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1695 Days Living In A Ghost Town
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- Published on May 15, 2025
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It has been 1695 days that I have been living up here, in the abandoned mining town of Cerro Gordo! My goal from day 1 has been to bring life back to this old ghost town and make it a place people could come and enjoy for years to come.
After some initial setbacks, it feels like we're getting closer every month. This month was no different. We did some winter preparation, brought fast Internet throughout the whole town, prepared for some future disasters, and even learned some really interesting history. A great month up here!
Thanks to @CrosstalkSolutions for the excellent Internet help and @dustupstexas for the erosion control!
Thank you all for the support!
You can follow my journey on Instagram: / brentwunderwood
Cerro Gordo T-Shirts and more. Gifts for the holiday season!: store.cerrogor...
Mailing Address: PO Box 490, Lone Pine, CA 93545
THANK YOU!
I can't believe it's been almost 5 years since I started watching this channel. It's still one of my favorites!
Me too!! 😁
Finding Brent's channel in 2020 was one of the best scores of that entire year..😎
Hi, me too, Brent seems like a great gut. I would love to go there and help him do stuff that would be awesome.
How are your animals doing Brent, we haven't seen them in a while. Hope they are well.
Oops, sorry, I didn't mean to put that here.
Me too. Where has that time gone.
I can't wait to see those check dams in action! Thanks for having me out.
What an awesome idea!
What Beth said 👍
absolutely brilliant idea. I hope it works with the first heavy rains they have there next.
It was an awesome episode thank you for helping and sharing your experience
Chrysocolla
Is the blue mineral in the mine you explored. It never forms crystals of its own. It will, semi-rarely replace one minerals crystals with itself. These are called pseudomorphs. Most often it is "massive" in its form, like your vein you found. If the massive form contains enough silica (quartz) it can be cut and polished and used in jewelry. Another interesting way to tell if your blue material is chrysocolla is the tongue test. Put your tongue on it. It will stick slightly, like velcro. Other blue minerals don't have this property i.e turquoise and azurite.
Enough minerals class. Love your videos, you are living the dream pard !
scrolled the comments looking for the answer to the mineral question , knowing someone like you would be here :-) thank you
The only thing wrong with these videos is that they're over before you know it and the end always comes too soon, Brent. Thanks for the nearly five years I've been with this channel, and here's hoping for another five to come.
Hey Brent! I work in construction project management renovating old buildings. We have our windows out for the winter too. Corex, 3 mil poly, and weatherstripping will help keep water and snow out of the hotel if your windows don't come in time. Good luck!!!
Thank you for the tip!
The Cerro Gordo Soundtrack is back!!! This makes me so happy, you don't understand. This vid gave me that same feeling I got when I first started watching this channel. Thanks, Brent, for putting the old music back in. ❤❤❤
I can't believe it's been this long! What a joy it has been to follow 😍
Oi! Nerdforge!!
The colab nobody could imagine. How is your silver-smithing?? 😊
Who needs television when there is epic content like this on RUclips. I found the channel as you were moving in. I belive it was the algorithm in action from watching MBMM with Jason. Then to see him on the channel years later was a full circle moment. Then to see Dave Sparks helping was another full circle moment. Be safe buddy.
Then to see Dan Hurd that was a hit for me. Some great collaborations with other You Tuber's for sure. Don't forget Jax from Wild Wild West who helped Dave Sparks with his cattle hauling cabover truck
.
I would wish the abundance of firewood up in Montana that would be generous for Jax or Sparks to bring Brent a Semi load of firewood.
There is still a lot of natural dead wood that could be trimmed out of the trees if the extra help went for a hike bring some back. He has Llamas and they could be used as pack animals.
Ditto! I've been here since the beginning and it has been such a pleasure to watch. Very inspiring too, thank you Brent! If I lived in the USA I would definitely be offering my help, it would be an amazing experience to live and work there and I would be happy with just food and lodgings.
