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Monday Postcard: Skidoo Ghost Town, California

I’ve decided to experiment with uploading a photo from a different destination every Monday; generally places I find quirky or interesting, rather than major tourist attractions, since I’m sure you’ve seen 1000+ pictures of the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.  

Because I’m doing a lot of my traveling on the weekends at the moment, Monday is always when the ‘get in my car and drive somewhere’ impulse is at an all-time manic high, and the wait is longest.  Spending some time going over photos of where I’ve been helps calm me down.  And if any of these photos help get you over your Monday blues as well, we all win!

I have an obsession with the Old West (blame cowboy comic books and Clint Eastwood), and whenever I manage to find abandoned remains of that era on my road trips, I always stop to take a look.

The photos above are from an abandoned miner’s lodge outside Skidoo Ghost Town in Death Valley, California.  To give fair warning, I should mention that the last leg of the journey to get there is 9 miles on a dirt road, half of which you will spend looking outside your window at a 1000 foot drop.  4-wheel drive and a lack of acrophobia is recommended.  If you’re into ghost towns, drive towards Skidoo, and you will see plenty of abandoned buildings along the way – the town itself is mostly leveled by now. If ghost towns aren’t your thing at all, I’m not sure why you’re still reading this.

Skidoo was a mining town that experienced a gold rush in the early 1900s, and like many gold mining towns, ended up deserted fairly quickly.  I love relics like this building, because it always exercises my imagination.  Looking at this, you can almost picture what life was like for the lonely, hard-working miner in the desert heat, sleeping in this place 100+ years ago.

If you want to check out some ghost towns yourself on your next road trip, take a look at Travel + Leisure’s list of the 15 top American ghost towns.  Bodie, California has been my dream stop for a while now, and I will most definitely be getting there within the next month.  For cool photos of the Abandoned West from actual, professional photographers, Lost America’s collection is definitely worth a visit.

Have you visited a ghost town? Any favorites to recommend? Share below!

Joanna Kalafatis: Sharing photos & stories from impulsive travels around the world, while helping people enjoy more experiences and less scheduling in their travels.

View Comments (3)

  • Were numerous volunteers along with starting a fresh structure in the local community Desain Interior Surabaya. Your web site made available united states with beneficial details to be able to works of art for. You have done your formidable procedure and also our whole area will likely be grateful to you personally.

  • I love these abandoned posts.

    But I don't think I could handle the drive with a 1,000ft drop next door.

    I just recently checked out an abandoned a place in Kotor, Montenegro. It was an abandoned prison with all sorts of creepy gas masks and such.

    • Wow I'd love to check that out myself! I completely understand, the drive was a little intimidating at parts, not going to lie. Definitely worth it in the end though!

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