Bodie State Historic Park

Bodie State Historic Park monument - 8-25-62

Bodie State Historic Park is a genuine California gold-mining ghost town. Visitors can walk down the deserted streets of a town that once had a population of nearly 10,000 people.

The town is named for Waterman S. Body (William Bodey), who had discovered small amounts of gold in hills north of Mono Lake. In 1875, a mine cave-in revealed pay dirt, which led to purchase of the mine by the Standard Company in 1877. People flocked to Bodie and transformed it from a town of a few dozen to a boomtown.

Only a small part of the town survives, preserved in a state of "arrested decay." Interiors remain as they were left and stocked with goods. Designated as a National Historic Site and a State Historic Park in 1962, the remains of Bodie are being preserved in a state of "arrested decay". Today this once thriving mining camp is visited by tourists, howling winds and an occasional ghost.

This brochure provides more information including a map. The Bodie Foundation assists in the preservation efforts.

Bodie State Historic Park from Bodie.com website

I first visited Bodie on August 25, 1962 while it was still privately owned by J. S. Kayne and the Standard Mine and returned in August 1965. A 1932 fire destroyed 90% of the town buildings. Town banker James Stewart Cain began buying properties as people moved away and preserved the town for all to enjoy. When the State took over they improved the protection and openned some of the historic facitilies for public viewing that had prviously not been open.

This video, featuring an interview of a Park Ranger, provides an excellent overview of what is currently available to see.

This video also covers the town very well with a lot of information provided.

The Bodie.com website provides a large collection of pictures, some historical, along with access to several video's including one featuring actor John Wayne. A search of the internet will bring up many more Bodie sites to look at. There are a lot of interior and other pictures here. Here are my pictures from 1962 and 1965.