There’s a magic and a charm to Randsburg and I recommend taking a drive out there in the non-Summer months. Once in town, Randsburg is sparse enough to remain small, old enough to pack plenty of history, and friendly enough to flow with charm. No mine in recent history has been plagued by more legal problems than the Rand mine. It is a photographer's, star gazer's, and out-door recreation person's dream location. Information about the communites of Randsburg, Johannesburg, Red Moutain ( Osdick ), Atolia, Garlock, Saltdale, and Cantil may be found at the museum. The residents do a great job at maintaining the overall historical ambience of a late 19th century – early 20th century mining town. This structure was built in 1934. The population was 69 at the 2010 census, down from 77 at the 2000 census. Randsburg General Store (24) 4.5 mi $ American. It is both is a sit-down restaurant and a general store and includes memorabilia, maps and locally-published histories on Randsburg. The district would go on to be Southern California's largest gold producer. I have to thank Bart Parker of The Rand Desert Museum for helping me figure out all of the locations. It reshaped the Mojave desert and helped to create numerous little mining camps and towns nearby like Johannesburg, Red Mountain, Garlock and Atolia. [5] The first post office at Randsburg opened in 1896.[5]. The age distribution was 4% under the age of 18, 3% from 18 to 24, 16% from 25 to 44, 48% from 45 to 64, and 30% 65 or older. After many years of being a full time freelance writer, and a long time resident of this state, I've decided to turn my full attention toward California by exploring all that it has to offer. In fact, the experience makes some of us long to go back. None more famous than the 2011 film Cowboys & Aliens starring Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford. Randsburg is also a popular destination for off road vehicle enthusiasts. Gold was discovered at Rand Mine near the site in 1895 and a mining camp quickly formed, and was named Rand Camp, both mine and camp were named after the gold mining region in South Africa. The Randsburg Inn was built in 1922, and is located in the heart of the old gold mining town of Randsburg, California; the gateway to Death Valley and scenic Highway 395. Heading east down Butte Ave, through town, takes you into the residential area. Aug 27, 2014 - Explore Jennifer VanBreemen's board "Randsburg Ca", followed by 889 people on Pinterest. This feeling of isolation adds to the overall ambience. The population was 69 at the 2010 census, down from 77 at the 2000 census. The town has been used in videos, photo shoots and a few movie scenes. But, Randsburg has had a long history of denominations out to save the souls of the miners, the outlaws and the common folk since its birth. The card game being played in the photograph is known as Faro. The RGS has a “home” feel to it with a side of “welcoming”. When you first turn off 395, you can’t see anything but desert. Besides the historic aspect to the town, it has a certain “quirkiness” to it. But, Randsburg has had a long history of denominations out to save the souls of the miners, the outlaws and the common folk since its birth. Through the next several decades, the store changed its name as it passed through the hands of various owners. [12][13][14], In January of 1898 Randsburg Railway opened, it ran from Johannesburg to Kramer Junction, California with a stop at Atolia.[15][16][17]. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2%; the rental vacancy rate was 50%. Randsburg History The Gold discoveries in and around the future town of Randsburg came at a time when much of the mining west was experiencing a depression. This historic mining area is also home to the California desert tortoise and a large military presence. It takes about a mile before you start seeing some signs of civilization and then as you start swinging south, the town pops up out of the mountains. Saloons sprouted, a U.S. Post Office was established, and the communities first newspaper, "The Randsburg Miner," appeared. [9], Episode 12 of the Creature Hub's 2014 series Road Trip to E3 featured the cast driving through the town of Randsburg while filming half of the event. This is where the Randsburg General Store is located along with several other well known establishments like the White House Saloon. Randsburg (formerly, Rand Camp)[5] is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California, United States. But, unlike Iowa Hill and other towns on life support, Kern County’s Randsburg has fully embraced the label of a ghost town. Cindy Nunn, photographer and writer, has a theory that her sister, Emily Brickett Jarick, was the infamous French Marguerite, owner of the My Place Dance Hall, from 1904 to 1907. 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