IN 2018, BRENT UNDERWOOD SUBMITTED A WINNING $1.4 MILLION BID on a network of dried-up silver mines in Southern California. The property includes 336 acres (136 ha) of high-desert terrain and the remains of a mining boomtown called Cerro Gordo, or 'Fat Hill'.
After Covid-19 hit, Underwood moved from his home in Austin, Texas, to live at Cerro Gordo full-time. Now he's the sole inhabitant of a genuine Wild West artefact.
The day we closed on Cerro Gordo, my partner and I met the caretaker to receive the most preposterous key chain I've ever seen. There must have been 40 keys hanging off it. It happened to be Friday the 13th and my partner's birthday, so after signing the papers, we retreated to Cerro Gordo to celebrate.
The plan back then was basically the same as it is now: We want to turn the old mining town into an offbeat hospitality destination and artist retreat. Things just haven't run as smoothly as we'd hoped.
Originally we talked about soft-launching a few cabins on Airbnb by Halloween 2019, but logistical challenges, a catastrophic fire, and an international pandemic have continued to push that date back. Now here we are (in 2022), still not open for overnight guests, and for the past two years, I've lived at Cerro Gordo alone.
Don't t get me wrong, the town is humming. Volunteers show up frequently to help me restore the old buildings, and brave travellers drive in over nearly eight miles of steep, rough gravel for self-guided tours. But it's a lot of work to put in without any serious income.
Bu hikaye Popular Mechanics South Africa dergisinin January/February 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Popular Mechanics South Africa dergisinin January/February 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Can a retired rocket engine take us to Mars?
The space shuttle's main engine was mothballed with the programme in 2011. Now NASA believes it's the future of interplanetary travel.
6 metre waves. All engines on fire. 1 500 Km from land.
How Flying Tiger 923 and its 'miracle pilot' made an impossible ocean landing.
Land Rover Discovery D300
A FEW MONTHS ago a $2 billion lottery jackpot was won in the United States. It’s fun to sometimes ponder outrageous winnings like that, and how I’d spend it, even if it’s completely detached from reality.
Volkswagen Taigo R-Line 1.0 TSI
The compact proportions make this a delightful daily commuter.
Mazda CX-5 2.2 L De Akera AWD
Floor the pedal and overtaking is achieved easily and safely.
Making the most out of your grinder
THE HUMBLE BENCH GRINDER IS A STAPLE of the handyworker's home shop, largely due to its versatility. But, while you can employ one to remove metal from just about anything, the traditional kind may not provide the precision you need for every grinding operation. Here, we shed light on the best ways to use the different types of grinders, gleaned from our testing.
Unlock your devices' full potential with a USB-C hub
AS NEW TECH SHRINKS EACH YEAR, essential ports such as USB-A, HDMI, and ethernet are being replaced by the slimmer USB-C.
WE BUILT THE WORLD'S FIRST V-8 TESLA
THE RICH REBUILDS TEAM HAD A DEAD MODEL S. THEY FIXED IT WITH A CAMARO ENGINE.
I bought a GHOST TOWN
This abandoned California mining village once had 400 buildings. Now I'm restoring the 20 that remain.
F1 taught me that speed starts with comfort
AS A FAN OF MOTORSPORT, I'M ALWAYS fascinated with the finer details that go into Formula One racing. Piloting the fastest racing cars on the planet subjects drivers to savage forces - up to 6 G's under braking which has led to an almost endless pursuit of comfort.
