Exclusive | Man goes viral for buying an abandoned California mining town, urges people to visit

Nypost · Aug 10, 2026 · 1185 words · By Reda Wigle

Entrepreneurship American West Romanticism Historical Preservation

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What to know about Entrepreneurship

Man goes viral for buying an abandoned California mining town, urges people to visit See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 12

Techniques found 1

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center83%

Right17%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Man goes viral for buying an abandoned California mining town, urges people to visit See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The California Post on Google Brent Underwood has found a certain kind of gold in a ghost town.

Common ground

Eight years ago, the Austin-based entrepreneur used $1.4 million from his life’s savings to buy Cerro Gordo, an abandoned silver-mining town near Lone Pine, California in 2018.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Entrepreneurship story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that nearly a billion dollars worth of minerals were once pulled from the mine?
How does this story connect Entrepreneurship with American West Romanticism over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/08/10/lifestyle/how-to-visit-this-viral-abandoned-califo…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 12 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 5

info Single Source 3

schedule Pending 2

verified Verified By Reference 1

help Insufficient Evidence 1

info

Claim 1: “nearly a billion dollars worth of minerals were once pulled from the mine”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists only of dictionary definitions for the word 'approximately' and contains no factual data regarding the value of minerals extracted from the mine.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 4 days ago · The meaning of APPROXIMATELY is in an approximate manner —used to indicate that a stated number, amount, or value is an approximation. How to use approximately in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/approximately

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — APPROXIMATELY definition: 1. close to a particular number or time although not exactly that number or time: 2. close to a…. Learn more.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/approxim…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Define approximately. approximately synonyms, approximately pronunciation, approximately translation, English dictionary definition of approximately. adj. 1. Almost exact or correct: the approximate t…
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/approximately

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Claim 2: “Underwood, who moved to Cerro Gordo full time in 2020, treated viewers to a tour of the expansive 360-acre property”

CORROBORATED

Two independent web sources confirm that Brent Underwood moved to Cerro Gordo full-time in March 2020 and that the property is 360 acres.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Brent William Underwood is an American entrepreneur and owner of the Cerro Gordo Mines, located in Inyo County, California.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brent_Underwood

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Cerro Gordo is a former settlement in Inyo County, California, United States, and was primarily a silver mining town based around the Cerro Gordo Mines. At its height, hundreds of dwellings dotted the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerro_Gordo,_California

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Cerro Gordo Mines are a collection of abandoned mines located in Cerro Gordo in the Inyo Mountains, Inyo County, near Lone Pine, California. Mining operations were conducted from 1866 to 1957, pro…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerro_Gordo_Mines

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 3: “Underwood’s home, the former residence of Cerro Gordo’s original owner, Mortimer Belshaw, stands in the center of town”

CORROBORATED

A web search result explicitly states: 'Underwood's home, the former residence of Cerro Gordo's original owner, Mortimer Belshaw, stands in the center of town.' Although listed as 'No evidence found' in the summary section, the actual evidence text for claim 3 contains this confirmation.

schedule

Claim 4: “Cerro Gordo is open every day from 9-5; self-guided tours are free, and guided tours of the main mine building are available on the weekend for $20.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 5: “a former brothel known as Lola’s Palace of Pleasure, owned by the eponymous Lola Travis.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The search results provided for this claim are irrelevant, discussing Louisiana college tools and blankets, and do not mention Lola Travis or a brothel in Cerro Gordo.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Welcome to LoLA (Log-On Louisiana), a powerful online tool that will allow you to completely manage your college career. LoLA will be your 24/7, one stop resource for the upcoming semester.
https://my.lctcs.edu/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Lola Blankets offers the softest blankets and throws for unmatched comfort. Experience the life-changing softness of our faux fur blankets crafted for everyday luxury.
https://lolablankets.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — LoLA at SOWELA Technical Community College. Explore programs, admissions, student resources, and campus information in Southwest Louisiana.
https://www.sowela.edu/admissions/enrollment/lola/

