Dublin Gulch Ghost Town Miners Caves

Dublin Gulch is a unique ghost town with most of its city underground. In the early 1900s, miners and railroad workers created living quarters by carving caves in the cliffs near Shoshone, California. These dwellings had dual purposes – to keep people cool during the scorching summer heat and provide insulation from the freezing Mojave Desert winters.

Dublin Gulch caves line both sides of a dirt road about a half-mile off Highway 178 in Shoshone, California. The best-preserved caves are on the right side. Most of these have padlocked doors to keep out vandals.

Upon exploring the area, one may come across several cave dwellings that are accessible. Upon entering, one can imagine the lifestyle of underground living in the Mojave Desert.

Dublin Gulch Residents

Dublin Gulch was inhabited on and off up until the mid-1970s. Miners, hobos, hippies, and derelicts all called these caves home. When one person moved out or died, another moved in.

Rumor has it that several Manson family members lived in these caves after being kicked out of Barker Ranch by Charles Manson. Frank “Shorty” Harris, one of the well-known Death Valley prospectors, also lived in the Dublin Gulch.

Living in Caves

Most of the cave dwellings have only one room. One of the more luxurious homes has several rooms plus a garage. Fireplaces heated several of the caves. Stovepipes can still be seen protruding from the top of the bluff.

Residents of the cavern homes were not the cleanest bunch. There are several huge piles of cans littering the area. Sanitation consisted of a two-seat outhouse that is still there today. If you need to use the restroom, we suggest using the one next to the Shoshone Post Office. You will more than likely find a rattlesnake sitting in the gulch outhouse.

Where is Dublin Gulch Ghost Town

Dublin Gulch is located about a half-mile outside of Shoshone, California. Follow the dirt road next to the cemetery to reach the cave dwellings. The road is rough and may not be suitable for low-clearance vehicles. (you can always walk. It’s not too far.) Shoshone is 53 miles south of Baker, California, on Highway 127.

Dublin Gulch Video

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