bodie state historic park

What an awesome piece of California history. We enjoyed our visit very much. It was a beautiful crisp Mar. day with snow on the ground. The rangers were fun, informastive. Incredible!

I loved Bodies, but coming from the west side of Yosemite, didn't have as much time as I'd have liked. I get the impression it has been tidied a little and some interiors refurbished/organised, but it is still awesome, straight out of a Western.With Mountain Bluebirds flitting around and photo opportunities at every turn, let you imagination take over and drift back in time.

Visit a real ghost town! No tourist hype just real. We were surprised as it was a good sized town. From a school house to a church, residences to businesses and a cemetery. It was fun to look into the windows or opened doors to view everything that was left behind. Don't forget your cameras! There was a $5 per car fee to enter the park and a brochure map (honor system) for $2 and well worth it. A very long 10 mile drive off the highway and a lot of it is a it road. Off season or for whatever reason, restroom facilities were locked but they have an out house!

I try to come yearly. Beautiful, yet dirt road drive up to town. Buy the book that tells you the history of the buildings. I like that they allow leashed dogs. Fascinating part of the American west's history. No flush toilets or vending, so bring water and food.

I've never been to a ghost town. I've always wanted to visit one and yet again, live out a Grand Theft Auto dream. In GTA: San Andreas, there's a ghost town you can go visit. It's creepy in the game, and I've always wanted to visit one in real life and see how it feels. Well, here's a ghost town. Bodie was recommended and quite the drive from San Diego, but worth it. It was neat to see everything so abandoned and isolated. If you have a large vehicle, or just a vehicle that can drive pretty well off-road, you might have an easier time getting to Bodie. It was a scary drive that felt very long because of the last three miles of gravel you have to drive on to get to Bodie. Those three miles were taken very slow, even in the jeep we were in. Getting out of there felt even harder because it was getting dark outside. We stayed the entire time and didn't visit every building we wanted to and see the entire thing. It's a surreal experience, to stand in an empty ghost town. It was like a trip back into time that will make you appreciate living in the modern times. Building ruins were fascinating, there were even some old abandoned vehicles. I took a lot of pictures through windows because some of the buildings were not unlocked and you couldn't go inside all buildings. It is actually quite an extensive ghost town, and hearing not a word.. seeing no bodies anywhere.. hearing the peaceful wind over the mountains surrounding Bodie.. wow. I can see why this became a ghost town, being so far out of way. Eerily quiet, I could even hear my footsteps on the ground. The cemetery was probably the creepiest. You can see where bodies were carried over a small bridge and placed in the cemetery. You have to be careful where you step because some bodies/bones didn't even have graves. If you're a photographer, you're going to love this place. It's a must. I brought my DSLR and enjoyed taking pictures. Although through windows, my cell phone did a better job of capturing the inside of the buildings. The old bar was interesting to see, as well as old pool table.

If you are interested in the history of early prospectors, this is the place for you. You can see the life style, culture, daily life of the residents- but sans people. Silver mines, equipment used, building ruins, carriages, primitive Shell gas station to name a few. Visitors center has artifact displays that shed light on the lives of the founder of the town and the residents.45 mins-1 hr drive from Lee Vining. Last 5 miles are not paved but most cars do ok. Lots of photo ops. Evening sky colors can add drama to your photos. Not sure if you can stay late or need a permit. Park is mostly day time use only.Be sure to visit, see how early settlers lived.

This is probably one of the most forsaken places for a city on the planet, but it's worth the 13 mile drive off of Hwy 395. The first 10 miles are paved and the last three are gravel. It's a little "washboardy" but not bad at all. We took a gamble going in January, but California is still having a drought, so snow was not a problem at all. It was quite cold, and we had the beauty of black clouds, ice pellets, a snow shower and intermittent sunshine! Awesome! Very walkable; wear comfy shoes. You can look in the buildings; photos are a challenge due to lighting and very dusty/dirty windows, but that's half the fun. Still great to see the things inside. In some places, if you ignored the dust, it looks like the people just left. Clothes hanging on a nail in the wall, plates on a table, books on a desk, a stack of newspapers by the window.....you almost feel like you're intruding. The mine is completely fenced off for safety reasons, but still interesting to view. The cemetery is overgrown, but still sacred ground. People lived hard and life wasn't easy. Restrooms were closed for the season, but there were outhouses available. Be sure to pay your entrance fee! Someone WILL be checking on you, even when it's 30 degrees!

The finest example of a mining town cum ghost town in the West. Walkable and large, no rehab allowed. A step back in time.

i visited it many years ago in august, but it was a breathtaking experience, almost like being into a western film. everything was like it had been left by people, it was real, not just a reconstruction like other places around the world.

We lived about 45 minutes away for 7 years and made a nearly yearly pilgrimage to this site. It is great all seasons, as long as the road is passable in the winter. When we bring first-timers with us, we give our time in the town about 2 hours. By all means, bring a camera as the photo taking, especially during the morning and evening hours, is fantastic. And bring walking shoes. This is a ghost town, so do not expect amenities. It is also more enjoyable if you read up on it before you come, but not necessary.

Bodie is a remote ghost town, with remote I mean in the middle of absolutely nowhere, and the Sierra Nevada desert. The drive is not difficult at all like some reviewers said, it is fine even with a low passenger vehicle. I have been there twice now, and would still go back, during a different season maybe.Be sure to CARRY WATER!! There is nothing there, except the visitor center with exhibition and souvenirs. There is a lot of walking, because you don't want to miss anything or any of the views, so be prepared! Sandals are not recommended, no matter how hot outside. And it can get terribly hot from late spring to late fall. It is also often extremely windy in the area. Wear a hat, too.Especially interesting for me is to peak into the windows, and still see a lot of the furnishings intact or strewn about. If you have a camera with b/w or sepia, you might want to play with these modes, they are most welcome at such a site. It's great for amateur and hobby photographers.

This really is a ghost town, no other words for it.Tremendous value for money and a great insight unto the lives of the silver miners and their families in this abandoned town where everything is preserved, deterioration arrested so it looks like it is about to collapse but cleverly protected.Peak through the windows of homes, offices, surgeries, bars, hotels and see how it was before oeople upped and went.

If you're brave enough to travel the 3 miles of dirt road into Bodie after the curvy 13 miles of paved road off 395 then you're brave enough to be a resident of this G_d forsaken place. You get some good exercise while walking through this town. All the houses and buildings (church, firehouse, store, hotels, etc.)are very interesting. I recommend playing the $ 2.00 and get the self directed walking tour booklet. It's entertaining and explains everything you're seeing in detail.

A well preserved ghost town from the 1880's when it was a prosperous gold mining town. Dozens of well preserved buildings with a very interesting museum. There is a $2 booklet to use as a tour guide while walking around Bodie which is worth the price.

Bodie is a full day adventure. The park is opened from 9-4 in the winter, weather permitting. There are no services, so make sure to take plenty of water and lunch. The elevation is 8200 feet so take a coat, hat, and gloves in case the weather suddenly changes. Take your time and look at everything; lots of detail in the houses that can be easily missed. Beware of the Curse of Bodie, and do not take anything with you. OBTW, if you are interested is visiting the grave of W.S. Bodie, he is buried at the very top of the first graveyard so he can overlook the town named after him. Enjoy!