Yes I like U Tube + Traveling Robert and the Sailing ⛵️ Doodles and Sailing Sophisticated Lady! Captain Rick Moore + Car Restoration! Vice Grip Garage, Nick's Garage! Pole Barn Garage-Hh wheels and wheels through time- Harley Davidson and Junk yard Diggs! U Tube enjoy
Oops I forgot Junk- er - up Chris Birdsong! And his Fantastic Dodge Chargers! He does Ground up Restoration and Race cars 🏎 by hand!'and he's a wonderful guy! Also " Abandoned Mines and forgotten places. Is also very interesting and a lot like " Ghost Town Living! And it's Great! Enjoy 😉
@@scuss2 I don't think they've ever been trained to do that, they're just pets and don't work.
Having gone from being stuck inside during covid in 2020 to now living on my own above the Arctic circle in an inherently risky choice to pursue music full-time, I really feel like I've grown up along Brent, Cerro Gordo, and their challenges. This channel has been such a nice companion through my early twenties, and now I'm closing in on 25 in just over two months' time :)
So he moved there before covid?
@ivo3598 If I remember my Brent Underwood lore correctly, he bought the town in 2018 and moved there full time not long after the pandemic began. I've been following since around August 2020, so I only had a handful of videos to watch to be fully caught up at the time
What a ruggedly handsome fellow terminating those CAT6 cables. 🙂Thanks for having us out. We had a wonderful time helping with the internet.
I thought he looked a bit sketchy LOL. What a great thing you did for him!
You guys are awesome!
@@winstonsmiths2449 😄
@@willeditsvids thank you! We had such a great time. The folks up at Cerro Gordo are so kind.
Maybe some people didn't see the beginning of the story where he came from a city.... I'm from the country how he survived this he must have really changed fast.. I wish they could put that snow plow in a building cuz look how good a shape it's in like barely any rust there's none of those left I bet
Colonel Mustard, would make a great name for the plow.
Call it General Mustard distant cousin to General Custer!
A cross between the two names “Custard”🙌😁
Hear hear
jinx! lol
The corn cornel
Those old trucks in the 50s were made to last if you can work that engine that thing will last you forever. Kind of like me I can’t believe I’m already 69. I was born in the 50s.😊 I remember when you first started this channel. I found it and was in love with it and still am ,so beautiful to see the progress you’ve made.
Thank You1 Thank You! for a wonderful story today. I am 93 years old and live here in Yuma, AZ. I am pretty well house bound and Cerro Gordo has me traveling again, Keep up the good work and God Bless You!
Oh, I love this channel. I work all day. When I see these videos, make my evening so relax!!!!
My Dad worked for International. He would take me & my brother to truck shows. I think Old Yeller, would be a good name for your new plow truck. ❤ Don't forget that you need headlights. Can't have a, one eyed work truck! You never know when you might need both eyes working on that truck! 😊
Alan from Mtfortresslabs probably has headlights in his horder piles.
I just read your post after I suggested the same name. Thinking I was so clever.. great minds
I was going to say Old Yeller too, great comment
Maybe even a good parts truck @@dianemackey
Ole Yeller indeed was the first thought that came to my mind👍💛
Wow has it really been five years?!? That’s crazy, I remember the first few videos and they get better and better as time goes on. Congrats Brent.
The new truck has Cerro Gordo written all over it. What a perfect fit for that amazing town.
Congratulations Mate for your 1695 days, 56 months, 4 years 7 months, day by day accomplishments, through rough days and those days when you look over see your parking lot full of VOLUNTEERS!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! Mate. 🙏🏻
Thank you very much!
If you ever need help up there on your land, Brother, I would be down to come by for a couple weeks and help out anyway I can. I’m not looking to be paid. Just a safe place to park my van 🚐 eat and work from! 🎉
Crazy name idea, but I would call it “Nugget” for all the silver and gold found throughout the mountains. ✌🏼
Yep! Upvoting this. It's already looking like a gold nugget in this yellow color and later one it can have a huge value keeping the town accessible!
perfecto
oh that is so good!
Where I'm from a "nugget" is a euphemism for a turd 😅
❤ it! It’s yellow as well and it fits perfectly.
We shared your sense of excitement when you bought it, cried with you when part of it burned down, struggled with you, cement trucks, road washouts, joy of rebuilding and of course the mines, ah yes the mines, where the sense of adventure was undisturbed by the struggles topside. I thank you for every year of the four and hope for so many more.
