Newtown

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

Newtown (formerly, New town) is a small unincorporated community in El Dorado County, California, United States. It is located 2.25 miles (3.6 km) south of Camino, at an elevation of 2447 feet (746 m). The ZIP code is 95667. The community is served by area code 530. A post office operated at Newtown from 1854 to 1912, with a closure in 1875. Notable residents have included John Augustus Raffetto, father of radio star Michael Raffetto. The Raffetto home is now a bed and breakfast and offers a room in the name of that family.

The on-the-ground condition of Newtown 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 Newtown 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 Newtown is roughly 38.7044, -120.6792 — 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.