Life in California during the early 1900s wasn't easy for many. However, communities persisted to form the fully-fledged cities and vibrant communities that we're familiar with today. It's one thing to read about the Golden State's history in a textbook, but it's something else entirely to see it with your own eyes. These photos will take you back to a different era and give you an incredible glimpse at what life in Northern California was like back then.
Taken in 1935 near Redding, the matriarch of a family that's camped near a creek bed and panning for gold. "Slept in a bed all my life long till now - sleeping on the ground."
This tent is the home of a family of seven from Tennessee. Living in a camp outside of Sacramento, the family came to California after work in the mines began to slow. "Thought we could make it better out here."
Driving through the remains of a lifeless ghost town is strange and almost surreal as we try to imagine the community and activity that once thrived among the now-silent streets and buildings. The stories behind these places surely add to the fascination we feel. One such locale in Southern California is the isolated town known as Desert Center, a hidden gem in the desolate Colorado Desert with a rich history.
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If you love creepy content, Only In Your State’s Vacant series – which partners with talented photographer Johnny Joo – explores a dozen other fascinating abandoned places just waiting to be discovered.
Editor’s Note: Due to the nature of abandoned destinations, many of the places featured in this series are off-limits to visitors or have actually been demolished. We do not condone trespassing and other illegal activity but rather encourage readers to enjoy learning about these fascinating destinations.
This abandoned town lies right along Interstate 10, between Phoenix, Arizona, and Los Angeles. The humble beginnings of Desert Center take us back to the early 1900s and an intrepid man named Stephen A. Ragsdale, who came to be affectionately known as “Desert Steve.” Wanting to create a community here in the vast and wild desert - truly the middle of nowhere - Desert Steve and his family began a harrowing journey in 1915. Starting with an adobe-style cafe and a small store, they laid the groundwork for a desert settlement.
Soon, a well was drilled to provide the town with a consistent source of water, and a service station was built, turning Desert Center into a vital stopover for travelers through the Colorado Desert. These same facilities drew actual settlers as well, and the tiny community began to grow. This growth exploded and the economy boomed with the discovery of gold in the nearby mountains during the 1930s and 40s.
With the bustling activity and a promising future, residents of Desert Center were more ambitious than ever, planting agricultural fields right here in the harsh desert environment. Between that and the development of a new iron mining town, Eagle Mountain, nearby, population increased and even more development took place. There were new schools, medical facilities, recreation centers, and roads connecting to the town. Desert Center seemed to be a symbol of hope, resilience, innovation, and prosperity. But, sadly, it wouldn’t last.
In 1983, the Eagle Mountain Mine was closed, jobs disappeared, and people began to leave in search of new opportunities. It didn’t take long for silence to settle on the little town of Desert Center. Today, the town’s buildings that once welcomed weary travelers and hopeful settlers sit abandoned, frozen in time against the backdrop of the tranquil desert.
It’s as if everything closed for the night and the town disappeared before the sun came up the next day. The cafe - which reportedly stayed open 24 hours a day because the keys had been lost - did finally close once and for all. Chairs, tables, and even cups and coffee pots seem to wait silently for customers to return.
A handful of residents and a lone post office are all that remains of a community that once thrived against all odds in this unforgiving landscape. Did you know about the town of Desert Center? Have you ever stopped to check it out on your way through the desert? Share your experience with us in the comments! The Southern California desert is actually home to several abandoned towns. Check another nearby ghost town with an interesting history - Bombay Beach.
Special thanks to Cleveland-based photographer Johnny Joo of Odd World Studio for the photos used in this article. To discover more creepy and abandoned places, check out his website, Architectural Afterlife.
One thing Southern California has always been known for is our citrus groves. Packing houses used to be located all over this part of the state, but many have closed or been torn down for urban development over the years (one long-vacant citrus factory near me actually burned down recently!) On a positive note, some of these buildings have been preserved and repurposed into bustling community businesses such as this incredible food hall in Anaheim, CA.
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The Anaheim Packing House was built for Sunkist in 1919, back when Orange County’s claim to fame was well, oranges.
Centrally located in downtown Anaheim and near the railroad, it was a busy commercial hub where local farmers brought their produce to be washed, sorted, packed, and shipped nationwide. The last crate of citrus was packed here in 1955.
This is the only packing house left in the city and sat vacant for many years. After two years of renovations, this beautiful building re-opened in 2014 as the Anaheim Packing House food hall, part of a collection of four historic landmarks and a park known as the Anaheim Packing District.
Nowadays, what you will find inside is a gorgeous, airy space with an exciting collection of delicious eateries spread over two huge floors. There are open communal dining areas, quiet cozy nooks, and lovely outdoor patio seating. There is also live weekly music on the landing in the center between the stairs.
Nearly every review you’ll read mentions the wide variety of ethnic foods available to try, like the very popular “Anti-Gravity Noodles” from 206 BCE. You’ll also find steak, fresh seafood, sandwiches, cocktail bars, and more.
Make sure you do a bit of wandering because there is plenty to discover aside from a great meal - coffee, bread and pastries, juices and smoothies, snacks, and creative desserts are scattered throughout.
Aside from the structure itself, there are lots of vintage features and lovely nods to the packing house's fruitful (see what I did there?) past. You could definitely come back over and over, discovering something new each time you visit.
I love how this building brings new (delicious!) life to an old building full of character and history. Have you visited this massive food hall in Anaheim, CA? Share your favorite spots with us in the comments. Find out more on the Anaheim Packing District website and Facebook page. This would be an awesome stop on a SoCal road trip or a family vacay in Anaheim. Speaking of which, check out this incredible family rental in the center of all this city has to offer!
If you're always on the hunt for your next favorite foodie destination, make sure you check out more of our favorite spots to eat and drink in Southern California.
