Well, maybe not that scary.
A little cool here in the desert today, only 65* high. Lots of work this week so went out to just ride around for about 200 miles. Around for a while on 2 lane desert roads and then I headed over to Eagle Mtn to take a look. Never been there before and it is at the end of a 12 mile road that takes off from a little used desert road.
A modern day ghost town founded in 1948 by iron magnate Henry J. Kaiser. Eagle Mountain is located at the entrance of the now-defunct Eagle Mountain iron mine. As the mine expanded, Eagle Mountain grew to a peak population of 4000. It had wide, landscaped streets lined with over four hundred homes, some with as many as four bedrooms. Two hundred trailer spaces and several boarding houses and dormitories provided living space for Kaiser's itinerant workforce. Other amenities included an auditorium, a park, a shopping center, a community swimming pool, lighted tennis courts, and a baseball diamond. Businesses included a bowling alley, two gas stations, eight churches and three schools.
Increased environmental concerns in the 1970s led to a reduction in iron output. On November 3, 1981, Kaiser Corporation announced the phasing out of the entire Eagle Mountain Mine operation over several years.
lots of empty bldgs. did not see a single vehicle or person as i rode out, walked around taking a look at the site. I then headed back on the isolated road and stopped at a one lane paved cross road to check my GPS on phone to see where the road went and how I might head home.
i had been out to the ghost town for about 45 min without seeing anyone and as I was stopped looking at phone a small security truck pulled up with a girl in a uniform driving and young guy as passenger also in security uniform.
No one else around.
She seemed nice and asked if I needed any help. I said "No, just riding around." So she then tells me "you can't park here".
I say "Why not?" And she tells me "you are blocking traffic." I reply, "don't see much traffic." And her reply "Well, you have to move." So I say what about 10 feet over there and she tells me that would be OK. Go figure. Must have been the uniform.
They drove off as I walked to my bike but being the rebellious guy I am, I just left the Valk there for several more minutes until I was ready to go. Had a nice ride home but still feeling a little guilty about not moving the bike right away.