Couldn't have worded it better! Thank you for beautifuly sharing what a lot of us relate to regarding Brent's adventure. And obviously thank you Brent for inviting us into it, thanks to one of the most genuine and passionated documentation of this adventure. Including the book that was such a beautiful introspective perspective on the town and your relationship to it. Very appreciated!
I remember watching your first video right after you posted it. You've put so much spirit and hard work into bringing your dreams to life. Thank you for sharing your journey. You're an inspiration. May you continue to be showered with blessings.
I hope you're enjoying the network connectivity there and don't have to drive down to the hotel in Lone Pine anymore! Had a ton of fun out there!
I thought I recognized you in the video. Are you guys going to come out with individual videos? I got so excited about the tech aspects and was sad it ended up being so short. Makes perfect sense for his audience, but I want *more*
The bunk house ghost says booh!
I worked at Jeld Wen wayyyyyy back in the day and back then it seemed we were never late on orders. Especially custom windows or doors. Sad to hear they are slacking on you….
RIGHT ON BRENT! THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO MAKE THE CONTENT AND TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF US. YOU KICK ASS UP THERE MAN!
Would LOVE a live cam of Cerro Gordo. That we can check anytime.
Even if we have to stare at the water bowl way down under, Maybe get to see some supernatural's. Then email Brent and say hey guess who I saw while you were sleeping?
With eyes in the mines now , we might see some ghost miners running around .
I can't believe how fast time flies! I can't wait to come visit Cerro Gordo one day!
What draws us into the desert is the search for something intimate in the remote.
Been watching these videos since the beginning. So cool to see how far you've come.
Me too
I work for a lumber yard in AK, and windows have always had an insane lead time, especially if they are a non-stock size. And, it doesn't matter which manufacturer you purchase from. I wish you well on the window adventure.
Thank you! We’re about a month late so far, we will see. Custom wood windows
The most stressful thing I have done as a homeowner with standard size windows was have them replaced lol...a 6 week promise turned into a 16 week never ending headache😢😢😢😢
I've been watching you ever since you posted your very first video and following along with your journey. You have so much to be proud of, Brent. It's been remarkable seeing not only the transformation of the town and all that you've built, but your personal transformation as well. You actually look younger than you did when you started this series, which is wild. Hope to be able to come and see the place myself some day, keep up the good work.
I think it's AMAZING that the motor in that snowplow STILL turns over! It could have been rusted solid - rings to bore/block, and likewise the bearings. Amazing!
The engines on those trucks are legendary, with the most basic maintenance and care, they easily last for hundreds of thousands of miles. A prime example of American workmanship and quality, from back when we still made stuff.
@@dieselbaby not really that special, Honda's can do half a million, Nissan's can do half million and many more.
The snowplow looks like an "Ol' Yeller" to me...I've watched your journey since the first. Thank you for sticking with it through all the setbacks. I wish I was younger and well off, I'd love to come see it all firsthand now that I've retired.
We could have done it in our 30's when we were lean mean fighting machines! Now we are OLD and some disabled like me and through the LENS of another we get to see the Journey.
I fully agree with @tres909. There was something about your old soundtrack that was right on the mark. It enhances the feeling of warmth, hope and the uncertain that comes with being at Cero Gordo. Don’t know how you came across that piece of music, but it belongs with your videos as your staple. The same as with other old TV episodes like “The Rifleman,” or “Highway Patrol.” Keep up the good work Bret. I too am now 69, and my motorcycling across the country are now over. Good luck to you and your future with Cero Gordo.
The plow could be called sunny. its yellow (like the sun), and it removes snow (like the sun).
Sunny is a good one I was thinking Big bird lol
@@knightsplumbingrepair5203I like Big Bird!
Old Yeller?
Merge the two.. Old Sunny
Old big bird sunny
From snow plows to internet to check dams, always interesting Brent👍
What an amazing transformation of Cerro Gordo and you, Brent! I remember when you had a 2wd toyota and no proper boots. You were born to revitalize Cerro Gordo!
