Scream of engines in a Mojave Desert ghost town

Retired prospector Charlie Salwasser, 74, owner of antique store Charlie’s Ore House, watches off-roaders ride by in May 2013 while relaxing outside his shop in Randsburg. Salwasser says off-road enthusiasts keep the local economy alive.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The Pinter family from left: Emilee, 12, Jacob, 16, and Shanin and Mike, of Redondo Beach, have lunch in the General Store in Randsburg in October 2013. They camp in the desert near town and ride into Randsburg together.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Goat Breker hops into his truck at his Sky Ranch. Like the rest of Randsburg, Breker depends almost exclusively on the off-road trade.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Goat Breker, a former motocross champion-turned hotelier and desert off-road guide, takes a lunch break in October 2013 at his Sky Ranch after a morning of off-roading near Randsburg.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Off-roaders ride through Randsburg in May 2013 along Butte Avenue past the White House Saloon, where many riders meet for lunch.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

A family of young riders takes a break in the middle of a desert tour from their camp to Randsburg in October 2013.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

After strapping 3-year-old Weston Pinard into his off-road seat for toddlers, he and dad Brian Pinard, operations manager and lead instructor for Chris Haines Motorcycle Adventure Co., head out for a morning of off-roading near Randsburg in October 2013.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Ryan Abbatoye, a guide with Chris Haines Motorcycle Adventure Co., leads Goat Breker’s group of off-roaders in October 2013 through the Mojave Desert area where gold was discovered in the late 1890s near Randsburg.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Goat Breker looks over the town of Randsburg in May 2013. He has bought and fixed up several historic cabins. He also acquired the former Cottage Hotel and turned it into Goat’s Sky Ranch.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

A photograph of Randsburg taken in 1896.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Bill Tassio, right, spends time with his 6-year-old daughter, Lyla, while camping with family and friends in the desert near Randsburg.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)