Bodie, California, Mono County is an iconic ghost town that once thrived during the Gold Rush era. Known for its well-preserved state of “arrested decay,” Bodie offers a unique glimpse into the past, attracting historians and adventurers alike. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: Mono County
Zip Code: 93517
Latitude / Longitude: 38.2125° N, 119.0117° W
Elevation: 8,379 feet (2,554 meters)
Time Zone: Pacific Time Zone (PT)
Established: 1859
Disestablished: Not officially disestablished but declined sharply in the early 20th century
Comments: Bodie (/’bo”di”/ BOH-dee) is a ghost town in the Bodie Hills east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Mono County, California Ghost Townlifornia, United States, about 75 miles (121 km) southeast of Lake Tahoe.
It became a boomtown in 1876 and following years, after the discovery of a profitable line of gold, and suddenly attracted several thousand residents. It is located 12 mi (19 km) east-southeast of Bridgeport, at an elevation of 8379 ft (2554 m). The U.S. Department of the Interior recognizes the designated Bodie Historic District as a National Historic Landmark.Bodie began as a small mining camp following W.S. Bodey’s discovery of gold in 1859.
The town boomed in the late 1870s after the discovery of a profitable vein of gold, growing to a peak population of around 10,000 people. It was notorious for its lawlessness and was often described as a “sea of sin,” with numerous saloons, brothels, and gambling dens.
Remains: Today, Bodie is preserved as a State Historic Park. Around 170 buildings remain in a state of “arrested decay,” meaning they are maintained to prevent further deterioration but are not restored. Visitors can explore the town’s structures, including a schoolhouse, church, and saloon, offering a window into life during the Gold Rush era.
Also registered as a California Historical Landmark, the ghost town officially was established as Bodie State Historic Park in 1962. It receives about 200,000 visitors yearly. Since 2012, Bodie has been administered by the Bodie Foundation, which uses the tagline Protecting Bodie’s Future by Preserving Its Past. Bodie began as a mining camp of little note following the discovery of gold in 1859 by a group of prospectors, including W. S. Bodey.
Bodey perished in a blizzard the following November while making a supply trip to Monoville (near present-day Mono City, California), never getting to see the rise of the town that was named after him. According to area pioneer Judge J. G. McClinton, the district’s name was changed from “Bodey,” “Body,” and a few other phonetic variations, to “Bodie,” after a painter in the nearby boomtown of Aurora, lettered a sign “Bodie Stables”.
Current Status: Bodie is a California State Historic Park and is one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the United States. It is open to the public for tours, and the park staff provides guided tours to enhance visitors’ understanding of the town’s history.
Today, Bodie is preserved in a state of arrested decay. Only a small part of the town survived, with about 110 structures still standing, including one of many once operational gold mills. Visitors can walk the deserted streets of a town that once was a bustling area of activity.
The interiors remain as they were left and are stocked with goods. Littered throughout the park, small shards of china dishes, square nails, and an occasional bottle can be found, but removing these items is against the park’s rules.
Remarks: Bodie’s preservation offers a rare opportunity to step back in time and witness the physical and social remnants of a once-thriving Gold Rush town. Its remote location and well-maintained structures make it a popular destination for those interested in history, photography, and the allure of the Old West.
The town was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961, and in 1962 the state legislature authorized the creation of Bodie State Historic Park. A total of 170 buildings remained. Bodie has been named California’s official state gold rush ghost town. Visitors arrive mainly via SR 270, which runs from US 395 near Bridgeport to the west; the last three miles of it is a dirt road.
There is also a road to SR 167 near Mono Lake in the south, but this road is extremely rough, with more than 10 miles of a dirt track in a bad state of repair. Due to heavy snowfall, the roads to Bodie are usually closed in winter.
