Goffs Schoolhouse and Ghost Town

Upon leaving Essex, this stretch of lonely Route 66 is now inaccessible. It goes under the 40 freeway past Fenner. Looking around at the surroundings, we saw nothing but arid desert.

The asphalt stretched out before us splitting the desert sands, which steadily blew grains at a time across the roadway reclaiming its barren features.

Many buildings can be seen in the distance peeking out over the desert brush and nestled infant of the low lying mountains in the background is Goffs Schoolhouse & Ghost Town — The Ghost Town of Goffs

Just as we began to wonder what could be out here, our eyes strained to focus through the amorphous mirage of heat at the sight of buildings. Our eyes were not deceiving us; there are buildings and inhabitants out here. Welcome to Goffs Schoolhouse & Ghost Town.

Goffs Schoolhouse & Ghost Town overgrown gravel and dirt road in the middle of nowhere is the original alignment of Route 66 — The original alignment of Old Route 66

Goffs school is located just slightly off the motorway. The old Route 66 once drove through a part of the property, and a small section is still visible. They are tiny pieces, mind you!

The schoolhouse

It was 2:30 pm when we pulled into the dirt parking lot. A little later then we had expected, and we were the only two people around.

Single story stucco building with terra cotta roof tiles arched entrances and covered patio on a large dirt lot — Goffs School House

We headed into the main building to get a map and give a donation. Inside was an amiable woman who was a wealth of knowledge about the history of the property.

Goffs began its existence as a mainline stop for the Sante Fe Railroad in 1883. The neighbourhood grew in size and by the early 1900s became a bustling little town. In 1914, the schoolhouse was built to accommodate the growing number of children.

Goffs Schoolhouse & Ghost Town classroom with desks set up with a mannequin as the teacher c1914. there is a flag hanging from the wall. Old pictures and photos and an original chalk board. there is a piano in the left corner. the doorway is to the right. — The mannequin is named Miss Pearl Long, after one of the school teachers.

This building has some school desks, old photographs and various miscellaneous pieces in their cases.

The community schoolhouse used to thrive on the railway, old Route 66, mining and ranching from 1914 to 1937.

Old cardboard cutout of a 1950s era police officer holding up one hand and holding a sign shaped like a shield in the other saying slow school zone — Classroom

The one-roomed mission-style schoolhouse taught children from grades 1 to 8, with just one teacher to tutor all the classes.

Five hundred and twenty-three students and 18 teachers spent time in this classroom during its years of operation.

A library also sits a little way away from the school.

Small cabin like home with a single street lamp outside and swamp cooler in one of the windows surrounded by desert landscapes — The Library

In 1931 Route 66 was realigned, and within a few years, Goffs became a ghost town.

The building was finally restored in 1998, after years of neglect and vandalism.

goffs ghost town

With our map of the property, we headed out to see as much as we could before they closed. There is a lot to see and to be quite honest you need several hours, maybe half a day to explore all the relics of this museum thoroughly.

Lady leaning against a 1934 Chevrolet Truck studying the info brochure — Andrea leaning against a 1934 Chevrolet Truck studying the info brochure

Neatly positioned rocks outline the pathways which crisscross and meander. Old stoves, crockery, bottles, cans, bones, graves, cars, and mining equipment have been meticulously placed.

Goffs Schoolhouse and Ghost Town rusted stove sitting out on the sand with many more rusting relics half buried in the sand all around — An old stove with some pots

Many different glass bottles strewn about at Goffs Schoolhouse and Ghost Town — Many different glass bottles strewn around

Remains of animal carcasses bleached by the desert sun at Goffs Schoolhouse & Ghost Town — Remains of animal carcasses bleached by the desert sun

Flat graves boarded by large stones. They all have a small flag at their head. Only a few have grave stones, the rest are unmarked — Most of the graves are unmarked

Antique car slowly falling apart sitting on the desert landscape watching the sun set on a warm summer evening

"Ed's Shed" a collection of blacksmithing and smelting equipment inside of a three sided structure made of railroad ties with scattered cans around the outside — “Ed’s Shed” a collection of blacksmithing and smelting equipment

The sun was beginning its stoic descent and changing the soft hazy winter light to a much deeper and richer come-hither tone. That enriched the experience for us and, the fact we had it all to ourselves made it much more special.

Closing time is 4 pm, only moments away. One of the volunteers told us to take our time and see everything. They would leave the service road open for us while they closed the rest of the site. How amazing and nice is that!

boulevard of dreams

We strolled along the Boulevard Of Dreams, snapping away at the amazing relics that lined the way. The Stamp Mill, the railway depot, mining equipment and a host of other artefacts.

Long dirt boulevard of dreams at Goffs Schoolhouse & Ghost Town with memorabilia and buildings on each side — The long dirt boulevard

If you stop and listen carefully, you may catch the old rail bell ringing, or the stamp mill’s gears cranking away on the wings of the warm desert breeze.

Old mining equipment stands alone at the edge of boulevard of dreams at Goffs Schoolhouse & Ghost Town — Old mining equipment stands alone at the edge of Boulevard of Dreams

It is a real photographers paradise. Everywhere you turn you see a work of art waiting to become immortalized behind your viewfinder.

Two story remodelled train depot in the desert with the sun setting on the horizon leaves a beautiful sky above — Goffs Rail Depot

Marshall Windmill and well - with a fan 16-ft in diameter. The well is 855 feet deep — Marshall Windmill and well – with a fan 16-ft in diameter. The well is 855 feet deep

A great deal of time, effort and passion have been taken to place these items around Goffs Schoolhouse and Ghost Town.

It does take hard work to keep it looking clean and inviting for guests, so please stop in and leave a donation for this is a non-profit organization. I have a feeling you will be happy you did.

Desert sunset over mountains leaves the streaks of clouds ablaze with fiery colours — Desert Sunset

Finishing our walk, we headed back to the car. Our beautiful and fun day had come to an end. I wonder what tomorrow will hold?

goffs schoolhouse and ghost town in a nutshell

Address: 37198 Lanfair Rd, Essex, CA 92332
Opening Hours: 9 am – 4 pm. Sat, Sun, Mon. From the 2nd weekend of October through the end of June
CLOSED JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER
Donation required – and you receive a small booklet outlining over 100 sites and artefacts.
A recommendation of $3.00 per person
Be prepared to spend at least two or more hours here
Official website – https://www.mdhca.org/cultural-center/schoolhouse
Fill your vehicle with petrol, as this is quite a remote location
Take plenty of water with you
Wear comfortable shoes – a lot of walking is involved