If you're traveling Highway 395, be sure to schedule a half-day visit to one of the most fascinating and eerie places in California. Bodie State Historic Park is a genuine gold-mining ghost town founded in 1877, populated at one time by 10,000 hard-core souls and deserted almost overnight when the ore ran out and the mine closed. The small part of the town that survives is enough to occupy visitors for half a day or more. The weathered, empty buildings, preserved in a state of "arrested decay," remain as they were when their residents departed, many still stocked with goods and furnishings. Docent-led tours provide much insight and are well worth your time.
Leashed dogs are welcome to accompany you as you wander Bodie's deserted streets. The park is theoretically open year-round, but without a snowmobile access is extremely limited in winter. Bring plenty of fluids and pack a picnic lunch, as there are no commercial facilities here other than a bookstore. Restrooms with fluch toilets are provided, however!
The park is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer, 9-3 in winter, weather permitting. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for ages 6-16, free for youngsters. Only cash or checks are accepted at the gate.
To get here: From U.S. 395 seven miles south of Bridgeport, take State Route 270. Go east 10 miles to the end of the pavement and continue three miles on a dirt road to Bodie. The last three miles can at times be rough. Reduced speeds are necessary. Call the park at 760-647-6445 if there are any questions about road conditions.
Latitude/Longitude: 38.2122 / -119.0111
