Schwaub

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

Schwaub (also, Schwab) is a former settlement in Inyo County, California. It was located in the Funeral Mountains of Death Valley 12 miles (19 km) north of Ryan. In 1905, gold was discovered nearby, and the town was built. The Schwab post office opened and closed in 1907. The town was named for Charles M. Schwab, and had several saloons, a blacksmith, a boarding house, and a general store. However, the town was taken over by three women who drove out the town's saloons, and as a result, most of Schwab's men, leading to the eventual decline of the town.

The on-the-ground condition of Schwaub 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 Schwaub 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 Schwaub is roughly 36.5056, -116.7236 — 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.