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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- Today, Ballarat is a virtual ghost town. It was founded in 1897 as a supply point for the mines in the canyons of the Panamint Range. A quarter-mile to the south is Post Office Springs, a reliable water source used since the 1850s. George Riggins, an immigrant from Australia, gave Ballarat its name when he proposed it should be named for Ballarat, Victoria.
The town was founded in 1897. In its heyday-from 1897 to 1905-Ballarat had 400 to 500 residents. It hosted seven saloons, three hotels, a Wells Fargo station, post office (that opened in 1897), school, a jail and morgue, but no churches. Ballarat was a place for miners and prospectors to resupply and relax.
The town began to decline when the Ratcliff Mine, in Pleasant Canyon east of town, suspended operations. Other mines nearby also began to play out, and in 1917 the post office closed and all that remained were a few diehard prospectors and desert rats.
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I graduated college in 1980 w/a BS in Geology. I got a job that Summer, and I spent a considerable amount of that time drilling for uranium a stones throw from what you identify as the "Trading Post". Back then that building was just an abandon gas station that was home to the only (three) residents of Ballarat: a 50-ish year old guy claiming to be a UCLA professor doing research on salt-tolerant rice strains (sure dude), his wife, and a 30-ish yo guy I called "Crazy Charlie" (not Manson). Crazy Charlie always wore cutoffs, the top few buttons undone to show off his tattoo of a blackwidow spider, and his feet were always swollen (he never wore shoes) from stepping on scorpions. As we pulled into Ballarat on the first day of recon for the drilling rig, we saw a sign out in the drylake that read: "Apply for fishing license at the marina". When we arrived at what is now the Trading Post, probably 8am, the service station bay doors were fully lifted, and there were the three residents sitting at a folding table each with a tall glass of jack Daniels. I have several memorable stores from that time and place!
The Quiet and Stillness of the Desert Literally Saved My Life....I Get It
I’ve been going there since 1970. Me and my two friends used to camp at the intersection of Indian Springs road and Panamint City turnoff road. Me and my buddies have explored all of that area including Panamint City and Goler Wash including the Barker ranch. Many of contacts with famous Manson family. We even met Ma Barker at the Indian Springs ranch back in 75 or 76. We have also met Neil Cummins on his property in about 1980. He owned most of this property back then. We loved this area ! RIP Don and Bill!
Thank you for bringing us the story of Ballarat and brief history of the desert rats and Charlie.
Back in 1963 me and my buddy went to Death Valley camping. Went spent an awful night in our sleeping bags on the hard ground with the coyotes howling all night long. Next morning we hooked up with my buddies parents who had brought their rv trailer. We left Death Valley and ended up in Ballarat where we all spent the night. We met a character who called himself Ballarat Bob. He entertained us by showing how he could catch the wild burros by hand. My buddies dad invited Bob to have dinner with us and enjoyed the steaks and fried potatoes with onions that where cooked over an open fire in two big skillets. Old Bob sure had the stories to tell. A few years later there was an article in The Sun news paper that Bob was convicted of involuntary manslaughter slaughter for shooting his friend during an argument over religion. Drinking and arguing with a gun present didn’t end well for Bob. I enjoyed your video very much. Brought back memories from my high school days.
You have a great story. Thanks for watching and I am glad you enjoyed the video.
I haven’t been in that town since 1983. At that time I visited the Gold mines on the mountains above Ballarat .
Enjoyed
We were there in FEB 2006. It was a very dark, overcast day. Incredible place.
I visited Ballarat in February 1976 on a high school camping trip. There was a family living there... a silver prospector, his wife and two sons. They were very friendly and invited us into the house and showed us around.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Everyone I ever knew who would go out to the desert with me on my adventures had one thing they would always say. "I wish I had came out here when I was so much younger".
Thank you! Your description of why you like the desert so much in this area is the best articulation of how I feel about it too! Well said and great historic work here, much enjoyed!
Glad you enjoyed it! It's great to hear how much others enjoy the desert too.
