Website Design by Granicus - Connecting People and Government. 12, 13, 23 & 24, T16S, R38E, MDM, at the site of the former town of Cerro Gordo (mining ghost town), 9.5 … ... Like most Western mining towns, Sarah Gordo has a complicated back story. Departments & … Cerro Gordo was founded in 1865 and was once the largest mining town in California. A TV show called “Ghost Adventures” once investigated the town and found that it was haunted by the ghosts of two children who died after being trapped in a closet. Brent Underwood has been snowed-in at a California ghost town for going on a month. “As the world is trying to isolate themselves, there’s not much further isolation you can do than an abandoned ghost town,” he says. In the years that followed, lead and ore were also mined in the town. The downstairs featured a big bar, ornate dining room, kitchen and sitting rooms, while men working a shift in the mines could rent a bed in … The comments below have not been moderated. Cerro Gordo, California is an abandoned silver mining town tucked between the tallest mountain in the continental United States — Mount Whitney — … This story has been shared 111,674 times. Cerro Gordo was once a thriving, albeit violent, California mining town. Latest accident News: Police: Bicyclists throw something into vehicle in … But that was about a month ago. He plans to return to Austin to quarantine when he’s able to, but in the meantime, he feels as though he’s done a proper job of secluding himself from humanity, and the virus currently wreaking havoc on it. There is no running water in Cerro Gordo’s weathered collection of old mining equipment, junked cars and 22 structures, some of them with walls insulated with newspapers. In 2018, Brent Underwood purchased an abandoned mining town in California named Cerro Gordo. “There’s no draft, but things drop inside of houses.”. 'Â, While there is a pair of snowshoes at his disposal, Underwood said they're not of much use in the deep snow lining the steep seven-mile road leading to the nearest community, noting that he gets tired after a few hundred yards.Â, And even if he did make it that far, it wouldn't be of much help as that community of 35 people doesn't have a single grocery store.Â, The closest town with a grocery story, Lone Pine, is another 20 miles away - essentially unreachable by Underwood in snowshoes.  Â, Underwood and his investor friend Jon Bier, owner of boutique public relations agency Jack Taylor PR, bought Cerro Gordo from family owners in July 2018 with plans to turn it into a tourist attraction. Bottom: Neva Lawbaugh rests on the tongue of one of the ancient logging wagons high up in Horseshoe Meadow. Cerro Gordo, Ill., March 25.-- Ten buildings were completely wrecked by a cyclone Saturday afternoon and twenty other were more or less damaged. ... Yikes! A California Silver Rush in Cerro Gordo California staff June 15, 2018 0 Silver was discovered in Cerro Gordo (“Fat Hill”) in 1865 by Pablo Flores—the first major silver strike in Owens Valley and a defining feature of the Lone Pine Mining District. At its peak in the 19th century, the community of 5,000 people was a haven for violent crime because the nearest law enforcement agencies couldn't be bothered to police it given the remote location.Â, At one point, the town averaged around a murder a week as miners put sandbags in their bunks to block stray bullets in the night. Â, The Discovery Channel TV series 'Ghost Adventures' investigated the 22-building town last year and determined that it was haunted by the ghosts of two children who died after getting trapped in a closet. Underwood is now staying in the very same room where the child ghosts were detected, but claims he has yet to see them, Underwood believes the spirits which inhabit the town are peaceful, and he's trying to 'respect their space'. The closest town with a grocery store is 26 miles away. An advertisement for this new centerpiece of the Cerro Gordo mining camp ran in the Inyo Register with a date of June 15, 1871. Cerro Gordo, which means "fat hill," has 22 structures remaining, including an abandoned hotel, church and bunkhouse. “If I’m working through something at work, I’ll tell Jekyll about it,” he says. The Iowa State Patrol says the accident happened shortly after noon on Thursday at the intersection of County Roads B-16 and R-44 north of Hayfield. Published: 16:45 GMT, 19 April 2020 | Updated: 07:08 GMT, 20 April 2020,  Texas entrepreneur Brent Underwood (pictured) has been living in abandoned California mining town Cerro Gordo for the past month after a snowstorm dumped five feet of snow on the 300-acre property, making it impossible to leave, 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.  Â, Brent Underwood purchased Cerro Gordo for $1.4million in 2018, fascinated by its seclusion and harrowing history, which once saw one murder every week. Â, The 32-year-old went to visit the 300-acre property last month in the early days of America's coronavirus lockdowns, with plans to stay for a week while its usual caretaker traveled to check on family.  Â, But soon after Underwood arrived, a snowstorm struck, dumping five feet of powder which has made it impossible for him to leave.   