Bodie
The West's Most Authentic Ghost Town
Bodie is the best-preserved ghost town in the American West. At its peak in 1880, this gold mining boomtown had 10,000 residents and a reputation as the wildest camp in the West. Today, 170 buildings remain in a state of 'arrested decay', exactly as they were left, with goods still on store shelves.
The Wildest Town in the West
Bodie earned a fearsome reputation. A young girl reportedly wrote in her diary: 'Goodbye God, I'm going to Bodie.' The town had 65 saloons and a murder rate that rivaled Tombstone. Robberies, shootings, and barroom brawls were daily occurrences. One observer noted that killings occurred 'with a frequency almost monotonous.'
Boom and Bust
The gold strike came in 1859, but Bodie exploded in 1877 when the Standard Mine hit a rich vein. By 1880, the population reached 10,000. But the gold played out quickly. By 1882, most miners had left. A series of fires in 1892 and 1932 destroyed much of the town. The remaining buildings were left exactly as they stood.
Arrested Decay
California State Parks maintains Bodie in a state of 'arrested decay'. The buildings are not restored but stabilized. Items remain where they were left: merchandise on store shelves, furniture in homes, machinery in the mill. Visitors peer through windows at scenes frozen in time. It's forbidden to take anything, not even a rusty nail.
Timeline
- 1859 - Discovery W.S. Bodey discovered gold
- 1877 - Boom Standard Mine hit rich vein
- 1880 - Peak Population reached 10,000
- 1882 - Decline Ore depleted, mass exodus
- 1932 - Fire Destroyed most of town
- 1962 - State Park Became Bodie State Historic Park
Photos
Plan Your Visit
Best Time: May through October (road closed by snow in winter)
Difficulty: Easy
Time Needed: 2-3 hours
Admission: $8 per adult
What to See
- Methodist Church (most photographed building)
- Stamp mill and mine buildings
- General stores with goods still on shelves
- Schoolhouse, jail, and Masonic hall
Tips
- The last 3 miles are on a rough dirt road
- Bring water, food, and fuel (no services)
- 8,375 feet elevation; bring a jacket
- Best light for photography is morning or evening
Quick Facts
- 170 buildings remain standing in 'arrested decay'
- A girl's diary reportedly said: 'Goodbye God, I'm going to Bodie'
- 65 saloons operated during peak years
- One of the most photographed ghost towns in America
- Taking anything, even a nail, is illegal and said to bring bad luck
- At 8,375 feet, snow can fall even in summer
Location
Address: Bodie State Historic Park, Highway 270, Bridgeport, CA 93517
Coordinates: 38.2127, -119.0103