Quartzburg (Kern County)

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

Quartzburg is a former settlement in Kern County, California. It was located 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the original site of Kernville, now inundated by Isabella Lake, except at low water. In 1873, Quartzburg was founded as a mining camp after gold production increased nearby. Quartzburg was originally named Rogersville, and renamed due to the large amount of quartz in the area surrounding the town.

The on-the-ground condition of Quartzburg (Kern County) 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 Quartzburg (Kern County) 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.

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.