What a great characters, Love those old pictures
I passed through that town. A number of times and stopped at the store got a cold drink and continue it on my way. I explored from warm Spring canyons to the way up to stonepipe. Wells even explored up into surprise Canyon to Panama City. The first time I was in Panama City. Iacross country from stonepipe wells of the telescope peak down And down into Panama City and out a number times
That was back nineties in early two thousand
Interesting information and a great video. Love the history. 😊
Glad you enjoyed it
Being a desert wanderer myself, I so enjoy your videos and the history you share. THANK YOU!
Thanks for watching and glad you like the videos
Some of us just enjoy solitude ! I have good friends but sometimes I just take a long hikes and enjoy my self
Have seen so many videos on Ballarat. Yours was much more informative. Glad to have found you.
Thanks and welcome. I enjoy the research and history side of these towns. Thanks for watching.
Sure enjoyed your episode on Ballarat. I lived in Rosamond, CA for a few years and would go exploring in the desert. Thanks for bringing back all the memories !!
I enjoy your videos. Keep them up! I used to have time to explore. I’m too busy working and I live vicariously through videos like yours.
Glad you like them! Thanks for watching.
I'm 76 years old and my background is similar to yours. I lived in SoCal for a lot of years and my brother and I logged untold miles all over the desert, from Anza Borrego to Death Valley and everywhere in between in our old four wheel drive vehicles. I live in Arizona now (and don't miss California at all). I still get out regularly and explore in my 4X4. I always enjoy your videos.
Great story and Thanks for watching. Our vehicle at the time was a 1968 Toyota Landcruiser. Very primitive.
@@GhostTownWonders Wow! I had a white 1968 Land Cruiser FJ40. It was my exploring vehicle until about 1975. It was a real turtle but, it went anywhere off road and was bullet proof. These days I drive a 2018 Toyota 4Runner Off Road Premium. It's a great vehicle. I love it. A lot more refined than my old Land Cruiser.
Well Arizona sure does suck when compared to California.
@@user-ke9yk5qp3u Having lived in both places, for several years, I'll take Arizona. No contest, really.
Hi from Ballarat Victoria Australia 🇦🇺
Same to you Wayne.
We lived in and explored the Mojave Desert when I was young. We lived in Hesperia and my grandparents lived in Lone Pine. When I was 5 or 6 we were in Beatty Nv. and Seldom Seen Slim was in town. I remember my grandpa talking to him when we were in the Exchange Club eating breakfast. Eventually we moved to Arizona and explored that desert.
Cool 😎 video great job relaying the desert vibe out there...
Thanks 👍
Thanks for your Ballarat memory. Views are always spectacular there. Shorty Harris found good gold in the Pan-a-mints and never left for long afterward. A single blanket jackass prospector he was...
Glad you enjoyed it
Love this guy 😅😅😅
Thank you sir, death vally is sure an interesting place to roam around in👍
One interesting fact is that the beginning scenes of the movie Easy Rider were filmed in Ballarat. After they do their drug deal on dirt bikes and sell to Phil Spector at LAX, they travel in their old truck out to Ballarat. When Peter Fonda is putting the money in the tube and then in the gas tank of the Captain America Bike, they are inside of Shorty's house. They put both the Captain America bike and the Billy Bike in his house. Then the next scene where they ride up to the ruins of another shack, you see the side of Shorty's house and the rock mailbox. Peter Fonda looks at his watch, throws it down, and off they go headed to New Orleans. As they ride down the road, you can see the Panamint dry lake bed glistening. At 14.36 you can see where Peter and Dennis rode up to the ruins and stopped. Less ruins now....
Excellent video, thanks for sharing the video and the history of the area.
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you buddie!!
Very good job. We enjoyed your video. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it
Great video. Fascinating history.
Cool history lesson. Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
In 1908 the Thomas Flyer automobile winner of the New York to Paris race passed through Ballarat coming from Goldfiield, NV and entering California!
The Ballarat was a seam of coal that stretched across County Durham in Northern England and out under the North Sea.
My grandad told me as a boy it was called the Ballarat because even the rats walked with bow legs because it was a narrow seam.
Good video…..
Thanks for sharing…!