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Claim 6: “Brent Underwood used $1.4 million from his life’s savings to buy Cerro Gordo, an abandoned silver-mining town near Lone Pine, California in 2018.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (Wikipedia, AOL, and another web source) confirm Brent Underwood purchased Cerro Gordo in 2018 for $1.4 million.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Brent William Underwood is an American entrepreneur and owner of the Cerro Gordo Mines, located in Inyo County, California.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brent_Underwood

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 7: “Cerro Gordo was founded in 1865, when silver, lead, and zinc were discovered in the high climes of the Inyo Range.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While Wikipedia confirms Cerro Gordo was a silver mining town in the Inyo Mountains and that mining operations occurred from 1866 to 1957, the specific founding date of 1865 and the mention of lead and zinc in the founding context are not explicitly confirmed in the provided evidence snippets (though the minerals are mentioned as products of the mine).

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Inyo County ( ) is a county in the eastern central part of the U.S. state of California, located between the Sierra Nevada and the state of Nevada. In the 2020 census, the population was 19,016. The c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inyo_County,_California

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following is a list of the counties and county-equivalents in the 50 states and District of Columbia sorted by U.S. state, plus the additional 100 county-equivalents in the U.S. territories sorted…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_counties_by_U.S._state…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Nancy Kelsey (August 1, 1823, in Barren County, Kentucky – August 10, 1896, in Cuyama, California) was a member of the Bartleson–Bidwell Party. She was the first white woman to travel overland from Mi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Kelsey

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 8: “Underwood... is also the author of the New York Times bestseller, Ghost Town Living: Mining for Purpose and Chasing Dreams at the Edge of Death Valley.”

CORROBORATED

Three separate web search results confirm that Brent Underwood is the author of 'Ghost Town Living: Mining for Purpose and Chasing Dreams at the Edge of Death Valley' and that it is a New York Times bestseller.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A long-abandoned silver mine for sale sounded like an adventure too great to pass up, but it turned into much more—a calling, a community of millions, and hard-earned lesso…
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/709605/ghost-town-l…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A long-abandoned silver mine for sale sounded like an adventure too great to pass up, but it turned into much more—a calling, a community of millions, and hard-earned lesso…
https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Town-Living-Purpose-Chasing-ebo…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A long-abandoned silver mine for sale sounded like an adventure too great to pass up, but it turned into much more—a calling, a community of millions, and hard-earned lesso…
https://bookshop.org/p/books/ghost-town-living-mining-for-pu…

schedule

Claim 9: “Interested parties can also follow Underwood’s adventures on his YouTube channel, Ghost Town Living.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 10: “Named for the town’s original hotel, which opened in 1871”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided in the search results regarding the American Hotel or its opening date in 1871.

info

Claim 11: “At its peak, over 4,000 miners lived and worked in Cerro Gordo”

SINGLE SOURCE

One web source mentions 'the stories of those 5,000 people who packed up their lives to come to Cerro Gordo,' which is close to the claim of 4,000, but no other independent source confirms the specific peak population figure.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Battle of Cerro Gordo, or Battle of Sierra Gordo, was an engagement in the Mexican–American War on April 18, 1847. The battle saw Winfield Scott's United States troops outflank Antonio López de S…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cerro_Gordo

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 12: “It came with over a dozen buildings, 30 miles of mineshafts”

CORROBORATED

Two independent web sources explicitly state the property came with 'over a dozen buildings' and '30 miles of mineshafts'.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Brent William Underwood is an American entrepreneur and owner of the Cerro Gordo Mines, located in Inyo County, California.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brent_Underwood

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Cerro Gordo County (; Spanish: [ˈsero ˈɣoɾðo]) is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 43,127. Its county seat is Mason City. The county is named for t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerro_Gordo_County,_Iowa

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+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.