Hello wanderers!
Have you been to Bodie, CA? This ghost town turned historic state park is pretty amazing and should be on everyone's list if you are passing through the Eastern Sierra's on highway 395.
The famous Cain family was the last remaining property owner in Bodie and sold the town in 1962 to the state of California. California then preserved the town and turned it into a State Historic Park, charging admission of $8 per adult to enter and wander around.
The town looks as if the people just vanished. As you wander around and look in the remaining 5% of the buildings left standing, you will see all kinds of relics and things of the past sitting in these buildings covered in dust. If these walls could talk, the stories that they would tell!
W.S. Bodey from NY discovered gold in this area in 1859. He unfortunately died a few months later never seeing his namesake town (Bodie) in its heyday from 1877-1881. No one knows why the name spelling was changed or how but it is rumored that Bodey is buried on the hill somewhere above the cemetery.
In Bodie's heyday, the population grew to about 8,000 people with 30 different mines, 60 saloons, prostitutes cribs, opium dens, a Chinatown and a wild and rough crowd leading the town to a reputation for bad men and wild times.
In the early 1900s, the population started to decline and mining shut down in 1942. The schoolhouse also closed down in 1942 and the town sat almost vacant for 20 years prior to the state of California buying it for preservation.
When you wander around today, you will see several buildings still standing including the Standard Stamp Mill. The mill does operate guided tours, however, due to the pandemic they were closed to the public. But don't let that stop you from visiting. There truly is so much to see and explore. Peak your head into the windows of the buildings and you will see peoples belongings left in the houses as if they just up and vanished one day. You will see a barber shop, gym, mercantile store, hotels, post office, saloons, doctors office, bank vault, church, morgue, Shell gas station, jail house and so much more. Don't forget to wander up to the Bodie Cemetery.
Bodie does not have any services so make sure you have a full tank of gas and a packed lunch with lots of water. Bring your camera and your imagination! This place is truly amazing and you will spend hours here wandering around and peeking into the past of Bodie's heyday.
If you don't plan on being in the area, we invite you to watch our Bodie video on YouTube. We got some great shots of the town and interiors of the buildings. I love a good ghost story and this town has an endless supply of those!
Thanks for wandering off with us!
Chris and Brandi
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