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Paranormal Benton: Mysteries of a Living Ghost Town

For more than 150 years, Benton Hot Springs has witnessed boomtimes, hardship, celebration, tragedy, and countless untold stories. Nestled beneath the vast skies of the Eastern Sierra, this historic community has become known not only for its rich history and natural beauty, but also for reports of unexplained activity that continue to intrigue visitors today.

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Whether you are a seasoned investigator, a curious traveler, or simply someone who appreciates local folklore, Benton offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of history and mystery.

Why Benton?

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Unlike many abandoned ghost towns, Benton is a living historic community where original buildings, historic landscapes, and documented events provide a tangible connection to the past.

Over the decades, visitors, residents, and investigators have reported experiences including:

  • Unexplained voices and conversations

  • Footsteps in empty buildings

  • Shadow-like figures

  • Mysterious lights

  • Objects appearing to move on their own

  • Sudden temperature changes

  • Unusual photographic anomalies

 

While no experience can be scientifically guaranteed, the combination of history, isolation, and authentic historic structures creates an atmosphere unlike any other.

A Town With
Stories to Tell

Benton's history is filled with colorful characters and dramatic events:

Silver Boom Era

During the late 1860s and 1870s, thousands of miners, merchants, travelers, and entrepreneurs passed through Benton. Saloons, hotels, boarding houses, newspapers, mills, and stagecoach stops served a rapidly growing population.

Frontier Hardships

Like many frontier communities, Benton experienced accidents, illness, violence, and personal tragedy. The historic cemetery overlooking the town serves as a reminder of the people who helped build this remote settlement.

A Place of Constant Change

As mining fortunes rose and fell, families came and went, businesses opened and closed, and generations left their mark on the landscape. Many believe those stories have never completely faded.

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OC Ghosts and Legends

OC Ghosts & Legends is renowned for uncovering obscure haunted sites in the paranormal community. Benton Hot Springs was one such location on our radar, which certainly met expectations.

 

 

 

OCGL's kick-off event in October 2024 was a massive success and completely sold out! They are currently planning a return visit, with an exclusive investigation in 2026. 

During 2023 and into 2024, the OCGL team delved into extensive investigations of Historic Benton Hot Springs and encountered more than anticipated. 

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Our History

The valley that Benton Hot Springs is located was part of a natural road long used by indigenous peoples.  The Hot Spring was a stopping point for part of the Fremont-Walker expedition of 1845.  Later, the hot springs sat on the trail that was used to bring cattle from southern California to meet the growing needs of the mining population in the Eastern Sierra.  The location and the hot springs were major factors in establishing the mining town and the development of the area later as a resort.  

Benton  Hot Springs sprang up around 1864 to support the silver mining in the area. Then silver was discovered in Blind Springs Hill and miners poured in and settled near the hot springs.  The hot springs provided ample water for a growing population.  The Blind Spring Mining District yielded high grade silver ore so by 1865, there was over 200 miners located in the area.  As with all mining towns, there were boom and bust periods and Benton was not exempt.  Throughout the 19th century,  the population
fluctuated from a high of 900 people to a low of 50 people at the end of the 
century.  As the 20th century dawned, the town revitalized with the use of the automobile and more leisure time.  Tourists came for the water and to see the natural environment.  Benton Hot Springs never died and continues to thrive today and into the future.  Come connect with the past, wander by the old buildings and read about stories of the men and women who made this town strong. 


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760.933.2493

55045 Highway 120

Benton Ca 93512

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