Quick Facts
- State
- California
- County
- Kern County
- Status
- Unknown Status
- Access
- Unknown Access
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
You don't stumble onto Garlock by accident. That's rather the point. The Garlock Fault is a left-lateral strike-slip fault running northeast–southwest along the north margins of the Mojave Desert of Southern California, for much of its length along the southern base of the Tehachapi Mount
Kern County holds 58 documented ghost towns, including Asphalto, Desert Spring, Freeman Junction — Garlock keeps them company on the map.
The story of Garlock
California wrote the book on ghost towns, from Gold Rush tent cities to Owens Valley farm towns the aqueduct dried up.
The Garlock Fault is a left-lateral strike-slip fault running northeast–southwest along the north margins of the Mojave Desert of Southern California, for much of its length along the southern base of the Tehachapi Mountains.
What you'll find today
The on-the-ground condition of Garlock 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.
Getting there
Here's the honest truth: access to Garlock 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.
Good to know
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.
Garlock FAQs
Where is Garlock located?
What county is Garlock in?
What is the history of Garlock?
What remains at Garlock today?
Can you visit Garlock?
Sources: description based on Wikipedia (“Garlock Fault”), CC BY-SA.