I snapped these photos in the ghost town of Bodie, California. Only about 100 of the original buildings remain. In 1879, there were 60 saloons alone. Now, California State Parks has preserved Bodie in a state of "arrested decay," meaning it's being preserved as it was 50 years ago when the last of its 10,000 residents left.
Bodie is by far the best ghost town in the West. It was once the wildest and most lawless town in the West. Gunfights, stage holdups, robberies, street fights and even murders were common. The town boomed only for a few years in the late 1870s. By 1881, the gold mines were depleted and only 1,500 residents remained.
Today you can pay $7 to visit Bodie. There's nothing there but the old buildings, a few of which are open, some rusty old cars, the cemetery and odds and ends from the past inside the old homes and stores. The town is deep in snow during the winter, so don't even try to visit then. From mid-May to mid October, it can be reached via U.S. 395 just south of Bridgeport, Calif., and then about 13 miles of mostly paved road (the last three miles is dirt). There are no food concessions, just a water faucet or two.
If you want to see a really great American ghost town, this is the one to see, no doubt about it.
Yes Chuck, you're right - one of the best ghost towns in America! We loved every minute of it when we visited in 2005. Another great ghost town is Bannack in Montana. One of the staff at Bodie told us about it and again well worth the visit.
ReplyDeleteChuck,
ReplyDeleteWe haven't made it to Bodie yet, but it is on our list. I second anonymous about Bannack MT. What makes it really great is that the road is paved and it is a state park with rv camping right along the creek that they panned gold from! It too has a lot of history, the first vigilante group was formed there.
Thanks for the information and the pictures.