Rock Springs

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

Castle Rock Springs was a resort in Lake County, California built around a group of mineral springs, including one hot spring with relatively high volumes of water. Former names include Mills Hot Springs, Mills' Mineral Springs, Noble's Springs, Castle Springs, Castle Hot Springs, Verdant Vales, Camp Houdd Gibson and Houdd Gibson Camp.

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

The on-the-ground condition of Rock 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 Rock 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 Rock Springs is roughly 38.7702, -122.7167 — 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.