Â, He is now entering his second month stranded in the dilapidated town located about 300 miles outside Los Angeles and nearly 30 miles from the nearest supermarket. Â, In the absence of running water, Underwood is relying on melted snow to stay hydrated. Collection: Cerro Gordo Apparel 100% of the proceeds will go directly to rebuilding the American Hotel which was tragically lost June 15, 2020. Some ore was smelted on site, but larger capacity smelters were eventually constructed along the shore of nearby Owens Lake. On Friday, the town was sold for … And by 1900, roughly $17 million in precious minerals had come from Cerro Gordo (adjusted for inflation, that number is closer to $50 million today). Mining operations spanned 1866 to 1957, producing high grade silver, lead, and zinc ore. Ghost Adventures: Cerro Gordo Ghost Town Zak Bagans and the crew trek a treacherous cliffside trail to investigate a forgotten mining town in California, haunted by the lost souls of its former residents. But more than mining accidents, the biggest killer is silicosis, an incurable lung disease caused by inhaling large amounts of silica dust. image copyright Brent Underwood 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. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Cerro Gordo provides the rare opportunity to own your own Ghost Town and Mining Operation. Nolan Nitschke Show More Show Less 2 of 21. “That was a bit freaky,” he admits, but he believes the spirits are peaceful. At first glance, the town of Cerro Gordo doesn't look like much more than a town suited for Wild West reenactments. founded Cerro Gordo Water and Mining Company and acquired one--third interest in what would become the richest deposit of galena lead ore.[18] Together Belshaw and Beaudry set o. ut to both acquire the necessary infrastructure for mining and establish a class of laborers who would initiate operations at Cerro Gordo immediately. The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office responded to the intersection of 305th St. and Thrush Ave. at 6:55 p.m. for a two-vehicle collision. Numerous stone foundations indicate the extensive size of the mining operation. During the coronavirus pandemic, he has been living there alone for the past month in his own personal ghost town. Some ore was smelted on site, but larger capacity smelters were eventually constructed along the shore of nearby Owens Lake.. WWII veteran, 96, shaves his hair into a mohawk to bring joy... Former California mayor, 72, dies in a small plane crash... California doctor charged with fraud for selling 'COVID-19... Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19, Man forced to quarantine in ghost town with gruesome past. “When I do look at the news and I see how chaotic and terrible things are, there’s a part of me that isn’t in a huge rush to reenter the world.”, He also takes strength from the town’s history, knowing it’s weathered similar storms. Search law firms at FindLaw. “For the most part, I leave the ghosts alone and they leave me alone,” Underwood says. In addition to a general ambiance of otherworldliness, a light in the bunkhouse keeps turning on, and his wallet recently disappeared for two days only to reappear in the town hotel. We're happy to share a unique limited-edition collaboration between Roots of Fight and Cerro Gordo, one of the most successful mining towns in the pioneering days of the great American West. He bought Cerro Gordo, a former silver mining town with a murderous history, for $1.4 million in 2018. Sitemap Brent Underwood learned a tough lesson: Don’t spend millions on a ghost town in which you wouldn’t want to self-isolate. We are the primary law enforcement agency for all rural areas in Cerro Gordo County as well as Plymouth, Rock Falls, Dougherty, Swaledale, Thornton and Meservey. Cerro Gordo Mine, Cerro Gordo, Cerro Gordo Mining District, Inyo Mts (Inyo Range), Inyo Co., California, USA : A former Ag-Pb-Cu-Zn mine located in secs. Underwood and Bier are pictured with actor Jeff Goldblum on the property last year, When he first visited Underwood was instantly struck by the town's deep history as well as the stunning landscapes that surround it, which have been featured in major motion pictures such as Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr (above in the film), At one point, Cerro Gordo averaged a murder a week as miners put sandbags in their bunks to block stray bullets at nightÂ, One of the 22 19th century buildings inside Cerro Gordo is seen above in an Instagram photo, The photo above shows the inside of a refurbished saloon in Cerro GordoÂ, Underwood and his investor friend Jon Bier, owner of boutique public relations agency Jack Taylor PR, bought Cerro Gordo from family owners in July 2018 with plans to turn it into a tourist attraction.   Â, When he first visited Underwood was instantly struck by the town's deep history as well as the stunning landscapes that surround it, which have been featured in major motion pictures such as Iron Man.Â, He was also drawn to Cerro Gordo's long and bloody history. When the scope of the coronavirus pandemic became clear, Underwood agreed to take over duties for a week while Desmarais checked in on his wife in Arizona. Underwood’s commitment to the Cerro Gordo restoration project has been tested mightily in recent months. 