Why We Love Brent Underwood and Cerro Gordo | Red Hat Factory

Why We Love Brent Underwood and Cerro Gordo

Brent Underwood, Cerro Gordo
Benjamin Antoni Andersen
Category: People:Passion People:Passion
| May 8, 2021

When I first stumbled upon Brent Underwood and his revitalization project at Cerro Gordo Mines, I quickly realized I wasn’t the only one who was drawn to this adventurer and his vlogs on the YouTube channel Ghost Town Living.

The weekly videos have become something I look forward to, and watch with glee — my 1,5 year old son in my lap, equally interested (at least for the first 5 minutes.)

Both as someone heading a brand that shares many of the same values, a basic human being, and a thinker, I find myself pondering again and again on what makes Brent and his abandoned ghost town so enticing.

The charm of old things — 150 years of mining history

Old things have a charm that can’t be reproduced. Time is the most valuable asset of all time. When you see wooden buildings carry over a 100 years of patina from wind, rain, storms and stray bullets — you know none of that can be reproduced any time soon.

“Time is the most valuable asset of all time.”

A cabin at Cerro Gordo
A cabin found in the slopes outside of Cerro Gordo. Might seem like nothing, but Brent sees the potential. Picture: Screenshot from the Ghost Town Living YouTube Channel.

Well… in one way it can, but as soon as you discover it’s fake, the charm is broken.

Wrinkles are a mark of honor in my opinion. Whether it’s creases in our wooden floors from the patter of generations of feet, or whether it’s age and wisdom showing on our faces.

My parent’s house has a scar. Once when I was pretty young, I fell down the staircase, and smashed through the railing. One of the spindles broke, and though it’s now more than 20 years ago, it hasn’t been replaced. I don’t know why, but every time I see it I remember, not only the fall, but the good times of my childhood, and all the fun we’ve had climbing back and forth through the gap in the railing.

Wrinkles add history. And to see somebody care for and restore old and wrinkled buildings is immensely satisfying. Now, it will last, instead of time grinding it to desert dust.

Cerro Gordo has the wrinkles, and Brent Underwood knows how to appreciate them, with a contagious passion.

The long term game — Brent is there to stay

When Brent began broadcasting from Cerro Gordo, he pulled some epic monologues about longevity that hit home with me. Chatting about how startup business culture, often have become about how quickly you can grow your idea to a full fledged company, and sell it.

The idea of putting your heart into something so that you can sell it off to pursue your actual goals, have never rhymed much with me. There is something about the discrepancy between where you put your daily hours, and where you want to be that makes me sad. I want to build something that I’ll enjoy being a part of until the end.

“There is something about the discrepancy between where you put your daily hours, and where you want to be that makes me sad.”

The brothel was almost flattened to the ground. Now it stands again. Mean what you may about brothels, but history should be taught with all its blemishes. And here it is. Restored from the past. Picture: Screenshot from the Ghost Town Living YouTube Channel.

To see something age, you have to own it. Whether that be your family, relationships, your craft, your company. Brent Underwood said that he’s not in it for the short term — he will probably spend his life at Cerro Gordo. And that kind of commitment wins my attention.

(P.S. Should you want to back out earlier, Brent, that’s ok too.)

Till the very end — memento mori

I was both lucky and unlucky to experience the loss of a loved one very early in life. Death became a close acquaintance early on — one whom has been peeking over my shoulders almost every day since.

You who have experienced something similar knows that encountering death changes everything.

Brent Underwood on a bench.
Memento mori — remember your death. Picture: Screenshot from the Ghost Town Living YouTube Channel.

Memento mori, is an old latin phrase meaning remember your death. It’s about counting your days, so to speak, and spurring yourself to spend them well. What that means might be completely different from person to person, but it’s always worth talking about.

Growing up with that experience in the back pocket — or rather at the core of my being — I’ve often viewed the western culture I grew up in as shying away from death, rather than encouraging counting it into your plans.

Whether you believe in a life after or not, the idea that you have a finite time to make an impact, is only healthy, and might make you take some choices you wouldn’t normally take.

For Brent Underwood to be so frank as to speak out about this, he has my respect again, and it makes the videos feel like they have substance.

Mapping Cerro Gordo

I don’t completely understand the psychology behind this, but there is an immense satisfaction in going back to the same location again and again, and slowly expand your knowledge of one area.

It’s like getting to know a person. First you learn their name and profession, but it’s not until you know their hopes and dreams, fears and history that you truly love them.

I guess I am the type that like to dig deep instead of broad sweeps. My favorite vacation location is Norway, my own country. There are untold secrets hidden in those mountains, and each trip just makes me feel like I could explore so much more. So I find myself back, again and again, driving old roads over, but expanding slowly into new branches.

Riding the paths of Cerro Gordo
Brent exploring the gigantic property of Cerro Gordo. Picture: Screenshot from the Ghost Town Living YouTube Channel.

