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Betrothed Couples Find Their 'Something Old' at Calico Town

Calico Town

Calico Town, an authentic ghost town, averages five weddings a year.

Calico Town makes “getting hitched” easier than falling off a horse.

Today‚ the site is home to an authen­tic mining “ghost town” open to folks who want to roam streets of old-time buildings – about a third of them original – erected when the mining spree began in 1881. Naturally‚ there are places for food and shopping‚ and a campground and other facilities to stay the night.

But folks also can get married there – and they do.

“The weddings go back before this became a county park. We just carried on that tradition‚” says Serena Steiner‚ who is in charge of interpretative programs at Calico Town‚ as well as wedding coordinator.

“My earliest records from the ’60s and ’70s show pictures at that time were published in the local paper. They show a couple posed on steps of the school in bridal outfits.”

The favorite locations are the school­house or the Silver Bowl‚ which is a stage with a Western backdrop. The school is more formal and elegant – a one-room school with a belltower on top. Sometimes the bridal party will have its reception there‚ at the back of the Calico House Restaurant.

Those attending the wedding prob­ably will see traditional bridal attire and period costumes‚ from a bride in white cowboy hat and boots to the groom decked out like Wyatt Earp. There are lots of great photo opportunities.

“I usually take pictures myself and put them on a CD as a gift for the couple‚” Steiner says.

She also points out that another advantage to having a wedding there is the built-in entertainment for children‚ who easily can entertain themselves while grownups enjoy the adult festivities.

“All day long‚ it’s a very comfortable atmosphere‚” she says.

For more Calico Town information‚ visit www.calicotown.com.

Story by Catherine Darnell
Photo by Wes Aldridge

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