'There's no draft, but things drop inside of houses. Despite all the jitters, Underwood finds the town beautiful, and the prospect of returning to society is not wholly appealing. Underwood is passing the time fixing up and finding artifacts on the property, going on hikes and remotely managing his five employees in Austin, Texas via satellite internet — occasionally consulting with a pair of crows Desmarais named Heckle and Jekyll. Cerro Gordo was originally included in the Lone Pine Mining District established in 1866, but when federal mining laws were implemented in 1872, the area was reorganized into the separate Cerro Gordo Mining … With the new Darwin rush came the normal rough and ready people common at mining camps. Cerro Gordo, a barren but charming 19th century mining town nestled in California's Inyo Mountains, is currently on the market for just under $1million. Conducting an interview on Reddit, Mr Underwood said the old town has around 50 kilometres of mining shafts which he explores for three or four hours every day. 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 … These smelting operations were the beginnings … I had purchased my tour on line at the mine website, but you can also pay in cash once up there. Your Ad Choices November 08, 2019 Premium members have access to Google dynamic maps. 1 of 21. “Anytime you’re in a town and expect to see nothing and hear nothing, when you do, your mind is on heightened alert,” he adds. Don't miss the all-new Ghost Adventures investigation this Saturday at 9|8c. yes the one that just sold for 1.4M He said Cerro Gordo had been largely uninhabited for around 100 years, after mining operations there ceased in the early 1900s. When news of the discovery reached the Comstock Lode, the rush to Cerro Gordo was on. Cerro Gordo County Law Enforcement Center 17262 Lark Ave Mason City, IA 50401 Phone: 641-421-3000. Underwood was vilified as a trust-funder who took over the mining town as some sort of hobby. DETAILS 100% Cott We're happy to share a unique limited-edition collaboration between Roots of Fight and Cerro Gordo, one of the most successful mining towns in the pioneering days of the great American West. This story has been shared 104,400 times. “I stay in the room with the child ghosts,” says Underwood, “but I have yet to see them.”. “I think I talk to myself through talking to the animals.”. 138,068, This story has been shared 111,674 times. Many of the businesses came over from Cerro Gordo, which by now was beginning to fade. The ultimate piece of spooky-scary real estate has hit the market, and Halloween superfans will want to schedule a showing ASAP.. A real-life ghost town called Cerro Gordo Mines is for sale in California. These were intruded by granitic bodies, aplite dikes, and by innumerable andesitic and dacitic dikes of later age. Golf star utters homophobic slur after missing putt, Veteran Capitol cop reportedly commits suicide days after riot, Pence says to 'hold your heads high' in emotional meeting with staffers, The Weeknd shows real face after 'plastic surgery' shocked fans, Here's what could happen if Trump is impeached again. Latest Reports. It consists of a number of wooden buildings, the most imposing of which is the two-story American Hotel, once the center of town. 'When I do look at the news and I see how chaotic and terrible things are, there's a part of me that isn't in a huge rush to reenter the world,' he said, Despite his own recent struggles in Cerro Gordo, Underwood says he appreciates being cut off from the coronavirus crisis gripping the nation. Â, 'If I don't look at my phone or my computer, it's like nothing happened,' he said.Â, 'When I do look at the news and I see how chaotic and terrible things are, there's a part of me that isn't in a huge rush to reenter the world. And by 1900, roughly $17 million in precious minerals had come from Cerro Gordo (adjusted for inflation, that number is closer to $50 million today). “I’m trying to embrace it.”, Remembering those we've lost to the coronavirus, This story has been shared 138,068 times. MASON CITY, Iowa - A 25-year-old man is facing charges after a two-vehicle accident Tuesday night left multiple people hospitalized. The 32-year-old marketer took sheltering in place to the next level when he became trapped in a California ghost town he recently purchased. In 1912 the Cerro Gordo group, whose property now consisted of tunnels and shafts and an aerial tramway connecting the mine with the narrow-gauge Southern Pacific Railroad at Keeler, which had absorbed the old Carson & Colorado Railroad, was acquired by Utah mining men. I was met by the resident caretaker who unlocked the buildings and led me on the tour. Shipping 1,000 tons of ore daily, Cerro Gordo became the largest producer of zinc carbonates in the United States. “In the absolute worst-case scenario, there’s snowshoes here, and the road is 7 miles long down a steep hill,” he says. A snowman Underwood built for company, and the stars. Bomberos de Santiago atienden accidente vehicular en la entrada de Cerro Gordo de Río de Jesús, en la vía a Soná. By 1884, the easy surface mining was exhausted and the big rush faded. A California mining settlement known as Cerro Gordo is up for sale for the first time in decades. He bought Cerro Gordo, a former silver mining town with a murderous history, for $1.4 million in 2018. The mean comments on social media platforms started the moment Cerro Gordo was sold. It was a major producer of silver, lead, and zinc, but over the last century, it has become a ghost town with only one resident — its groundskeeper. The 300 acres of land was owned by a wealthy family for decades but they decided to sell and put the town on … Privacy Notice We've received your submission. The snowstorm struck soon after he arrived, making it impossible for him to get out. 