On the first day of my trip to Inyo County, I visited Lime Kiln Station, Bodie and Benton Railroad, and Mammoth and Laws Railroad Museum.
Hubby wanted to revisit the area, so he decided to accompany me. He likes shorter days and nice accommodations, so it was a much-needed relaxing weekend. We stayed at the Creekside Inn; our room had a beautiful creekside patio. Most important, the hotel is adjacent to Schats Bakery. We were there daily, picking up breakfast, lunch and treats to bring home. 
I had the pleasure of going on a ghost town trip with Eric Schat shortly before his death. When he arrived at the meeting place, he opened his trunk to a mini bakery with goodies he had made that morning.
Lime Kiln Station and Bodie and Benton Railway
Workers quarried travertine from the knoll and loaded it into the top of the kilns. They stacked wood in the bottom of the kiln and set it on fire, baking and drying the travertine. Once finished, they crushed the stone into a fine powder and mixed it with sand and water. The paste was used as mortar, stucco, or plaster for walls and ceilings.
The Bodie & Benton Railway had a station at Lime Kiln. The kiln was 12 miles from Bodie, down a steep grade.
Mammoth
I made it to two sites; the rest were still inaccessible due to snow.
The Old Mammoth Saloon was later moved and used as a line shack in Owens Valley. In 1979, schoolchildren set off events that saved the saloon.
In 1878, the Knight Wheel powered Mammoth’s stamp mills. The wheel was as moved and used to power the Wildasinn Hotel in 1902.
Laws Railroad Museum
The Carson and Colorado Railroad Bishop Creek Station used Bishop Station as a transportation center for agriculture, mining, and shipping. A post office opened in 1887, and the town included stores, a boarding house, restaurants, a blacksmith, a dance hall and a school.
In 1900, the Southern Pacific Railroad purchased the Carson & Colorado, renaming the town after a railroad official, R.J. Laws. Hollywood helped preserve Laws. Inyo County wanted to open a railroad museum, and movie producers wanted to use Laws to film the movie Nevada Smith. Buildings were restored and others were added. In 1966, Nevada Smith made its debut, and the Laws Railroad Museum opened.
I’m working on the rest of the trip exploring Owens Valley and the Carson & Colorado Railway.
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