POSSUM TROT - Tourist Spot Now Long Gone
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:08 pm
In the late 60's I used to take excursions out to the high desert around Barstow, California. Heading east from Barstow, there's a turnoff that leads to Calico Ghost Town - a tourist trap/amusement park owned by Knotts' Berry Farm.
Before you went a mile up Ghost Town Road towards Calico,. there was this amazing bit of Americana. It was on the left side of the road and it was called Possum Trot. Cal Black and his wife Ruby owned several buildings there. In one building, Cal and Ruby sold rock like geodes, agates and other colorful geological specimens.
In the adjoining building, Cal had the Fantasy Theater. Inside it were 100 hand-carved dolls, some children sized and others adult sized. Ruby made clothing for all the dolls. The dolls were on a stage and Cal would be the voice for all the dolls.
Outside, Cal had carved several dolls on platforms which moved with the wind. The place disappeared in the mid-80's but many of his dolls were donated to the Smithsonian. http://www.flickr.com/photos/visionaryr ... 543028456/
Before you went a mile up Ghost Town Road towards Calico,. there was this amazing bit of Americana. It was on the left side of the road and it was called Possum Trot. Cal Black and his wife Ruby owned several buildings there. In one building, Cal and Ruby sold rock like geodes, agates and other colorful geological specimens.
In the adjoining building, Cal had the Fantasy Theater. Inside it were 100 hand-carved dolls, some children sized and others adult sized. Ruby made clothing for all the dolls. The dolls were on a stage and Cal would be the voice for all the dolls.
Outside, Cal had carved several dolls on platforms which moved with the wind. The place disappeared in the mid-80's but many of his dolls were donated to the Smithsonian. http://www.flickr.com/photos/visionaryr ... 543028456/