The Abandoned Chemung Mine In Northern California Is One Of The Eeriest Places In America
By Lysa Allman-Baldwin|Published September 02, 2022
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Lysa Allman-Baldwin
Author
For over 25 years Lysa Allman-Baldwin has fed her wanderlust for “everything the world has to offer” by passionately writing travel and feature articles for numerous global print and online publications. A Digital Nomad, Lysa is also a professional speaker, workshop facilitator, and author.
There’s something that often draws people to an eerie abandoned place, sometimes it’s something unexplainable. It’s imagining the history, who lived there, what path their lives took, and what happened that ultimately led to their departure and/or demise. Creepy, yet fascinating at the same time. The Chemung Mine in Northern California is one of those places. Come along as we delve into the mystery.
The Chemung Mine is located approximately 10 miles northeast of the town of Bridgeport.
The road getting here is a little bit rugged, but worth the journey to take in the sight of this abandoned area. It’s interesting that although situated not too far from a really famous ghost town called Bodie, the Chemung Mine is not really that well-known.
The history of the Chemung Mine dates back to its original founding in 1909.
At that time, it played a pivotal role in California’s Gold Rush era. Once up and running, it thrived as one of the most productive gold mines in the region. In fact, it has been said that an estimated one million dollars worth of gold—an astonishing amount in early-1900s money—was unearthed here. It also mined some silver as well.
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The mine, which encompassed several structures, operated until 1938.
Apparently, there were off and on legal issues at play here causing numerous work stoppages, building teardowns and resurrections, and mining staff changes.
What’s left is just a shell—literally—of the buildings and thriving activities here. Be sure that if you decide to enter any of the structures that you do so with extreme caution. Battered by weather and natural decay for decades, many of them are unstable – albeit fascinating to explore.
Remnants like these give visitors a glimpse into the size and scope of the operations here.
The Chemung Mine is also thought to be haunted. Historical accounts differ on how this came to be, but supposedly the ghost of a former miner roams the property, scaring those brave enough to make the journey here.
If you dare to visit at night, the wide-open night sky offers spectacular star and moonlight views.
But don’t be so lulled into its beauty that you forget that it just may be haunted so watch your back!
Possessing a rich and important part of California’s Gold Rush era history, interesting structural relics, and a creepy vibe that is somehow enticing at the same time, you just might want to add the Chemung Mine to your must-visit eerie abandoned places list!
Have you been to the Chemung Mine? If so, we’d love to see your photos and hear about your experience there.
If you’re looking for more creepy ghost town adventures, be sure to check out the town of Bodie.
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