THE GHOSTS OF GOLD MINING’S PAST

It is a rare treat to walk through a genuine ghost town. Now a California State Park, Bodie is well-preserved, despite enduring harsh weather year-round.

Founded in 1859 by Waterman S. Bodey as a mining town, it wasn't until the mid-1870s that a significant discovery was made, and what would become one of the richest gold strikes in California. Soon thereafter the population boomed, and along with it, a reputation for lawlessness. Success was short-lived and after the gold and silver dried up and several fires swept through the town, it was abandoned in the 1940s. It became a National Historic Site and State Park in 1962.

Bodie Ghost Town

Distance: The area of the town is under one square mile

Time: 1-1.5 hours

Difficulty: Easy

Entrance Fee: $8/adult, $5 per child age 3-17. The Visitor Center and Museum are open mid-May through mid-October.

Directions: To reach Bodie, note that the access road turns into an unsurfaced dirt road for the last three miles, so plan on slow travel before reaching the park. From the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center in the high country of Yosemite, it will take approximately 1.5-2 hours to reach Bodie. For more information on driving to Bodie, visit the state park website.

TRAIL NOTES

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This town, preserved in a state of "arrested decay", is much the same as it was in 1879 when it's population reached its highest point, 8,500. Though several fires destroyed many of the original 2,000 buildings, it's easy - and eery - to get a sense of what daily life was like in Bodie.

As Bodie declined over the next fifty years, many residents left behind everything when they moved out. You'll see stores still stocked with goods and homes with children's toys, beds and desks.

On the ranger-guided tour of Bodie, you'll learn more about the Bodie curse. Apparently, many visitors who have stolen artifacts - everything from letters to shoes to nails - have returned them complaining of terrible suffering. Read some of the letters of woe at the Bodie museum.

CURRENT WEATHER

Bodie State Historic Park experiences some of the most extreme temperatures in the U.S. due to its high elevation, particularly in the winter. Temperates can be 20-30 degrees lower than the surrounding areas. Make sure to check the National Weather Service link below for the latest conditions in Bodie.

National Weather Service

Click the image below to learn more about Bodie with the official State Park brochure.

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