Nestled northeast of Yosemite National Park, sits a uniquely preserved ghost town from the Gold Rush Era. The town—Bodie—was once a booming Gold Rush town dating back to 1859. Today, visitors can glimpse the past at this ghost town, just a few hours from San Francisco.
A California Gold Rush Ghost Town
Bodie was a true boom-and-bust gold rush town. In 1859, W.S. Body found gold in the hills near the town, prompting a mill to be built in 1866. Mining in Bodie started slowly, but in the mid 1870’s, the Standard Mining Company struck gold (and silver). The company extracted 10,000 tons of ore, valued at almost $15 million. The major find prompted an influx of people, and by 1879, Bodie had over 8,000 residents and 2,000 buildings. The town was complete with saloons and dance halls, and just like a classic western movie, gunfights, robberies, and street fights were a regular occurrence.
Like any boom-and-bust town of the time, the prosperity didn’t last. Signs of decline were clear in 1881, as the mines were depleted. People quickly left for more promising mines, and just a few years later the population had declined significantly. Bodie remained a mining town, but in 1932 a massive fire destroyed most of the town, leaving only about 10% of the buildings. The town faded away, and in 1962 the remaining area was made into a state park.
While what’s left of Bodie is much smaller than what it was in its prime, the town is well-preserved, with furnishings and objects left behind just as they were at the time. Nearby mining towns were heavily damaged by theft and vandalism, but Bodie was spared, making it a particularly unique remnant of the Gold Rush era.
Visiting Bodie Historic State Park
Today, visitors are welcome to explore the historic town. The park is open from 9 am to 6 pm until November 1, and you can join a history talk every day at 10 am or 4 pm, or take a tour of the stamp mill on Saturdays and Sundays.
On September 25, you can take the rare opportunity to see the town at night during the Ghost Walk Tour. During the winter, the park is often not accessible due to large amounts of snow, so this fall is the perfect time to visit.
Check out the Bodie Historic State Park website for more information on how to visit the park.