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.

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.