There are over a dozen ghost towns in California. And some of them are probably available for purchase. It would be better working on something like that with some semblance of control.

Stumbled upon this: https://m.youtube.com/@GhostTownLiving

IG : https://www.instagram.com/brentwunderwood

Steal for that price: https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/ghost-town-mining-...