After watching these vids for a while, I was able to visit last July. Brought Brent a 70 year old bottle of Jim Beam to celebrate when the Hotel opens. Would be nice to stay over night with the colder weather we have now in November. Keeping our eye out for the hotel opening.
Old Yeller!
You have my vote!
I agree or Mr. Mustard
@@jerryjeffw7373 Old Yeller I love it Jerry
Came to write that same name!
I was just coming to say this
Am I the only one looking at the yellow plow truck, and seeing Matt’s Off Road wrecker at the same time? Not sure if the model year is the same but it has to be close when you look at the cab and engine hood. Always great to see updates from Cerro Gordo.
Great ideal when it comes to the dams. Once again I would recommend planting some ice plants. Once they get established their roots will help stabilize the ground and strength those dam's Since they are a succulent they will adjust to weather conditions. Same as the poppies they will strengthen the ground and adjust to weather patterns
Absolutely beautiful video. So cleverly captured and written! Love your story Brent. Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your life with us!
He wants Native Plants not those Ugly Things.
Very good advice.
@markvanderstelt8999 ice plants are located everywhere in the high desserts so are poppies
@@marktitus8516 All the places i have seen him go up there i have never Seen Ice Plant once in any of his Videos
Brent, The late window delivery is not just happening to you. My sister is trying to get her house finished in Michigan and the windows are now 3 months late. The manufacturer just keeps saying things are on backorder due to a lack of production capacity. Meantime winter is about to hit Michigan and they are at this point just looking at covering the openings with a combination of plywood and plastic for the winter.
My friend is a builder in Michigan and has 2 jobs waiting on windows . One has been months of delays. the other is only one week late, so far. they are preparing for not getting the second order until spring.
Recent storms all over the USA have caused most of these issues. If the company does not pay decent wages to do factory work people will go elsewhere.
I still love these updates, it's so nice to see the town slowly reforming. If you're looking for a snow plow name, check out the annual Scottish gritter names. My personal favs are Spready Mercury and Skid Vicious.
Name him Gordo. This has been a grand journey with you. I remember that first day - what a long way you have come since then. No one could have been more perfect to buy Cerro
Gordo.
General Gordo. That my friend is better than the sad ending of Ol' Yeller. Brent's Drone shots are really cool. Like hang gliding over the area.
I’m sure you appreciate that now you are a part of the history of the town!! In 100 years and more people will be discussing you and your time there, and much deserved!! All the best form Scotland 🏴
As an artist, those planed boards are very very inspiring!! I thought, "awweeeeee, beautiful".
You’re a beautiful human being Brent, you’ve enriched our lives, and that makes you wonderful.
It's amazing how many people have donated their time, skills and money to this venture. It is so nice to see all the hard work starting to pay off! ❤
It was part of the plan from the beginning.
It is amazing the progress that has happened over 5 years. Congratulations and here is to another 5 years of amazement!
It's like he took two stories from "Think and Grow Rich," put them together, and lived them out. Very cool story and some very valuable lessons. You are living the dream, my man. You should be proud of yourself. A modern-day pioneer with an amazing spirt and infectious enthusiasm. Never lose that energy, my friend it would be a disservice to so many.
So funny... I actually thought to myself this morning that I hoped Brent would put out a new video. Guess I need to do it more often and see if it works again. 😄
Loved every update but I do have to say my favorite parts of today's video was going on a walk with Brent, exploring the mine and listening to his words of wisdom while sitting on the side of a mountain getting ready to watch the sunset like in his earlier videos. Loved the channel then and still love it now.
Love the “Old Yeller” name. That’s perfect! Also I have been enjoying all of your videos since 2020. Still look forward to every new video you produce. Your book is awesome too! Highly recommend and appreciated.
Brent, I'd like to thank you for sharing your excitement with all of us. I wish I could come to see Cerro Gordo and meet you and the other folks who come to help, visit, or whatever they come for. Please never stop sharing these stories with us, as we would miss them and you.
Thanks for the update, Brent. My suggestion for the name of the plow is, "The Snowverlord". Can't wait to visit one day!
Really enjoyed your book. Thank you for sharing with us, and for revitalizing this wonderful place!!
