More California

I love you, California, you're the greatest state of all. I love you in the winter, summer, spring and in the fall.
I love your fertile valleys; your dear mountains I adore. I love your grand old ocean and I love her rugged shore.

“California’s been good to me. Hope it don’t fall into the sea.” …..Tom Petty

Elliot Koeppel 10/30/24 Elliot Koeppel 10/30/24

The Bench People - Knott’s Berry Farm - California

You’ve seen them, sitting there on those benches all day long, watching, ever watching the people go by. Always patient, never complaining about all the guests taking selfies with them, or getting “handsy” with them.

Elliot Koeppel 3/27/22 Elliot Koeppel 3/27/22

Ruth Camp - California

Ruth Camp is an interesting ghost town, located approximately 14 miles north of Trona in the Argus Mountain Range. There are a good number of fairly well-preserved buildings that I was able to poke around in, which date from the late 1930s.

Elliot Koeppel 3/23/22 Elliot Koeppel 3/23/22

Benton Hot Springs - California

Established in the early 1860s, Benton was born with the discovery of silver in the nearby Blind Springs Hills and White Mountains. Also known as Benton Hot Springs, the town thrived for a few short years.

Elliot Koeppel 7/22/20 Elliot Koeppel 7/22/20

Reward - California

I found Reward just north of Lone Pine and a few miles east of Hwy 395 along the Manzanar Reward Road. Finding the old ghost town was a reward in itself. The first thing that caught my eye was the multi-colored slopes ahead of me as I drove towards the site.