Man Spent His Life Savings and Took Out a Loan to Buy a $1.4M Californian Ghost Town, Now He Lives There Alone

Brent Underwood spent his life savings and took out a loan to buy Cerro Gordo, a 19th‑century Californian mining settlement, paying $1.4 million for the abandoned ghost town in 2018 and moving to live there full time in March 2020 as he works to restore the site and develop it as a visitor destination.

"I've always had a love of history and hospitality," Underwood said, recalling how a late‑night text from a friend led him to the real estate listing and ultimately to the purchase. "There's a romanticism to the West that's pulled millions of people out here, and it had a hold on me early."

Cerro Gordo was once a bustling silver‑mining town with a few thousand residents and hundreds of buildings at its peak in the 1870s. By the time Underwood bought the property, roughly 20 historic structures remained. Key surviving landmarks include a former general store now converted into a museum, the remains of an old brothel, a historic bunkhouse, and the Hoist House above the Union Mine, whose shaft drops about 900 feet underground. Other adapted structures include a garage repurposed as a church and a movie theatre.

Underwood said his decision followed quick research and a flight to California after a friend joked the listing could be his "next thing." What began as an impulsive purchase has become a long‑term restoration project that has tested his resolve and resources. He admits the solitude suits him. "I've always been a bit of an introvert, so the solitude doesn't bother me much," he said. "There isn't the ambient noise that you have in cities, but don't really realise until you've left."

Restoration challenges and setbacks

• Major fire: In June 2020 the American Hotel — one of Cerro Gordo's most recognisable 19th‑century buildings — was destroyed by fire while Underwood was working on restoration. The cause was not immediately established, and the hotel now needs to be rebuilt.
• Logistics: The nearest hardware store is about two hours away, forcing careful planning for parts and supplies rather than quick trips for materials.
• Permitting and construction: The shell of a new American Hotel has been completed, but interior work remains delayed pending permits.

Underwood documents the project's progress on his YouTube channel, Ghost Town Living, and has already opened Cerro Gordo to day visitors with free self‑guided tours and paid guided weekends. His long‑term plan is to develop guest accommodation and hospitality offerings: a hotel with eight guest rooms, plus a restaurant and bar, which would allow overnight stays at the remote site.

Living alone at Cerro Gordo since March 2020, Underwood emphasises the sensory rewards of the location — especially the clear night sky. "The stars here are as bright as stars can be, because there is no light pollution to interfere," he said. He also notes the breadth of work remaining: "I never run out of things to do, and even after six years, I feel like I'm just scratching the surface."

As restoration continues, Underwood faces both practical hurdles and regulatory ones, but his vision is clear: to preserve the historic settlement and build a sustainable visitor experience that combines hospitality with heritage conservation. For now, Cerro Gordo remains a work in progress — a ghost town being gradually rewritten into a destination under one owner's gamble and ongoing labour.