Tumco

(Tumco CA)
Previously named Hedges, Tumco Historic Townsite (an acronym of The United Mines Company), was a gold mining operation in the desert. It was located on Ogilby Rd, just a few miles north of the popular boondocking BLM area near American Girl Mine Rd.

Rock wall, mountains

Tumco Townsite Ruins

There’s not much left of the ghost town; a well hole, graveyard, crumbling walls and foundations, and rusting leaching vats. Situated in the Cargo Muchacho Mountains; so named for a couple of Mexican boys that hiked out of the mountains carrying pockets stuffed with gold nuggets.

Hole in ground for well

Old water well

Mountains, mining tanks

Rusted leaching vats

Gold mining was started by the natives, and continued by early Spanish settlers, and American prospectors. Silver and copper were also mined in the area. Now, it is mostly a stop for sightseers and campers at the adjacent BLM lands.

Rock piles over graves

Tumco Protestant Graveyard

Golden hour on mountains

Evening light on Cargo Muchacho Mountains

I stayed for a few days, and was surprised with a visit by Marianne and Randy of the Frugal RV Travel blog. They were the first RVers I met on the road after getting my rig. The weather was sunny and very warm, and there was a good internet signal.

Camp: Tumco Site BLM boondock
Scene: Mountains, desert, ghost town

6 Responses to Tumco

  1. Martha February 14, 2015 at 2:23 pm #

    The area looks desolate to me, and I can’t imagine living there, but maybe that’s because I’m an “Eastern girl” at heart and would miss my trees and grass. If the western drought lasts much longer I’m going to missing trees and grass anyway!

    • Pleinguy February 14, 2015 at 3:26 pm #

      Well, no one lives there now; it’s a ghost town. But, it was a very difficult place to live in it’s day.

  2. Bud February 14, 2015 at 2:27 pm #

    Nice post. Sounds like an interesting place to spend a day. Sure beats here in central Ohio. We just had a whiteout! Love the evening shot on the mountains!

    • Pleinguy February 14, 2015 at 3:28 pm #

      Thanks for the comment and the mention on the mountain pix.

  3. Marianne and Randy February 16, 2015 at 12:40 pm #

    Great photos. It was also very nice to spend some time together. Hope our paths will cross again.

    • Pleinguy February 16, 2015 at 3:12 pm #

      Thanks M&R. I too hope we can meet down the road.

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