Abandoned Tropico Gold Mine

Kern County's history is steeped in mining - especially gold. In 1894, Ezra Hamilton discovered riches accidentally as he had owned a clay pit and found the gold while mining for the clay. The town declined steadily over the decades with the closure of the mine in the 1970s. The old buildings, rusting and decaying in the intense heat and dryness of the desert, are still standing, but keep in mind this is privately owned property.