Eagle Mountain is among the America’s best preserved ghost towns, mostly due to the fact that it’s one of the newest. In the shadows of Joshua Tree inin Riverside County, the town was founded in 1948 byHenry J. Kaiser, a.k.a,the father of modern Americanshipbuilding. And yet even with a great industrialist on its side, this town tells afamiliar story of abandonment…
It was arich iron ore deposit that brought Henry Kaiser to Eagle Mountain, and at its height during World War II,the town had a population of over 4,000 people. There were wide boulevards, tennis courts, several schools, churches, an auditorium, a park, a shopping center, a swimming pool and a bowling alley. In the 1970s, resources were running low and environmental concerns slowed down the mining operations. In 1981, after 35 years of mining, theKaiser Corporation announced the end to operations there altogether.
The last high school class graduated from Eagle Mountain in 1983 and only the few residents left behind clung on to the hope of a future for their desert home. A few years later, the town’s shopping mall was converted into a prison, whichonly lasted for 5 years until budgetary problems and a fatal riot closed the correctional facility down for good. To keep any kind of industry alive in the town, it was even proposed to turn the area and its old mine into a giant landfill– but that idea has never found much traction.
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As of 2007, theperimeters of both the town and mine have been fenced and gatedto the public. The easiest way to see Eagle Mountain today is by drone. So here’s some pretty creepy footage from Youtube…
Ironically, the only interest in Eagle Mountain lately has come from Hollywood, when thearea is used as an occasional film set. A site manager has apparently been appointed to handle access requests, but I found the website of the Riverside County Film Commission which lists Eagle County as one of its locations for hire. Universal Studios used the town to make a3D film for atheme park attraction based on the original Terminator 2 – Judgment Day movie. Other movies madethere include apocalyptic action flicks such as The Island (2005) and Battle of Los Angeles (2011).
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If you thinkgetting a film permit is a little far-fetched, but you’d still like to see the area, try Desert Center, just 13 miles down the road from Eagle Mountain, one the mine’s suburban towns which has been equally abandoned following Kaiser’s withdrawal.
More photos of Desert Center here.
Also worth a visit nearby is the former Desert Warfare Training Center used by General Patton and US Army.Most of the camp sites can be visited, consisting of abandoned streets, sidewalks, building foundations, patterns of hand-laid rocks and monuments, as well as fenced off with danger signs warning of unexploded ordnance.
Just your average weekend road trip!
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I'm an enthusiast with a deep understanding of historical sites and ghost towns, and I'm here to provide insights into the intriguing story of Eagle Mountain. My knowledge extends to the historical context, the reasons behind its rise and fall, and its current state as a Hollywood film set.
Eagle Mountain, situated in Riverside County near Joshua Tree, was founded in 1948 by Henry J. Kaiser, a prominent figure known as the father of modern American shipbuilding. The town thrived during World War II, with a population exceeding 4,000 and boasting amenities such as boulevards, schools, churches, an auditorium, a park, a shopping center, a swimming pool, and a bowling alley.
The town's prosperity, however, took a downturn in the 1970s as resources dwindled and environmental concerns impeded mining operations. In 1981, after 35 years of mining, the Kaiser Corporation ceased operations, leading to a gradual decline in Eagle Mountain. The last high school class graduated in 1983, and attempts to sustain the town, including converting the shopping mall into a prison, proved unsuccessful.
By 2007, the town and mine were fenced and gated to the public, and today, the only practical way to witness Eagle Mountain is through drone footage. Interestingly, Hollywood has found a renewed interest in the area, utilizing it as a film set for various productions. Universal Studios, for instance, used Eagle Mountain for a 3D film based on the original Terminator 2 – Judgment Day, along with other apocalyptic action films.
For those intrigued by the eerie remnants of Eagle Mountain, the nearby Desert Center, a suburban town abandoned after Kaiser's withdrawal, offers a closer look. Additionally, the former Desert Warfare Training Center used by General Patton and the US Army, located nearby, provides a unique glimpse into military history, with abandoned streets, sidewalks, building foundations, and signs warning of unexploded ordnance.
In summary, Eagle Mountain stands as a testament to the rise and fall of industrial towns, with its rich history, decline, and unexpected resurgence as a cinematic backdrop. If you're ever in the area, exploring both Eagle Mountain and its neighboring abandoned sites promises a fascinating journey into the past.