'There's no draft, but things drop inside of houses', Underwood erected this snowman outside his bunkhouse to help keep him company in quarantine, Underwood says he appreciates being cut off from the coronavirus crisis gripping the nation. The American Hotel, in the ghost town of Cerro Gordo, looking out toward the Sierra Nevada in California in 2006. In the weeks since he's been documenting his isolation experience in Instagram photos like the one above, Cerro Gordo sits 300 miles outside of Los Angeles and nearly 30 miles from the nearest town with a grocery store. At its peak in the 19th century, the community of 5,000 people was a haven for violent crime because the nearest law enforcement agencies couldn't be bothered to police it given the remote locationÂ, Adding to Underwood's extraordinary experience in the town are its local residents - rumored spirits of people who died there and a pair of crows Underwood has come to see as friends. With a murder a week in the 1860s and ’70s, bloodshed permeates its history. Brent Underwood and Cerro Gordo's caretaker of 21 years, Robert Desmarais. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to rebuilding the American Hotel which was tragically lost June 15, 2020. Terms of Use “I try to respect their space.”. Cerro Gordo History Cerro Gordo, located at a remote location east of Owens Lake in the Inyo Mountains of Southern California, was California’s largest producer of silver. “When I first got out here, I was in a T-shirt and enjoying myself,” Underwood tells The Post. Brent Underwood purchased Cerro Gordo … He bought Cerro Gordo, a former silver mining town with a murderous history, for $1.4 million in 2018. Cerrogordo Accident. Cerro Grande Mining Corporation is a exploration company focused on acquiring, exploring, evaluating and developing new gold, copper and industrial mineral properties in central Chile.. for the old Cerro Gordo mine. Ghost Adventures: Cerro Gordo Ghost Town. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Between its discovery and 1938, mining in Cerro Gordo generated $17 million. It’s Monday, which means a brand new episode of the... Post was not sent - check your email addresses! In the years that followed, lead and ore were also mined in … Find top Cerro Gordo County, IA Construction Accident lawyers and attorneys. We are the primary law enforcement agency for all rural areas in Cerro Gordo County as well as Plymouth, Rock Falls, Dougherty, Swaledale, Thornton and Meservey. In the late 1870s, somewhere around 30 miners lost their lives in a collapse there. He’s been melting snow for water and while he’s out of bread and vegetables, he has enough rice and canned tuna to get him through until the snow thaws. "Unfortunately fires are part of Western mining town’s history. There’s a new sheriff in Cerro Gordo, the 19 th century mining town 200 miles north of L.A. that just sold for $1.4 million.. Local accident news and more police or fire department information of Cerro Gordo, IL. Cerro Gordo is an abandoned mining town in central Inyo County. But once the seams of silver ran dry, everyone left. The 19th-century mining town of Cerro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Sure the other buildings will be 600 years old, but it will all be part of Cerro Gordo’s history. ‘“If I don’t look at my phone or my computer, it’s like nothing happened,” he says. It was once California's largest producer of silver and helped develop Los Angeles and California into what they are today. Much more than just a mining den in the mountains, Cerro Gordo had blossomed into a fully functioning town, including 4,000 residents, 100 outhouses, seven saloons, and three brothels. Brent Underwood stands amid the ashes of the American Hotel on Wednesday, two days after a fire in the Inyo Mountains ghost town of Cerro Gordo … A deep look into the most newsworthy Ghost Town in the West! Underwood says he was aware of the 22-building town’s violent reputation when he bought it, adding that it once had one murder per week. ‘General Hospital’ vet John Reilly dead at 84, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle to reportedly reunite with royals for first time since ‘Megxit’, Yolanda Hadid and boyfriend Joseph Jingoli celebrate 2-year anniversary, © 2021 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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'For the most part, I leave the ghosts alone and they leave me alone,' he said, Underwood hopes to return to Austin as soon as the snow clears, but recognizes that his current digs offer a more effective environment to shelter-in-place, While he knew the stories hidden inside the town - Underwood never imagined experiencing its supposed hauntings first-hand the way he has in the past few weeks. Â, 'Things are moving around, I'm seeing curtains move, I'm hearing things in the night,' he said. Aside from monthly visits, Underwood has largely left it in the care of its full-time live-in caretaker of 21 years, Robert Desmarais. Your California Privacy Rights Cerro Gordo, which means “fat hill,” sits south of the Sierra Nevada, on over 300 acres of land. See pictures and video of its well-preserved buildings. He remains in good spirits for now, but a different type of spirit is giving him trouble. I finally got up to Cerro Gordo last Saturday and took a tour of the town. A semi driven by 61-year-old Dean Jones of Owatonna Minnesota was southbound on R-44 and failed to stop for a stop sign at the intersection, colliding with a vehicle traveling eastbound on B-16 driven by 56-year-old Debra Kamp of Britt.