Watching Brent go into every nook and cranny of Cerro Gordo overground, and also map out each of the myriad of mine shafts gives me a sense of peace. It’s as if I trick myself into feeling like I have a grasp over something in life.

Imperfection is perfection

Some think that perfectionism is when you like things “perfect.” That’s only the kind brother of actual perfectionism. The ailment with the same name, is when you have your eye on a flawless unattainable fantasy, and nothing is ever good enough for you.

“All of us can sort of see ourselves in Brent’s shoes, as he leaves the city to pursue a dream that he has little knowledge of how to attain.”

This is something that infests social media and the internet as a whole. And when we find respite from that — an experience of real humanity among all the edited perfection — it makes us feel right at home. All of us can sort of see ourselves in Brent’s shoes, as he leaves the city to pursue a dream that he has little knowledge of how to attain (his words, not mine.)

Cerro Gord ghost town in sunset.
The view from Cerro Gordo ghost town. Picture: Screenshot from the Ghost Town Living YouTube Channel.

And then we’re able to peek in on the journey as he solves problems. After I’ve watched one of his videos I’m ready to go solve some problems of my own.

I think ultimately, it’s this transparent humanity that makes the channel so satisfying to watch, and will be the thing that I will strive for in my own life.

Things will always be in motion and under construction. “Complete” doesn’t exist, so we might as well learn to enjoy the journey as we each try to polish the little piece of the world that is given into our care — our family, our friends, our colleagues, our crafts and belongings.

Now, what makes you love Brent and the Cerro Gordo project?

  1. I just love his old soul in this young man! His love and enthusiasm for history and exploring makes me envious that he went out and followed a dream that was pulling him to Cerro Gordo😁. I truly want to visit him and his town someday in the next few years.

    1. Exactly! Couldn’t figure out what it was before. Also, I think Brent’s interest in and engagement with life, history, the universe and everything make him a compelling force. There is something to be said for enthusiasm! Too many people are sceptical and jaded. I like that he follows his dreams, and fights for what he believes eg. the rebuilding of the American Hotel. Never give up!!! 💗🌵

  2. Even though this is all just a big publicity stunt for money and his negligence burnt down one of the oldest buildings in the town.. he has written books on publicity and promoting for profit.. all just a sham..this guy is a clown

    1. Publicity stunt for what? To what end? He’s been forthcoming about his education and about his desire to rehab Cerro Gordo for visitors… where’s the “stunt”?
      Go get a hobby other than being an internet clown!

    2. I agree with you. It is a publicity stunt. Won’t name the source, but he is good a crafting a story for very personal gain. I’ve seen and heard how he orients towards money with my own ears ( right in front of him ). I didn’t believe it at first. Also, he uses many people for free labor. He’s good at covering dirt online too. I loved his videos, so finding the truth was very disappointing. My admiration is gone now. Nothing wrong with having a business, but using and manipulating is crossing ethical lines. I just can’t seem to rationalize it like he can. Good luck to him and his endeavors. I unsubscribed. I was invested for a year, but things didn’t add up when I volunteered. I wanna believe in something real and from pure heart. Doesn’t matter if I’m believed or not. Just putting it out there. Not trash talking if it’s the true character of a person.

      1. I would say this is what one can expect when volunteering for a for-profit business — you’re basically giving away your free labour to build someone else’s business. But if you love the vision and the community there’s nothing wrong with that, though I probably would regulate the amount of time I give.
        I just know I love watching the videos and the sentiment that’s presented. I haven’t dug too much, and am not really interested in doing so. Glad you did your own digging though since you were personally involved!

  3. What a great article! I too am fascinated with Brent and his adventures. Cerritos Gordo is on my bucket list for sure !

  4. Love Brent, the kitties, goats, alpacas and Cerro Gordo.
    There is a Canadian mining company called K2 that wants to start an open pit mine between Cerro Gordo and Death Valley. Check out photos of the pit mine near Boron, CA. Drop a note to Bureau of Land Management. Tell them NO to K2 Mining. Thanks!

  5. I get my truck in a month i want to go help Brent iam a guy like Brent to do thing like Brent.i can leave my home for a month if i want or just walk away and go help Brent iam 62 years old and nothing keeps me here i love the pass andeager to fine things that had happen in the pass.

  6. I love the show and the commitment of Brent to restoring the site. I get nervous watching him in the mines by himself. He should always have someone as back up.

  7. Hi Benjamin,
    Nice article about Cerro Gordo and Brent.
    I once met Brent and Jon during a small excursion up the road to the mine, a little after they had bought it.
    It’s a fascinating place, as are the back roads there to discover nature through casual 4-wheel exploration.
    I look forward to going again and seeing how the mine town has changed since our original visit.
    Gordon Marcina, from my near by Inyokern town basecamp.

Show all comments...

Leave a Reply to Benjamin Antoni Andersen Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Written by Benjamin Antoni Andersen
Published on May 8, 2021 in People:Passion
Designer and instigator of Red Hat Factory, constantly hungry for mountainous adventures.