Bodie State Park is a well-preserved ghost town that dates back to the mid-1800s. By 1880, Bodie, California was a booming town with a population near 10,000, and some estimate that it was the 2nd or 3rd largest city in the state. By 1917, after the railroad shut down and the tracks used for scrap, Bodie began its irrecoverable declension. After years of decline, the last known residents left Bodie in the 1940s and forever encapsulated the town.
If it were not for a thoughtful guest at the Chalet View Lodge (the resort I was staying) who overheard the direction I was traveling, I probably would not have discovered Bodie State Park. I’m always grateful for destination suggestions from experienced travelers…I’ve been to some wonderful places due in no small part to the experience of others.
As Bodie turned into a literal ghost town for some 20+ years, it was rediscovered in the early 60s and eventually preserved by the California State Park system in 1962. In its heyday, Bodie had some 2000 buildings…today just 170 remain, although many still in good condition. 
The odd thing about Bodie is that many of the buildings retain the furniture, belongings and artifacts…as if there was some sort of exodus prompted by the last remaining residents.
With so many buildings still in-tacked, containing period garb, it’s a true treasure for tourists to experience. For example, the general store still has shelves full of canned food, the hotel casino has chips near the roulette wheel, and a dining room table is set in one of the homes—with 60 years worth of dust casting a patina on the belongings of a once thriving community.
Whether you’re into history, photography or perhaps painting, you’ll enjoy spending hours exploring Bodie State Park. From sunrise to sunset, the day provides varying compositional light and shadows to cast a plethora of creative angles for the artistic to capture.
As I wandered the dirt streets taking some photos, there was a stillness in the air, then a moment later a light gust of wind…just at that moment I witnessed a tumble weed blow through town…it was one of those quintessential “ghost town” moments you see in the movies. 
Speaking of movies, Bodie will make you feel like you’ve been transformed to an old western studio set…you can just imagine seeing John Wayne coming out of the saloon with guns-a-blazin’.
If you’ve been to the Bodie Ghost Town before, leave a comment below and let my readers and me know what you like best. Click the following link to see more of my pictures of Bodie State Park. If you enjoyed this post and video, please click the “like” button below and share with your friends and family.
Bodie State Park Information:
Location: The park is northeast of Yosemite and 13 miles east of Highway 395 on Bodie Road (Hwy 270) Note: The last three miles is a rough dirt road.
Map: Google Map – Latitude/Longitude: 38.2122 / -119.0111Park Phone: 760-647-6445
Hours: Open year around 9 am to 6 pm in summer (May 15th – October 31st) – 9 am to 3 pm in winter (Nov 1st – May 14th). Note: The park is closed during periods of inclement weather.
Prices: $7 for adults 17 and up – $5 for children ages 6 to 16. Only cash or personal checks are accepted. You will pay at the Parking lot using a dropbox system.
Weather: Click here for area weather
Tags: Bodie California, Bodie Ghost Town, Bodie State Historical Park, Bodie State Park, Pictures of Bodie State Park
The cemetery is a good place to visit to realize just how hard life was. Many baby graves, young children graves and young women who most likely died in childbirth.
Our daughter got married in the church about 6 years ago which was a very special moment for all of us. Going through the mill is a really informative tour to take if you have time.
Hi Cheryl, thanks so much for stopping by and posting your feedback…I’m sure readers will appreciate your suggestions. Cheers, Mike
As to Bodie, I’ve been there a few times. Unless they’ve graded the road, I’d advise potential visitors that the dirt road into town is DAMNED rough, so much so that you should either have a 4WD or a high-clearance pickup to make it. It’s not something you want to try in anything less.
Mike, if you’re still in that area, I lived in the Eastern Sierra for many years, and there are a couple of places I know you’d love.
Near Bridgeport, CA, are two hot springs, Buckeye and Travertine. Travertine is probably easiest to get to this time of year. It’s a nice natural hot spring that you can sit and soak in. It’s “clothing-optional” if you’re out there in the evening, and it’s a sweet place to sip a beer and watch the sun go down behind the mountains.
There are more hot springs near Mammoth Lakes, and a really beautiful place called Hot Creek just a few miles south of Mammoth. Hot Creek has active steam vents coming up in a mountain stream, and there are wooden boardwalks so you can safely approach it all.
Mammoth Lakes itself is a corporate shithole, but the Lakes Basin, uphill from the main part of town, is beautiful. There’s a great pack station up there, Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit, that takes people into the wilderness on horseback in the summer. I used to work there as a mule packer and horseback ride guide.
When Mammoth gets snow, make a point of taking a dog sled ride with Mammoth Dog Teams.
June Lake, the little town a few miles north of Mammoth, is really nice.
A bit farther north, up in Nevada, is a tiny little town named Genoa that boasts the oldest saloon in the state.
And of course, you’re not all that far from Lake Tahoe. There’s an interesting casino on the north shore where you can stand with a foot in two states. Straddling the line between Nevada and California, and thus being an interstate waterway, Lake Tahoe has the distinction of being the only inland lake in the U.S. which is patrolled by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Hey Hank, I’m not in the area, but might be coming back in February. Thank you so much for all the suggestions…I’ve been to a couple of the spots you refer to. That area is so beautiful. Thanks again. Cheers, Mike