Thanks for watching
My wife and I found your channel about a year ago. We love every episode. Like you my dad took me to ghost towns in Nevada and California starting in the late 1960's. I am now retired and my wife and I now go to ghost towns some of which I had gone to with my dad 60 years ago. My great great grandfather lived in Bodie in 1880. That is one of my favorite ghost towns. I love the research you do on the wonderful places you explore. Please keep up the good work and looking forward to seeing your next adventure.
Thanks for watching and sharing your similar experience with your dad.
Very nice. I love the desert southwest. I’m a dirt biker (don’t hold that against me) and have explored many mining towns and mines. Need to get up to this location as well. Great video sir.
That Shorty bloke is a true gentleman.
G'day from Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
Good Video. You are one of the Cool People of California
I appreciate that! I do not reside in CA. I grew up there but, left many years ago.
very nice to show so glad your enjoying life and always on a journey
Glad you enjoy it!
Enjoyed the video. We're from Ballarat in Australia. A great Gold town, along with Bendigo. Visit us some day! Cheers, Lesley and Chris.
Sounds great!
G'day, neighbours!
Really appreciate the knowledge you share with your videos, thank you.
My pleasure!
thank god we live in the desert west, thanks for sharing
You got that right!
I do enjoy the desert myself... Gonna rent a motorcycle in Las Vegas then head to the Death Valley area May of 24... Ballarat might just be on my list of places to see 🌵 I knew of the little town but your video peaked my interest in seeing it 👊🏻
Several movies have been filmed there , along with their abandoned sets .
I love how this gentalman pays attention to detail of the area he's resurcing😅😅
Made it to the page "Dilders",,, CLANG here... good stuff on the vids...
Thanks so much for watching. Enjoyed the Golf outing.
Someone maintained the building very well
The 4 x 4 Dodge is not a 1941 Power Wagon. That particular model was not produced until after the war, in 1946. Would have to look closer to see exactly what year it is. They did make a similar vehicle earlier, but not called a Power Wagon. Really enjoyed the video, and mean to stop there one day myself
Hi, it's a 1941 Dodge WC100 WC stood for weapons carrier. I had one, still wish I did. It was a 1/2 ton rated. The army wanted a heavier truck and they went with the 3/4 ton Dodge weapons carrier. That Dodge belonged to one of the desert explorers. I still have the book he wrote about his travels in the area.
Thanks for the confirmation. I read up the same thing.
Thanks for a great video. So interesting & peaceful
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
Wonderful job thanks😽🍃
Thank you! Cheers!
GTW always brings history alive!
Increíble mi amigo!
Thanks for watching Steve.
I would go metal detecting
Cool video. My home town has the same name XD it has 110K population. Yes its Australia gold fields.
I'm doing the math. If he was 86, and he died in 1968, that would have put his birth back to 1882, not 1889 as shown on his tombstone. Something is wrong with the dating of his birth.
Isn’t that something about Charlie being there. How crazy.
👍
I meat slim in 1967 we picked hem up hitch hicking out of Trona
Great video! This town has always been a mystery to me as I poured over maps of my travels and adventures., just seemed too out of the way to visit. Thanks for taking me there. - subscribed
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for subscribing. That helps alot.
All your videos are so interesting! Thanks for taking me along. I live in Las Vegas and would love to get into exploring the surrounding areas. How does someone get started in finding these places to explore?
Over the years, with my family, we used to visit many of the nearby ghost towns. I simply explore the areas and look at maps to help determine where I can go.
Where in the Mojave’s did you grow up? Antelope Valley for me. Since 1960
I did not grow up in the Mojave. I grew up in Riverside, CA but we were always exploring in the Mojave.
Was Slim 86 or 79 when he died? His plaque shows his dates as 1889-1968.
You are correct. His plaque says he was 79. However, upon further research he passed at the age of 78. He was born in October 1889 and died Aug. 1968 not making it to his birthdate. I said 86 years of age in the video. Good catch. That is incorrect. I got that information (aged 86) from a newspaper article written by a staff writer from the LA Times covering his death in Aug. 1968. That article shows up in my video as well.
Was there in 98 or 99’ some old fella Barely dressed, tried to con me into paying for a history lesson of the place😅
That may have been me. LOL🤣