Fish Rocks, Salt Wells Canyon, CA

Cell phone service in the desert is hit or miss. I either had all my bars or nothing but while I did have service I was browsing Roadside America for spots to hit. That’s how we found Ballarat. Formerly a supply point for the mines nearby, Ballarat is now a ghost town. In it’s heyday it was home to nearly 500 people. It had 7 saloons, a jail, a school, a handful of hotels and more. There isn’t much left anymore, just a few rusted out all cars, shells of buildings, and a cemetery.

I was a bit nervous to visit since it’s a little ways off the main road. I was worried it would be home to someone who might be offended by our visit. A sign near the entrance of the town read as follows…

“this is a free zone take any kind of photos you want. camp party make movies etc no harm. nobody cares feel free. learn nothen setting in your car the friendly zone welcome to ballarat ghost town…”

After seeing that I felt free to roam…

The thing I was most excited about in Ballarat was the cemetery. I’d been on the lookout for an old desert cemetery since the last trip and we had yet to stumble across one. I saw photos of this one on Roadside America and that was actually one of the biggest reasons I wanted to visit. This one was smaller than I had been hoping for but still so awesome. It had such a gorgeous view and it was just a world of difference from the cemeteries we have here. And this headstone?! Get out! Easily one of the most interesting I’ve ever seen in person.

We didn’t stay too long in Ballarat, it was hot and we were both anxious to get into the national park but it was definitely a great stop.
xoxo

You can find more posts from our road trip under the “travel” tag. 

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11 comments

Trude July 23, 2015 - 4:21 pm

Looks like so much fun! Did you have to set your timer for 10 minutes to get that first shot, or did the remote reach? 🙂 I hadn't heard of that one, but I've been to Calico a couple times since it's on the way to/from Vegas. I'll have to check this out next time we go up 395 that way!

Kaylah July 24, 2015 - 11:19 pm

I use this;
http://amzn.to/1dJybCH

It's a lifesafer. I use it daily.

Kristina Burkey July 23, 2015 - 4:35 pm

That is PROBABLY the most epic headstone ever. Except I did see one recently that said "I'd rather be skiing."

Kaylah July 24, 2015 - 11:20 pm

Hahah! I love anyone with a sense of humor enough to have a silly headstone.

violet fire July 24, 2015 - 12:28 am

This is totally unrelated to the post, but I found a phone case you might like.

http://www.rue-morgue.com/#!product/prd15/4091289341/zipper-tooth-phone-case

Kaylah July 24, 2015 - 11:18 pm

You know, I think you may have managed to find the one thing in the world that creeps me out! 😛

Marissa Napolitano July 24, 2015 - 6:13 am

Hello! I'm new to your blog and have been looking through some older posts and I just felt the need to say that I love your quirkiness and creativity. Plus, all your hair colors are amazing. I really enjoy your blog! I have a fairly new blog and would love if you checked it out! You can find me at
always-marissa.blogspot.com

Kaylah July 24, 2015 - 11:21 pm

Thanks, Marissa! 🙂

Kara July 27, 2015 - 5:00 am

He was only 19 when he died!! So grateful to live in the age of modern medicine, haha!

Kaylah July 27, 2015 - 11:12 pm

He was 79 when he died. It's a bit hard to see but thats a six, not a zero.
🙂

rehoboth mission cemetery - THE DAINTY SQUID March 25, 2023 - 1:49 pm

[…] to check out a cemetery. Despite three trips to the desert I’ve only managed to make it to one cemetery out there. I ended up stumbling across a photo of one with a bunch of white crosses on a website […]

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