Benton - California Ghost Town

BENTON

NAME: Benton
COUNTY: Mono
ROADS: 2WD
GRID #(see map): 3
CLIMATE: Cold in winter, mild to hot in summer.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Summer and fall.

COMMENTS: The original town of Benton is now called Benton Hot Springs. Semi-Ghost. Year road residents but still a very quiet town. Located on Benton Crossing Road about 5 miles west of HWY 6. Check out the hot springs and old store while you're there!
Nearby Bling Spring Hill/Yellow Jacket Mountain is literally covered with mines! The road is 4wd with high clearance only! Dont try this in a Susuki (trust me on this one!)!
REMAINS: Many original buildings, a wonderful scenic cemetary and plenty of mines to explore nearby

The local Indians of the area came to Benton originally to make use of the hot springs. But as Bodie and Aurora boomed, Benton became a way station to the south. Gold was discovered on Blind Spring Hill in 1862 and the town took off but most of the profits were seen from silver. Benton was a calm mining town that provided for the surrounding mining districts and survived longer due to that fact. The main activity was from 1862 to 1889 but the town has never completely died. One interesting story of Benton: William Bodey's partner(namesake of Bodie), E.S. Taylor, was killed here by a band of maurading Indians. They besieged his cabin for two days and then set fire to his roof. He was killed when he was forced from his cabin by the fire but not before he had killed 10 of the Indians. Submitted by: Cat Evans Benton Courtesy Dolores Steele Four walls standing Courtesy Dolores Steele House Courtesy Dolores Steele Benton Courtesy Dolores Steele Benton Courtesy Dolores Steele Benton Courtesy Dolores Steele Benton Courtesy Bill Cook Benton Courtesy Bill Cook	Benton Courtesy Wes Schrader Benton Courtesy Cat Evans Benton Courtesy Cat Evans Benton Courtesy Cat Evans Hotel Courtesy Dolores Steele " The Old House at Benton " Courtesy Dolores Steele Roofless house Courtesy Dolores Steele Benton Courtesy Bill Cook Benton Courtesy Bill Cook

The local Indians of the area came to Benton originally to make use of the hot springs. But as Bodie and Aurora boomed, Benton became a way station to the south. Gold was discovered on Blind Spring Hill in 1862 and the town took off but most of the profits were seen from silver. Benton was a calm mining town that provided for the surrounding mining districts and survived longer due to that fact. The main activity was from 1862 to 1889 but the town has never completely died. One interesting story of Benton: William Bodey's partner(namesake of Bodie), E.S. Taylor, was killed here by a band of maurading Indians. They besieged his cabin for two days and then set fire to his roof. He was killed when he was forced from his cabin by the fire but not before he had killed 10 of the Indians.

Submitted by: Cat Evans