Indian Springs

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

Indian Springs is a small set of springs after which a nearby mining settlement was named in the 19th century, in Nevada County, California, located near Rough and Ready. It had a post office from 1858 to 1871, and again from 1892 until 1893. Indian Springs was listed on a map as of 1949.

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

The on-the-ground condition of Indian 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 Indian 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 Indian Springs is roughly 39.1794, -121.1928 — 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.