9. Calico, California
Calico has a similar story to Terlingua. Back in the day, it was a mining town where silver was discovered and made it very prosperous. Long story short, this is how the town became home to 3,000 residents and 500 silver mines. Calico produced over $20 million in silver ore over a period of 12-years.
The town boomed rapidly when silver was discovered, but as the mines were depleted and the price of silver dropped significantly, Calico lost its population. The town which once featured restaurants, bars, hotels, schools and stores, became abandoned in 1986.
However, the story doesn’t end here. Walter Knott (of Knott’s Berry Farm fame) purchased the town in 1950 and restored the buildings, and today it’s a registered Historical Landmark that’s open for tourists.
