Bodie State Historic Park — Arrested-Decay Gold Rush Ghost Town

Bodie was a real boomtown. Gold put roughly 5,000 to 10,000 people up here in the late 1870s, and it was famously rough. Now it’s a California State Historic Park, and the state keeps it in ‘arrested decay’, which means they stabilize it but don’t restore it. About 110 buildings are still standing, including the Standard Stamp Mill, the Methodist church, the schoolhouse and the old mining office. Peer through the windows and you’ll see dusty shelves, beds and a pool table. It sits out on open high-desert sage at over 8,300 feet, so it’s cold and windy even in summer. Bring layers. Sunrise and late afternoon are the best light for photos. Summer weekends bring the crowds.

Access is off Highway 395, then 13 miles up Bodie Road. The last 3 miles are unpaved and often washboarded, but any vehicle can make it in dry weather. The road is typically plowed only part of the way in winter, so check conditions before you head up. There’s no camping in the park and no services at the townsite, so plan on staying in Bridgeport or Lee Vining and bring your own water and food. Verify hours and entry fees with the park ahead of time. Have a dirty day.

Gold rush ghost town frozen in arrested decay