Solvang is a charming town in Southern California that makes you feel like you've been transported straight to Europe! Inspired by Denmark, this town is great to explore both by foot and by trolley. The Solvang Trolley is drawn by two Belgian horses. Kids are especially sure to get excited to ride the trolley so bring your little ones. It's an attraction that's been around for over 50 years in Solvang and is quite a delight.
Solvang is a beautiful town located in the Santa Ynez Valley in Southern California.
It is no secret to anyone who knows me (or reads my writing) that I love the California coastline. And there are honestly many spots along the magnificent West Coast that are memorable enough to make me want to return again and again, even if they take some time and effort to reach. The first time I was brought by a friend to Fort Bragg in Northern California, the dramatic beaches and rock formations made me swoon (and inspired my inner photographer!).
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Natasha Kayes/Only In Your State
Fort Bragg is a tiny town on the Northern California coast. It is about an hour's drive from the town of Willits on Highway 101 and the closest real city is Santa Rosa, over two hours away. The drive is about four hours (give or take) from the major cities of San Francisco and Sacramento. So, wherever you are coming from, it is going to take a bit of a drive. Let me tell you, though, not only is the destination absolutely worth it, but the drive itself is beautiful whether you meander along the coast on Highway 1 or take Highway 101 and cut across on the winding road through the beautiful Jackson Demonstration State Forest.
Natasha Kayes/Only In Your State
Spanning almost the entire eastern edge of Fort Bragg is the 93-acre Noyo Headlands Park, one of the most stunning spots on the Mendocino Coast. It was originally part of the Georgia Pacific lumber mill and is now home to walking and biking trails, rugged cliffs, Glass Beach, and endless breathtaking views.
Natasha Kayes/Only In Your State
All along the coastline, there are scenic vista points just off the main trail, little hidden coves to discover, and secluded beaches with massive rock formations. You’ll also find some of the most vibrant tide pools I have explored, full of colorful anemones, crabs, starfish, and brilliant green moss and sea plants.
Natasha Kayes/Only In Your State
Though the town itself is small, you’ll find a handful of delicious ways to refuel at the end of the day (or before you get started!) including highly-rated restaurants serving everything from Mexican to pizza to sushi, and a few cool spots to grab a drink. After a day of exploring, get a good night’s sleep and wake up to a spectacular view at the oceanfront North Cliff Hotel.
Have you ever been to Fort Bragg in Northern California? It is a remote little gem that you will never forget. Do you have a favorite remote spot or hidden gem you’d like to share? Let us know by nominating it for a chance to be featured in a future article!
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.
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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.
