Termo - California Ghost Town

TERMO

NAME: Termo
COUNTY: Lassen
ROADS: 2WD
GRID #(see map): 1
CLIMATE: Pleasant to warm summer days, cold winters with occasional heavy snow
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Anytime

COMMENTS: Don't Blink!
REMAINS: Railroad facilities.

In 1899, the Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad began pushing their line north of Susansville, California, into the Modoc Plateau country. 50 miles from the middle of nowhere, railroad construction crews began to assemble an enormous freight house of 178' x 48' with other outbuildings and cottages for railroad workers at a site they chose to call Termo. There was some friction within the railroad over the choosing of this site, as Madeline further north looked to be more promising. Soon, the huge warehouse was known as the "$50,000 folly." The entire line of the N-C-O Railroad between Susansville and Termo was put into operation June 1, 1900. In July, 1901, Termo lost its title as the northern railhead of the N-C-O when the line was pushed on an additional 14 miles north to Madeline. Today, Termo is still in the middle of nowhere. Only an occupied home with railroad oil and water tanks mark the spot, as well as the marked junction of the Termo-Grasshopper Road. Submitted by David A. Wright, Great Basin Research.	Nearby Ravendale Courtesy David A. Wright Great Basin Research

In 1899, the Nevada-California-Oregon Railroad began pushing their line north of Susansville, California, into the Modoc Plateau country. 50 miles from the middle of nowhere, railroad construction crews began to assemble an enormous freight house of 178' x 48' with other outbuildings and cottages for railroad workers at a site they chose to call Termo. There was some friction within the railroad over the choosing of this site, as Madeline further north looked to be more promising. Soon, the huge warehouse was known as the "$50,000 folly." The entire line of the N-C-O Railroad between Susansville and Termo was put into operation June 1, 1900. In July, 1901, Termo lost its title as the northern railhead of the N-C-O when the line was pushed on an additional 14 miles north to Madeline. Today, Termo is still in the middle of nowhere. Only an occupied home with railroad oil and water tanks mark the spot, as well as the marked junction of the Termo-Grasshopper Road. Submitted by David A. Wright, Great Basin Research.

Nearby Ravendale
Courtesy David A. Wright
Great Basin Research

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