 |
| Spooky Main Street at Calico Ghost Town |
In October of 2020, USA Today Network published an article I wrote about the famous, or infamous, ghost town of Calico, just a few miles northeast of Barstow, California.
I generally create stories during the haunting month of October, about places that are supposedly haunted by goblins, spirits, floating orbs, and anything else that could make a person wonder - what the heck is going on here?
My column was entitled Haunted Calico. Not very original, but to the point, and what I learned was that there were lots of strange occurrences in that once fabulously rich silver town.
 |
| John R Beyer looking for goblins at Calico Ghost Town |
In 2024, I was contacted by one of the writers, Jeff Belanger, from the hit Discovery television show, Ghost Adventures - the brainchild of Zak Bagans. Zak is a paranormal investigator who travels the world in search of answers in connection with anything that seems out of the norm - thus, paranormal. Jeff had read my article and discussed it with Zak, thus the reason for the contact with me.
Ghost Adventures has been the leading paranormal television series since 2008, garnering an estimated audience of over two million viewers per episode. That is saying a lot, considering how many networks are out searching for things that go bump in the night.
Belanger asked if I would like to participate in an episode dealing with Calico Ghost Town - it took me a hot second to agree. Laureen and I had been watching the television show on and off for years and thought it would be awesome to join the crew filming in one of our favorite western towns.
So, after donning black jeans, a black shirt, and a black cowboy hat, we headed out on Interstate 15 to the small town of Yermo and then headed north to Calico. The all-black outfit was suggested by Belanger since it would look better on camera, especially with a show that dealt with dark, mysterious goings-on.
By the time we arrived, nearing dusk, the crew was already filming in town, and we were asked to wait just at the beginning of Main Street until I was needed on set. That was fine with us since there were snacks, chairs, and we got to watch all the hustling and bustling from the film crew moving here and there, getting ready for the night shots.
 |
| Film Crew setting up |
One thing about me is that I am a skeptic, which came up a few times while discussing Calico and the paranormal activity with Bagans. Laureen, my lovely wife, feels things in this realm, as written about in previous articles and blogs, but me - I generally feel hungry or thirsty for a cold one.
The crew of Ghost Adventures are true believers. I can respect that, especially since they also go out of their way to debunk things and are not hesitant to state that during their shows.
“That wasn’t Casper,” Zak may state.
“No, I think it was a sheet that flew off a clothes line next door,” Aaron Goodwin, a paranormal investigator and co-host of the show, may point out.
 |
| Zak looking over notes |
As we sat waiting for my turn to talk with Bagans, there was a gentleman who was a local paranormal expert waiting his turn, as well as a woman who told us that an entity had followed her family home after visiting Calico for a day.
I smiled and nodded at her.
 |
| John R Beyer and Laureen Beyer, waiting for call |
One by one, the interviews were conducted, and finally, late in the evening, I was called up Main Street to the Lil’s Saloon, which had been set up for my discussion with the host.
As a technician was busy hiding a microphone on me, Aaron came over and introduced himself to Laureen and me. A rather tall balding guy with a beard who could not have been nicer.
 |
| John R Beyer and Aaron Goodwin on set for Ghost Adventures |
“Just be yourself,” he said.
“That’s all he can be,” Laureen replied.
Aaron smiled. “That’s all we want.”
At that point, I was led into the saloon, which I had visited many times in the past, and there was the star of the show, Zak Bagans. He walked over, shook my hand, and thanked me for taking the time to talk with him for the episode.
 |
| Zak Bagans and John R Beyer on set for Ghost Adventures |
He was very friendly, went over what we were going to talk about, and then we sat at opposite tables in the saloon, and the film crew went to work checking the sounds from both our microphones, lighting, and locations of cameras to ensure Zak looked better than me. After all, he is the star of the show, though I must admit I appeared rather dapper in my black outfit.
 |
| Film crew checking the lights and camera angles |
With the cameras suddenly rolling, Zak introduced me, and then the questions began concerning all the hubbub about Calico being haunted.
The interview went on for about 20 minutes, and all the bases concerning Calico were covered. The 500 mineshafts, the murders, the tales of apparitions, the mention of people being pushed by unseen forces, and all the rest that makes this ghost town a must-see for anyone who relishes delving into the paranormal.
As I explained to Zak, I am a skeptic when it comes to the paranormal, but I have seen and felt things during all my travels in the hinterlands that I can not explain.
I remember doing a story on the deserted town of Garlock, not far from Randsburg, and while eating lunch by myself near the remains of the ghost town, I swore I heard children playing. It was probably just the slight breeze mimicking the happy sounds children make while enjoying themselves.
 |
| Some of the remains at Garlock Ghost Town |
Probably.
For both Laureen and me, meeting Zak Bagans, Aaron Goodwin, Jay Wasley, Billy Tolley, and the rest of the crew was a wonderful experience and something we will not forget.
A personal thanks to Jeff Belanger for reaching out - and in my line of work, you never know who you will run into on the road or who will read my simple prose.
So, check out Ghost Adventures, Season 30, Episode 12, to learn more about the hauntings going on at Calico Ghost Town. Things are happening that can not be explained, and that is why the crew, led by Zak Bagans, decided to check it out.
For more information:
https://www.discovery.com/shows/ghost-adventures
https://thehauntedmuseum.com/
John can be reached at: beyersbyways@gmail.com
