Visiting Bodie: California's Best-Preserved Ghost Town

The Town That Time Forgot

At 8,375 feet in California's Eastern Sierra, the weathered wooden buildings of Bodie State Historic Park stand exactly as they were left—not restored, but preserved in a state of "arrested decay." This policy of deliberate non-intervention is what makes Bodie extraordinary: peer through dusty windows and you'll see tables set for meals never eaten, stores with merchandise on shelves, and schoolrooms awaiting children who never returned.

"Goodbye God, I'm going to Bodie."

— Reportedly written in the diary of a young girl whose family was moving to the lawless mining town

A Brief, Brilliant History

In the summer of 1859, prospector Waterman S. Bodey discovered gold in these remote hills. Tragically, he would never witness what his find would become—that winter, a blizzard claimed his life on a supply run. A clerical error changed his name's spelling, but his legacy was assured.

For twenty years, Bodie remained a modest mining camp. Then in 1876, the Standard Company struck a massive gold-bearing vein, and everything changed. By 1879, nearly 10,000 people called Bodie home, along with:

• 65 saloons
• A Chinatown with hundreds of residents
• A red-light district
• Two newspapers
• Frequent gunfights that earned it a reputation as one of the West's "wickedest towns"

What You'll See Today

Approximately 110 Preserved Structures

• The Methodist Church — Its weathered steeple still reaches toward the Sierra sky
• The Schoolhouse — Desks and chalkboard intact
• The Miners' Union Hall — Once the social heart of town
• The IOOF Hall — Fraternities were important in frontier life
• Private Homes — With belongings still inside

The Standard Mill

Bodie Museum

The Cemetery

Planning Your Visit

Getting There

Hours & Admission (2024-2025)

What to Bring

• Water and food — There are no restaurants or stores for 30+ miles
• Full tank of gas — Nearest stations are in Bridgeport or Lee Vining (30-45 min)
• Sunscreen and hat — High elevation = intense sun
• Layers — Weather can change quickly at 8,375 feet
• Good walking shoes — Terrain is uneven and dusty

Rules to Follow

• Dogs allowed on leash
• Stay on marked paths
• Do not enter buildings unless specifically allowed
• Photography encouraged!

Best Times to Visit

• Museum and visitor center open
• Roads reliably accessible
• Longer daylight hours for exploration

• Fewer crowds
• Moody weather adds drama
• Road may require high-clearance vehicle

Photography Tips

Bodie is a photographer's paradise. The combination of weathered textures, dramatic skies, and authentic artifacts creates endless compositions.

• Golden hour (1-2 hours before sunset) casts warm light on the buildings
• Midday offers strong contrast for black-and-white work
• Windows make fascinating frames for interior details
• Portrait mode through window panes captures ghostly reflections
• Wide angle captures the scale and desolation of the town

Nearby Attractions

Make a day (or weekend) of your Eastern Sierra trip:

The Legend Lives On

There's something about standing in Bodie's dusty streets that transcends typical tourism. The town asks nothing of you except presence—no gift shops, no costumed actors, no audio tours. Just you, the wind, and 165 years of American history slowly returning to the earth.

As one visitor wrote in the guest book: "Bodie isn't sad. It's just... complete. A story told in full, waiting for anyone patient enough to listen."

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• California State Parks
• Bodie Foundation
• National Register of Historic Places
• "Roughing It" by Mark Twain
• Mono County Tourism