Bagby

California wrote the book on ghost towns, from Gold Rush tent cities to Owens Valley farm towns the aqueduct dried up.

Bagby (formerly Ridley's Ferry and Benton Mills) is a ghost town in Mariposa County, California, on the Merced River. The site began as a ferry crossing around 1850, then became a stamp mill and mining depot for John C. Frémont's Mariposa Grant from 1859. It later served as a stop on the Yosemite Valley Railroad (1907–1945), and the townsite was submerged in 1967 when Lake McClure was expanded behind the New Exchequer Dam.

The on-the-ground condition of Bagby is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Bagby is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Bagby is roughly 37.6108, -120.1344 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.