I've been watching you since day 1. And I love your journey. I wish I was helping you. I love refurbishing old stuff. I want to come visit and see you in person. I want to see the amazing accomplishments. I'm sooooo proud of you.
Hi Brent good to see you back.
I do remember The wabby sabby video. I went back and located the video and watched again. My relaxing time to watch your amazing discoveries, adventures and history of Cerro Gordo.
Hi Brent, I think I have a really good name for your new addition to the Cerro Gordo family. Cerro Gordo is a Spanish word (meaning fat hill . But I'm sure you knew that). I tried to think of a Spanish name that expressed what a blessing this donation was. So I thought why not the word blessing in Spanish which is bendición. Though it is kind of a strange sounding name I thought you could call him Benny for short.
Just like you are a blessing in our lives by going through this journey to revive history Benny is going to be a blessing to you in many ways during the in the winter and beyond. ❤🙏❤️
I'm loving the old snow plow and I think you should call it Ol' Yeller!
I agree
I'm about the 6th one to agree and at my viewing the comments were up to 957, I'm not staying up all night to count the rest of The Ol' Yeller Gang.
Exactly what I thought when I saw it.
That was what immediately came to my mind too!
@@GM-rs2fvMine too. 😁
Wow Brent u been a busy buddy! 🤟🥰 Yes sir I've been here since day 1, and always coming bk for more! Stay healthy and happy. 🤍
Absolutely fascinating to see the transformation and revival of an abandoned mining town. Your dedication and respect for history shine through in every update. Can't wait to see what you do next!
For big drifts you need a V plow. You are not going to have enough power to push that straight plow through deep snow.
it will still do better than a standard 8 ft on a pickup truck.
I remember when you first started, the amount of progress that you've made is amazing!
45 minutes of calm. Thank you
Hey Brent! Couple quick questions: 1). Have you tried using a UV flashlight in any of the mines? 2). Have you seen any snakes at that altitude? Also following your journey at CG from the start is hands down one of the best stories unfolding on RUclips! Thanks for the awesome content! I can't wait to make it out there one day!.. Hopefully you're able to read/reply to this and the other thousands of comments now that you have good internets :)
I love the parallels that exist between you and Mr. Porter, that's super cool. I can't believe you've been there for that long, it's crazy. Watching you grow as a person while breathing life back into the town has been such a joy. Much love from Tennessee, Brent! ❤
Thank you Brent. if you can read the letters (when you are board at night) sort of like a audio book, I am sure people will love to listen too especially to fall asleep to. just a thought.
Ive been hoping for an upload! You're doing something awesome man! Thanks for bringing us along the journey!
Been with ya since day one. Kinda a lost Dutchman’s fan, so watching you has been pure bliss. I don’t know when it happened, but you have become an American hero by way of the likes of Lois and Clark type icons. Instead of writing about it in books, a true portrayal in video documents your American heroic spirit. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
So good to see you again, missed your adventures.
Such a joy getting to be a part of your day. Thank you. And I wonder if John Porter married Fanny.
WOW what a Journey this has been the last nearly 5 years! The evolution of Cerro Gordo to a living breathing town has been next to amazing to witness virtually. When the American Hotel is open I would love to come visit! Thanks Brent for the adventures.
Been here since the beginning. Love your town and story!
It’s been amazing watching so far and I know that you will do so much more
Thank you, Brent, for taking us all with you on your adventures of Cerro Gordo and all the history around you.
It’s good to see you back…
Wow what a milestone!
I started watching you, Brent, quite by accident. I was/am a fan of both Dan Hurd and Jason Garber...so I took a chance on you. You smiling face, calm demeanor, and infectious storytelling has kept me along for the ride! Cheers...my friend!
Name her Audrey!! Get it??? “Au-drey”…Au = GOLD 💛 So, AUDREY! 👍🏼
Happy Thanksgiving to All of you mine lovers
Snow plows and letters and windows, oh my. Busy as always. Nice to have the ending with a slow down. I think we could all do with more slow down and contemplation in our lives. Thanks for the pre-winter update. Hoping the water control dams work out.
Ha!! I had to pause and zoom in to see your internet installer sporting a Eugene Oregon hat! Nice to see my hometown represented in Cerro Gordo!!
