Martensdale

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

Martensdale was a town settled in Kern County, California, primarily by Mennonites from the Great Plains. The settlement was located near Lerdo, 6 mi (10 km) east of Shafter. In 1909, Henry J. Martens, claiming to own large quantities of land in California, convinced Mennonites to travel to California, where they settled, forming the town of Martensdale in June. Over the next several months, amenities such as a post office, a furniture dealer, and a grocer opened at the site, and houses were built.

The on-the-ground condition of Martensdale 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 Martensdale 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 Martensdale is roughly 35.4997, -119.1636 — 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.