 49, No. 1, “Ghost Towns of San Bernardino County, Part I: ‘Old’ Ivanpah,” pp. 30–33.

Vredenburgh, Larry M., Shumway, Gary L., and Hartill, Russell D. Desert Fever: An Overview of Mining in the California Desert. California Bureau of Land Management, 1981.

Warren, Claude N., et al. Cultural Resources Overview of the Amargosa–Mojave Basin Planning Units. Bureau of Land Management, 1980.

Myrick, David F. Railroads of Nevada and Eastern California, Vol. I. Howell-North Books, 1962.

Lingenfelter, Richard E. Death Valley and the Amargosa: A Land of Illusion. University of California Press, 1986.

Lingenfelter, Richard E. The Hardrock Miners: A History of the Mining Labor Movement in the American West, 1863–1893. University of California Press, 1974.

San Bernardino County Museum Association. Mojave Desert Mining Camps and Ghost Towns. Redlands, CA, various editions.

San Bernardino County Archives, Mining District Records, Ivanpah District, 1869–1883.

https://digital-desert.com/east-mojave/ivanpah.html

https://mojavedesert.net/desert-fever/ivanpah.html

https://mojavedesert.net/desert-fever/clark-mountain.html

Palmenthal

Johann George Ecker led a group of German and Swiss immigrants who settled in the Antelope Valley in 1886, founding a small colony they called Palmenthal—named for the nearby Joshua trees, which they mistook for palms. These settlers sought to establish a self-sufficient farming community on the high desert plain. Drawing from their European roots, they introduced cooperative labor, community organization, and dry-farming methods suited to the arid conditions. Early crops included barley, wheat, and fruit orchards, with irrigation ditches dug by hand to capture scarce water. Despite their determination, drought and isolation made survival difficult, and by the early 1890s, many settlers left. Still, their legacy endured in the renamed settlement of Palmdale, marking the valley’s first organized agricultural community.

Palmenthal was the original German-Swiss settlement that became Palmdale, California. Founded in 1886 by Johann George Ecker and a group of immigrant families from Germany and Switzerland, the colony was located near present-day 20th Street East and Avenue Q. The settlers named it Palmenthal, or “Palm Valley,” after mistaking the native Joshua trees for palms.

They arrived with hopes of building a cooperative farming community, bringing European agricultural practices and traditions with them. Using dry-farming methods, they planted barley, wheat, and fruit orchards, and attempted small-scale irrigation projects to make the desert productive. The settlers built simple homes, a school, and community facilities, establishing the first structured settlement in the Antelope Valley.

Life in Palmenthal was harsh. Repeated droughts, crop failures, and the isolation of the high desert took their toll. Within a few years, many families abandoned the colony, some moving closer to the Southern Pacific Railroad line near Harold, where water and transport were more reliable. By the early 1890s, Palmenthal was largely deserted, but its spirit persisted in the nearby settlement that would evolve into modern Palmdale.

The story of Palmenthal represents the first organized effort to colonize and cultivate the Antelope Valley—an experiment in community and endurance that laid the groundwork for future growth in the region.

Timeline

1886 – Johann George Ecker and a group of German and Swiss immigrants establish the settlement of Palmenthal in the Antelope Valley, naming it for the Joshua trees they mistake for palms.

1887 – The settlers begin dry farming and plant wheat, barley, and fruit orchards. A small schoolhouse and community hall are built.

1888 – Severe drought conditions make farming difficult. Wells yield limited water, forcing the settlers to haul water from distant springs.

1889 – Some families leave the settlement due to crop failures and the isolation of the high desert.

1890 – Remaining settlers attempt to improve irrigation by digging ditches and small reservoirs, but lack of rainfall continues to hinder success.

1891 – The Southern Pacific Railroad establishes a station several miles west, prompting some settlers to relocate closer to the line for better access to supplies and transport.

1892 – Palmenthal is largely abandoned. The remaining residents consolidate around the new rail siding area that becomes known as Palmdale.

1893 – The name Palmdale replaces Palmenthal, marking the transition from the failed colony to the town that would endure.

Ghost Towns & Gold Mines

Ghost Towns, Sites, and Gold and Silver Mines in the Mojave Desert

The Mojave Desert is known for its rich history of mining and the presence of ghost towns and abandoned mines. Here are some notable ghost towns, sites, and gold and silver mines in the Mojave Desert:

Calico Ghost Town: Located near Barstow, California, Calico is one of the most famous ghost towns in the Mojave Desert. It was a thriving silver mining town in the late 1800s but became abandoned when the silver market declined. Today, it’s a well-preserved tourist attraction.
Rhyolite, Nevada: Rhyolite was once a booming gold mining town in the early 1900s. It had over 5,000 people but was quickly abandoned when the mines played out. You can visit the remains of the town and see the famous “Bottle House” made of glass bottles.
Goldfield, Nevada: Goldfield was another prosperous gold mining town in Nevada. It had a peak population of around 20,000 people in the early 1900s. The Goldfield Hotel and several historic buildings still stand today.
Panamint City, California: This remote ghost town in Death Valley National Park was a silver mining town in the late 1800s. It’s accessible via a challenging hike and offers stunning views of the surrounding desert.
Cerro Gordo, California: Cerro Gordo is an old silver mining town still privately owned. It’s located in the Inyo Mountains and has a well-preserved ghost town, including a general store, bunkhouse, and other structures.
Mines in the Mojave Desert: The Mojave Desert is home to numerous gold and silver mines, many of which are abandoned. These mines contributed to the region’s mining history. Some notable mines include the Tonopah-Belmont Mine, the Desert Queen Mine, and the Goldstone Mine.

Remember that exploring abandoned mines can be dangerous due to unstable structures and the presence of toxic gases. It’s essential to exercise caution and, if needed, seek permission or guidance from local authorities or landowners when visiting these sites. Additionally, some ghost towns and mines may be on private property, so be respectful of any access restrictions.

Leadfield

Leadfield Ghost Town, Death Valley

“Leadfield’s legacy is the road through T itus Canyon. A narrow, twisting canyon that would have been avoided by road builders any other time, but the reports of potential riches were too appealing. . . .