Perfect name for the truck, Ole Yeller... Its old and the color is yellow.
Beat me to it!!!
@@glennthomas7435 Me too!
i was gonna say big bird but hell yeah ole yeller
I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking that
PERFECT!!!
Brent I love what you are doing. My daughter surprised me and gave me your book for Christmas. It is fascinating. I love it could not put it down . I read it all in one night. Can not wait for the next one. Keep up the good work. It seems like just a few years ago you got there. God bless you
Amazing as always Brent! Look forward to the next one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You need to name that truck Mr. Plow.
“Call Mr. Plow, that’s my name! That name again is Mr. Plow!”
Watch out for Plow King
My Plow is a loser and I think he maybe a boozer….
Haha Named After a Terrible Chinese Fast Food Chain Mr Chow
I so enjoy your explorations. When you entered this mine, my first response was "Brent, don't do it!" But of course you did. My favourites are when you are exploring passages where no man should go. I can't imagine folks working under those conditions. Keep going .
Wow , 1695 days... have been here since the start.. I was so concerned you going up the mountain.. it is truly home and growing in education and information, resources every month.. I miss tofu ..🤣🤣🤣 congratulations on Internet and working on the land for future management
Ps.. you are looking well x
Thanks a ton!
Thank you for all of your videos Mr Underwood
When I randomly came across this channel it was after your 4th video @Ghost Town Living and I have been watching ever since. Brent is such an inspiration to me in so many ways. Love the channel, I would love to come visit CG one day.
Glad you got the truck/plow. Name it Nugget.
thats what matts off road named one of their builds
@@1996FordBroncothat cab looks the same as the wrecker they built
@@1996FordBronco 1979 F-350 Super Cab, 40 years ago it was a flat bed and then I found a Name brand utility box for it for $250, also had to buy bigger tools to work on it coming from a Bicentennial year of 1976 F-150.
A 1 ton beast. Old School has less plastics and more steel also weighs more. It's great in the mountains.
I see you give MORR a glimpse or two as well. He has built some crazy wild $hit for sure. Brent did very well in last year's Off Road Games.
March 2025 Games is going to be another interesting show to watch.
The best part is about 2 months later Matt gives a generous donation to handicap children events and that playground for handicap children was sooooo cool! and also donates to his "office" area.
I like nugget, clean, simple, and fits in with Cerro Gordo
Heyyyy you’re back I hope you’re doing well. 😁
Those damns are so cool, will help save a lot of groundwater when scaled up and hopefully make the place a green oasis, and help recharge the 700 level water faster. Super cool
Thank you for these videos!
Appreciate the LMNT advert but FYI a medium banana has double that sachet amount of potassium, more than half the magnesium and the sodium...well that's just salt. Also the banana has 3.1g of fibre, 10.3mg of vitamin C, 1.3g of protein and 27g of carbs. Just eat a bloody banana, everything else is a con. Especially when you can buy almost a rain forest of bananas for one box of LMNT.
Brent I got to meet you and helped raise the footing for your workbench in the Hoist House Saturday August 24th 2024. The next Friday, August 30, 2024, my brother Danny was killed on the 91 Freeway in Yorba Linda California on his motorcycle by a hit and run driver. Danny and I had conversed frequently about your amazing work and videos, and he was so excited I got to put in some work helping you at Cerro Gordo, although he was not able to get up there. I miss my brother Danny greatly and wish he was able to meet you. Danny got to hold and inspect a triangle of slag from your silver melting process, the day he died. You are cemented into my life by that. Keep doing what you do. I am grateful.
I’m so sorry to hear about Danny. That is absolutely tragic. I can’t imagine how difficult that must be. I thank you for the help that day and wish he could have experienced it as well. Hope you’re hanging in there alright.
woot 1695 days! go brent!🎉
Old Yeller!!
Take the words right out of my mouth I was thinking the same thing Old yeller
old yeller / yellow submarine!
🎯
I was gonna say ole yeller 🤣
My thoughts exactly!!
The story you shared just shows me that history is more complex than we often think and that’s what makes studying history fascinating
💛💛💛OLD YELLER IS PERFECT!!!💛💛💛