Petersburg

California wrote the book on ghost towns, from Gold Rush tent cities to Owens Valley farm towns the aqueduct dried up.

Petersburg (also, Petersburgh and Greenhorn) is a former settlement in Kern County, California. It was located on Greenhorn Creek 4.5 miles (7.2 km) west-northwest of Miracle Hot Springs, at an elevation of 4731 feet (1442 m). Petersburg still appeared on maps as of 1956. A post office operated at Petersburgh from 1858 to 1863. The place was named for Peter Gardett, early merchant there.

The on-the-ground condition of Petersburg is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Petersburg is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.