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Bodie gold mining town

California 270, Mono County, California

Description

Bodie is a mining ghost town located in the Bodie Hills, just north of Mono Lake and on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada, in western California. Gold was discovered in 1859 by prospectors including W.S. Bodey (that went on to give his misspelled name to the town), but is a discovery dated 1876 that really propelled it to a famed Wild West boomtown status with close to 10,000 people moving there within 3-4 years before gradually losing population in the 1880-90's. The town was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961 and it has been named as California's official state gold rush ghost town. There are about 110 structures still standing, including the Methodist Church.

Access & Transport

The ghost town is 40km northeast of Mono City along US-395 / CA-270. It is 160km from the Yosemite Valley and 170km south of Lake Tahoe. Take note: because of the high elevation (8375 feet), it is accessible only by skis, snowshoes or snowmobiles during winter months. Accessibility info here: https://www.parks.ca.gov/AccessibleFeatures/Details/509

Instructions & Recommendations

The town lies at 2,550m and the weather is dry with extreme temperatures (it freezes almost every night). Accessible parking, drinking fountain, and restrooms are provided at the main parking area but there is no food for sale (there is an unshaded picnic area).

Meta review

Most visitors seem to think it was worth the long drive (noting that the last 5km or so is a dirt road) and even though the buildings can feel repetitive after a while, there is quite a lot to see and learn (it is highly recommended to buy the booklet that includes info and a map) and enough to get a feel of what life might have been like at the time.

Environmental & Social

Helps preserve the region's historical heritage and no environmental impact

Conclusion

Bodie is a little light on content but visually quite impressive. It has been maintained in what the California State Parks call "a state of arrested decay" and is well worth a visit if you are in the Yosemite, Mammoth Lake or Tahoe area (or that side of Nevada).

Key positive

Relatively well preserved

Not busy

Key negative

Time consuming to get to

Changing weather

Suitability

Accessible for visitors with reduced mobility - assistance may be required in some areas and to get inside the buildings and up the slopes.

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

August 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit
Stays open in winter from 09h to 16h but can be very tricky to reach due to snow

av. transport time:1h

est. visit time:1h 30m

Regulated hours

Start of Season 1:May, 25

Season 1

MONDAY09:00 - 18:00

TUESDAY09:00 - 18:00

WEDNESDAY09:00 - 18:00

THURSDAY09:00 - 18:00

FRIDAY09:00 - 18:00

SATURDAY09:00 - 18:00

SUNDAY09:00 - 18:00

Start of Season 2:Nov, 01

Season 2

MONDAY -

TUESDAY -

WEDNESDAY -

THURSDAY -

FRIDAY -

SATURDAY -

SUNDAY -

Pricing
Age band
Age band
Regular price / pers.
Senior
65 - 99
US$8
Adult
18 - 64
US$8
Child
4 - 17
US$5
Infant
0 - 3
US$0
$3.00 additional for a Self Guided Tour Book

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