Walter Marvin Knott
Walter Knott purchased the Calico townsite in 1950 and commenced a restoration program that ranged from ruins stabilization to fabrication. A recent publication on Calico termed Knott’s activities there “de-ghosting a ghost town.” Knott’s uncle had, in 1881, grubstaked the miners who discovered the Silver King Mine. Knott himself was employed in Calico district mines during the first part of the twentieth century. In 1966, Knott transferred title of the townsite to the County of San Bernardino, for operation as a regional park. When he created Knott’s Berry Place—America’s first theme park (later known as Knott’s Berry Farm)—in Buena Park, Knott constructed a facsimile ghost town, incorporating objects culled from Calico and other mining sites. As is true for Gerstley, Knott is one who capitalized on his knowledge and experience in California desert mining to bring some of that history to the general public.
Mining in the Southern California Deserts: Swope and Gregory
