Tumco, California

TUMCO – Imperial Co., CA

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TUMCO, California, is a wonderful Class B ghost located on the northwestern side of the Cargo Muchacho Mountains deep in the southeastern corner of California, about 16 AIR miles northwest of Yuma, Arizona. It is a mile east of the Ogilby Road east of the Gold Rock Ranch, at a point 4.5 miles north of Ogilby. PLEASE BE ADVISED that the road in is very rough, and a high-clearance or 4 x 4 will probably be required.

Most accounts claim that the first gold was discovered in 1884 by a Swedish railroad track-walker. However, Philip Varney in his book, Southern California’s Best Ghost Towns states that it was discovered by Peter Walters, a railroad section hand from Ogilby. He made the discovery on January 6, 1884. Iva Geisinger, in her book Goldrock Facts & Folklore, claims the 1^st gold was discovered by the Swede in 1880, and that Walker discovered the Mary Lode Mine in 1884. I’ll let them duke it out, although I lean towards Mr. Varney’s research.

At first the small mining camp was called Gold Rock, but during the first boom in 1892-1899 it was renamed Hedges, when some 3200 folks lived here. In 1900 a 140-stamp mill was in operation at the Hedges Mine. The mining camp, mine and mining district faded beginning in 1900, finally closing in 1909. It was purchased and reopened the following year and a Post Office was established. As The United Mines COmpany now owned the property, the name TUMCO was chosen for the postal facility, and the rest of the names also changed. Most operations closed down again by 1914, although some scattered work occurred until 1941. This is the number one ghost town in the county and has received the most press. Geisinger claims the name came from the Trumble United Mines Co. (???)

At one time Hedges/Tumco is said to have had a church, gambling halls, hospital, red light district, 4-7 saloons, school and a store. Inside the town “limits” were the respectable businesses, and outside were the “less respectable” ones.

In 1989, remains included a roofless shell, building wall ruins, four cyanide vats, rubble and the cemetery with a dozen or so graves. Claims of production from the Tumco mines ranges up to $20 million. The population is said to have reached 2000 - 3000.

Lat. 32.8797661, Long. -114.8319062.

Lat. 32 52' 47" N., Long. 114 49' 55" W.

N½ Sec 12, T15S, R20E, SBM

If you do visit Tumco, PLEASE respect the site for what it is, and abide by any posted signs and local requirements and follow the Ghost Towner’s Code of Ethics.

This was our featured Ghost Town of the Month for September, 2006.

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FIRST POSTED: Sep 08, 2006

LAST UPDATED: Mar 06, 2007

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