Nestled overlooking the scenic White River in Arkansas, Calico Rock offers a unique blend of natural beauty and historical intrigue. For those captivated by history and the allure of the past, a visit to East Calico, the town’s original settlement in Izard County, is an absolute must. Calico Rock stands out as a truly distinctive destination, holding the remarkable title of being the only town in America with an authentic ghost town located entirely within its city limits – a genuine “ghost town within a town.”
Calico Rock Bluffs Overlooking the White River
East Calico: From Boomtown to Ghost Town
At the dawn of the 20th century, East Calico was a bustling hub of activity, a significant center for rail and river transport serving the thriving local industries of zinc mining, timber, and cotton farming. However, this rapid growth came with a rough-and-tumble frontier atmosphere. East Calico gained notoriety as a wild town where disputes were often settled with knives or guns, fueled in part by the clandestine operations of bootleggers who peddled moonshine, known locally as “peppersauce,” in the infamous alley behind Main Street – aptly nicknamed Peppersauce Alley.
The transformation of this once-prosperous area into an abandoned ghost town is a story shrouded in some mystery. A combination of factors appears to have contributed to its decline, including devastating fires, floods, and the inevitable shifts in economic supply and demand. The local economy transitioned from cotton to livestock, leading to the closure of the once-vital cotton gin. Businesses gradually shut their doors for various reasons, never to reopen, and residents migrated in search of employment elsewhere. The relentless forces of nature, with scorching summers and harsh winters, took their toll on the buildings, causing further deterioration. As Calico Rock expanded, new development shifted to higher ground west of Calico Creek, leaving East Calico behind.
Historical Image of Old Calico Rock in 1912
Rediscovering East Calico Ghost Town
The renowned author Lambert Florin, known for his chronicles of Western ghost towns, aptly described a ghost town as “a shadowy semblance of a former self.” To this, we might add – a place where nature reclaims its territory, and perhaps whispers of the past linger in the air.
In 2007, the Calico Rock Organization for Revitalization Efforts (CORE) recognized the unique historical value of East Calico and opened the ghost town as a captivating tourist attraction. Calico Rock itself has experienced a resurgence in tourism, particularly renowned for its exceptional trout fishing. The allure of exploring a genuine ghost town adds another layer of intrigue for visitors.
Main Street of Calico Rock with Historic Buildings
Although East Calico is privately owned, the landowner graciously permits self-guided walking tours, allowing visitors to step back in time and experience the remnants of this historic community. Visitors are asked to respect “no trespassing” signs and refrain from entering the dilapidated structures for safety. Informative signs, numbering twenty-two in total, are strategically placed throughout the ghost town, providing rich historical context about the 20 original buildings that still stand as silent witnesses to the past. While many buildings are overgrown with vegetation, boarded up, or reduced to mere shells, they collectively offer an evocative glimpse into a bygone era.
East Calico Ghost Town as a Tourist Attraction
Planning Your Visit to Calico Rock’s Ghost Town
To begin your exploration of East Calico ghost town, a recommended first stop is the Calico Rock Museum and Visitor Center. Here, you can obtain a helpful map and brochure to guide your self-guided tour. The Visitor Center itself is a treasure trove of local art, historical exhibits, and valuable information about the area, so be sure to allocate sufficient time to explore its offerings.
For access to the ghost town, parking is conveniently available near the intersection of Main and Walnut Streets. From there, a short walk eastward along Walnut Street will lead you into East Calico. The terrain is generally flat and easily navigable. As you cross Calico Creek, take a moment to appreciate the trestle bridge, a structure built in 1941 by local residents. Alternatively, you can drive across the bridge and find parking directly on Walnut Street within the heart of the ghost town.
Historic Trestle Bridge in Calico Rock Facing West
One of the first structures you’ll encounter on the left side of Walnut Street is a small, concrete building that served as the town jail from the 1920s to the 1950s. Remarkably, this is the only building visitors are permitted to enter. Stepping inside this stark space, which once held up to 20 individuals on a busy Saturday night, offers an undeniably eerie and tangible connection to the past.
Across from the jail, you can observe the remnants of the former feed store, cottonseed sheds, and the cotton gin, further illustrating East Calico’s agricultural and commercial history.
Continuing along Walnut Street, interpretive signs mark the locations of numerous other former businesses and community buildings. These include the sites of a garage, creamery, school, tavern, barbershop, movie theater, hardware store, grocery store, blacksmith shop, telephone exchange, electric power and ice plant, cheese factory, funeral parlor, Ford garage, Mobil Oil station, Chevrolet garage, grist mill, and White River Propane. Imagining the bustling activity that once filled these now-vanished spaces vividly brings the ghost town to life.
Nature Reclaiming the Calico Rock Ghost Town
Visiting East Calico ghost town offers a poignant history lesson and a unique opportunity to experience a tangible piece of Arkansas’s past. If possible, consider planning your visit during the fall when the Ozark foliage is ablaze with color, adding an extra layer of beauty to this already captivating destination. Explore the ghost town charm of Calico Rock, Arkansas, and uncover a hidden gem of American history.
