Brent Underwood’s Six-Year Quest to Revive California’s Cerro Gordo Ghost Town
Brent Underwood spent $1.4 million in 2018 to buy the abandoned silver-mining town of Cerro Gordo near Lone Pine, California, using his life savings and a high-interest loan. Six years later, he is converting the site into a tourist destination with a hotel, eight cabins, and a restaurant. Despite facing significant challenges, including an electrical fire that destroyed a nearly finished hotel, Underwood remains committed to preserving the town's history while making it accessible to visitors. The town is currently open for day visits, with free self-guided tours and paid weekend mine tours.
Key points
- Underwood purchased Cerro Gordo in 2018 for $1.4 million, citing a love of history and hospitality.
- The town, which had thousands of residents in the 1880s, had only about 20 remaining buildings when Underwood bought it.
- An electrical fire destroyed a nearly completed hotel, forcing Underwood to restart that portion of the project.
- The site is currently open to day visitors from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free self-guided tours and $20 guided mine tours on weekends.
- Underwood plans to complete the hotel and eight cabins by next year, alongside a restaurant and bar.
Background
This story follows the long-term development of a private real estate project in California's Eastern Sierra. Unlike recent local news regarding seismic activity or legal disputes, this project focuses on historical preservation and tourism. The archive does not contain prior coverage of Cerro Gordo, but the current situation highlights the logistical challenges of remote development, such as the two-hour drive to the nearest hardware store.
Why it matters
The project illustrates the risks and rewards of investing in remote, historical sites. It demonstrates how private individuals can attempt to revitalize abandoned communities through tourism, despite facing significant financial and logistical hurdles. The outcome will determine whether such ventures can sustainably preserve local history while generating economic activity.
What to watch
Underwood expects to complete the hotel and eight cabins by 2027. He plans to open a restaurant and bar as part of the resort. The town will continue to offer day visits and weekend mine tours in the interim. Success will depend on overcoming further construction challenges and attracting sufficient tourists to justify the initial investment.
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