Eccles, California facts for kids

Eccles, California, was once a small community in Santa Cruz County. Today, it is known as a ghost town. This means it's a place where people used to live and work, but now it's mostly empty. Eccles was located near the towns of Felton and Ben Lomond. It was also close to where Lompico Creek meets Zayante Creek.

Eccles: A California Ghost Town

Eccles was a stop along an important railroad line. This railroad was called the South Pacific Coast Railroad. It was a "narrow gauge" railway, meaning its tracks were closer together than standard tracks. The train ran from Santa Cruz all the way to Oakland. It operated from 1880 to 1940.

The Railroad's Role

The railroad was very important for Eccles. It helped move goods like lumber and produce (farm goods) from the area. Later, in the 1880s, a bigger company called the Southern Pacific took over the railroad. They changed the tracks to "standard gauge," which is wider. They also added special weekend trains for people wanting to take trips.

Why Did Eccles Disappear?

Several things led to Eccles becoming a ghost town. On April 18, 1906, a very strong earthquake hit California. This earthquake badly damaged the railroad tracks, tunnels, and bridges near Eccles. Even though the Southern Pacific company repaired the line, it stopped running trains in March 1940.

Around the same time, a new road was finished. This was State Route 17, completed in 1940. This new highway bypassed Eccles, meaning cars and trucks no longer passed through the town. Without the railroad and with the new highway going elsewhere, Eccles slowly faded away.

What's Left Today?

Today, the area where Eccles once stood is mostly rural. It is covered with thick forests. Some of the old railroad tracks still exist. They run from Olympia, which is just south of where Eccles was, all the way to Santa Cruz. These tracks are now owned by the Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway.