Masonic - California Ghost Town

MASONIC

NAME: Masonic
COUNTY: Mono
ROADS: 2WD
GRID #(see map): 3
CLIMATE: Snow and cold in winter. Mild summer.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Late spring to early fall.

COMMENTS: Masonic is located about 12 miles n/e of Bridgeport via a 2wd dirt road. It can be visited by taking the back road into Bodie from the north. It is a true ghost town of broken down shacks. The drive is worth the scenery alone. The town consists of upper,middle,and lower town,with most of the ruins in middle town.
REMAINS: About 6 rapidly decaying shacks,and numerous foundations.

Sheepherders are about the only people now that visit Masonic when they drive a herd of sheep through what was a roistering mining camp. Located in a canyon close to the Nevada border, Masonic is truly a ghost town. There are no residents except rodents and the like who have decided to make Masonic home. The town once had a population of about a thousand souls during its productive years that ended around 1901. Gold was first discovered here in the 1860s. Masonic was built on three levels or terraces with the middle level having the main street through town. Because the mine was located some distance from town, which housed the mill, ore was transported via an extensive tram system. It is fortunate for the ghost town visitor that most of the ruins are still here including the tram system. Submitted by Rob Newquist and Henry Chenoweth. Masonic, California must have some kind of preservative in it, because it doesn't look like its changed much in 35 years. Here's the write-up by Lambert Florin on Masonic. Its short and only one picture, but it fills in a little history from the fine write-up at Ghosttowns.com. Page 35, February, 1966. Masonic-Chemung Mine Courtesy Dolores Steele Masonic-Chemung Mine Courtesy Dolores Steele Masonic-Chemung Mine Courtesy Dolores Steele Masonic Courtesy Dolores Steele Masonic Courtesy Dolores Steele Masonic Courtesy Chris Geigle Masonic Courtesy Chris Geigle Masonic Courtesy Chris Geigle Masonic Courtesy Chris Geigle Masonic Courtesy Bill Cook Masonic Courtesy Bill Cook Masonic Courtesy Bill Cook Masonic Courtesy Bill Cook	Masonic Courtesy Dolores Steele Masonic Courtesy Dolores Steele Masonic Courtesy Dolores Steele Masonic Courtesy Chris Geigle Masonic Courtesy Chris Geigle Masonic Courtesy Chris Geigle Masonic Courtesy Chris Geigle Masonic Courtesy Bill Cook Masonic Courtesy Bill Cook Masonic Courtesy Bill Cook Masonic Courtesy Bill Cook Masonic Courtesy Bill Cook

Sheepherders are about the only people now that visit Masonic when they drive a herd of sheep through what was a roistering mining camp. Located in a canyon close to the Nevada border, Masonic is truly a ghost town. There are no residents except rodents and the like who have decided to make Masonic home. The town once had a population of about a thousand souls during its productive years that ended around 1901. Gold was first discovered here in the 1860s. Masonic was built on three levels or terraces with the middle level having the main street through town. Because the mine was located some distance from town, which housed the mill, ore was transported via an extensive tram system. It is fortunate for the ghost town visitor that most of the ruins are still here including the tram system. Submitted by Rob Newquist and Henry Chenoweth.

Masonic, California must have some kind of preservative in it, because it doesn't look like its changed much in 35 years. Here's the write-up by Lambert Florin on Masonic. Its short and only one picture, but it fills in a little history from the fine write-up at Ghosttowns.com. Page 35, February, 1966.