Leliter

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

Leliter (also, Muerto) is a former settlement in Kern County, California. It was located on the Southern Pacific Railroad 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north-northwest of Inyokern in the Indian Wells Valley, at an elevation of 2303 feet (702 m). Leliter still appeared on maps as of 1943. Though Leliter is a former settlement, residents still reside in and around the area. Today, no sign of the original settlement remains, except for Leliter Road (named after the settlement) that heads west from Brown Road (Old US 395) to link up with modern-day US 395. A post office operated at Leliter from 1910 to 1927.

The on-the-ground condition of Leliter 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 Leliter 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 Leliter is roughly 35.7106, -117.8303 — 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.