Fountain Springs

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

Fountain Springs was a settlement established in Tulare County, California, before 1855, at the junction of the Stockton–Los Angeles Road and the road to the Kern River gold mines. From 1858 to 1861, Fountain Springs was a station on the Butterfield Overland Mail route, 14 miles (23 km) southeast of Tule River Station and 12 miles (19 km) north of Mountain House. The site of the settlement was 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) northwest of the California Historical Landmark No. 648 on the southwest corner of County Roads J22 and M 109 (old Springville Stage Route) in Tulare County.

Fountain Springs sold the one thing the country around it didn't have: water.

The on-the-ground condition of Fountain Springs 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 Fountain Springs 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 Fountain Springs is roughly 35.8911, -118.9156 — 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.