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. Listed for $925,000 with Jake Rasmuson of Bishop Real Estate Rasmuson & Associates, the collection of abandoned properties includes a hotel, a bunkhouse, and several homes, totaling nearly 22 eerie structures, all told.
The mini city that’s nestled on 300 acres of land is historic, too, as the realtor's website claims it’s the first major mining camp south of the Sierra Nevada. The same family has owned the estate for years, and kept it safe from the grasps of “diggers, artifact looters, and Mother Nature herself.”
Although some of the buildings have undergone restoration, many are in a state of “protected disarray,” and would likely make a good setting to gather for some ghost stories.
According to the official Cerro Gordo site, it was first discovered in 1865 due to its rich silver supply. By 1867, locals had started to hear of its success, and started flocking to the mountain town that eventually became the largest producer of the metal, as well as lead, in California. The site shut down in 1938, but had produced about $17 million in profits throughout its lifespan.
Though there’s no mention of any real haunted activity, the community still has a bit of a tumultuous past. Before the area was developed, prospectors from Mexico who had been searching the surrounding Inyo Mountain range for silver were attacked by Indians.
Three of the five were allegedly killed, and the other two were held captive. After finally being released, they had to promise “never to return,” which pretty much sounds like the makings of a solid Wild West-inspired horror flick.
Whether you’re interested in owning your own piece of history, or are hoping to discover some ghosts of minors’ past, there’s no arguing this chunk of land is ripe to become the next real-life Halloweentown.
Megan Stein is the executive editor for The Pioneer Woman, and oversees entertainment, features, and news for the website. Whether it's catching up on the latest true crime podcast, or re-watching the best '80s movies for the zillionth time, she's always here to talk about anything and everything relating to pop culture.
