Silver City Ghost Town in Bodfish preserves authentic Gold Rush history with over 20 rescued structures from abandoned mining camps. You’ll find this living museum at 3829 Lake Isabella Blvd, open daily from 10AM-4PM for $7.50 admission. Explore the 1890 Isabella jail, Claraville Post Office, and miners’ cabins that showcase 1850s frontier life. Listen carefully as you tour—many visitors report encountering the supernatural residents who never left.
Key Takeaways
- Silver City Ghost Town preserves over 20 Gold Rush era buildings relocated from nearby mining camps during the late 1960s.
- Located at 3829 Lake Isabella Blvd in Bodfish, the site is open daily 10AM-4PM with $7.50 admission fee.
- Notable structures include the 1890 Isabella jail, Wells Fargo office, and the historic Claraville Post Office.
- The ghost town is reportedly haunted, featuring paranormal tours and documented supernatural occurrences in the National Directory of Haunted Places.
- The preservation effort began with the Mills family saving buildings from demolition and continued with the Corlew family’s restoration work.
The Mining Legacy of Kern Valley
While the California Gold Rush of 1849 drew thousands to the Sierra Nevada foothills, the Kern Valley‘s rich mineral deposits remained largely undiscovered until 1851, when prospectors began inspecting the Kern River placers.
You can trace the valley’s gold mining evolution from these early days to Richard M. Keyes‘ 1853 discovery near Lake Isabella, which established Keyesville. The discovery in Greenhorn Gulch by one of John C. Fremont’s expedition members initiated this localized gold rush that transformed the region. This period saw the discovery of a 42-ounce gold lump near Keysville that further fueled the mining boom in the area.
Finding Your Way to Silver City
Finding your way to Silver City Ghost Town isn’t difficult, despite its remote character. Located at 3829 Lake Isabella Blvd in Bodfish, California, it sits just a few blocks off Highway 178 near Lake Isabella.
The site’s exact coordinates (35.596986, -118.491306) prove invaluable, as GPS systems sometimes present navigational challenges in this frontier-like region.
From Bakersfield, you’re looking at a 45-minute drive east on Highway 178. Los Angeles travelers should allow about 2 hours, heading north on Route 14 before connecting to 178 eastbound.
These scenic routes wind through mountains and desert terrain, enhancing your journey to this reconstructed slice of history. The town’s haunting charm is amplified by the beautiful natural surroundings of the Kern Valley. For reliable navigation, consider following the coordinates rather than automated directions, especially since rural roads near Silver City can be uneven. Many visitors have found this historic attraction through Yelp recommendations when searching for family-friendly activities in the area.
The Passionate Preservation Efforts
When you visit Silver City, you’re witnessing the remarkable rescue of over 20 historic buildings that would have otherwise disappeared forever from Kern Valley’s landscape.
The Mills family initiated this preservation mission in the late 1960s, physically relocating structures from mining camps like Keyesville and Whiskey Flat to prevent their demolition.
The Corlew family later continued this passionate work, investing more than 20,000 hours of restoration while maintaining the “arrested decay” philosophy that preserves the authentic character of these Gold Rush era buildings. After being closed for 15 years, the ghost town was purchased by the Corlew family in 1990 who continued the vital preservation efforts. Visitors can now explore the property for a modest $7.50 admission fee, which helps support ongoing preservation efforts.
Rescuing Disappearing History
As the Gold Rush era faded into memory, the historic mining towns of Kern Valley faced an uncertain fate of demolition and decay. The region’s rapid modernization threatened to erase tangible links to California’s frontier past.
You’ll find Silver City’s collection represents a remarkable achievement in historic preservation, with over 20 structures physically dismantled and relocated from abandoned camps like Keyesville, Whiskey Flat, and Claraville.
Buildings were carefully documented and moved during the late 1960s and early 1970s, though not without incident—some reportedly fell from trailers during transit.
The collection includes the Wells Fargo office from Scovern, Clareville’s post office, and the 1890 Isabella jail. This living museum preserves cultural heritage through “arrested decay,” maintaining buildings in their found state rather than restoring them to pristine condition.
Visitors are encouraged to share their experiences through social media platforms like Facebook and X to help raise awareness about this important historical site.
One Family’s Historic Mission
Behind Silver City’s remarkable preservation success stands a single family with extraordinary vision and determination.
In the late 1960s, Dave and Arvilla Mills set out on a mission to rescue Kern Valley’s vanishing heritage by relocating over 20 historic structures threatened by demolition and decay.
The Mills Family transported entire buildings from abandoned settlements like Keyesville, Whiskey Flat, and Isabella, arranging them around a central courtyard in Bodfish.
This labor-intensive process wasn’t without challenges—buildings occasionally fell off trailers during transport, requiring community volunteers to help with reassembly.
Their persistence created a composite town that preserves the region’s mining history, attracting support from local history enthusiasts who contributed labor, resources, and funding.
The Mills’ legacy lives on through Silver City’s status as a significant cultural landmark, with structures dating back to the 1850s gold rush era.
In the 1990s, J. Paul Coroo purchased the property to continue the historical preservation efforts started by the Mills family.
From Decay to Display
The remarkable transformation of Silver City from decaying relics to a cohesive historical display began in the late 1960s through a philosophy known as “arrested decay.”
Unlike traditional restoration that seeks to return buildings to their original pristine condition, the Mills family deliberately preserved the weathered character and authentic imperfections of over twenty historic structures rescued from abandoned mining settlements.
When you visit Silver City, you’ll experience preservation techniques that honor authenticity:
- Buildings maintain their crooked walls and worn features, results of both transportation challenges and aging.
- Original materials are prioritized over modern replacements.
- Historical artifacts are displayed inside their authentic structures.
- Informational signage provides context while allowing structures to tell their own stories.
After reopening in 1990, the Corlews continued this preservation ethos with 20,000+ hours of careful maintenance work. Many of these historic homes were saved from demolition, giving them a second life as part of this outdoor museum experience.
Walking Through History: Notable Structures
Wandering through Silver City Ghost Town offers visitors a tangible connection to the Gold Rush era through its collection of meticulously preserved historic structures.
You’ll discover the red-painted Wells Fargo Office & Hotel Complex salvaged from Scovern Hot Springs, representing frontier commerce and hospitality. The Isabella Jail, rescued from beneath Lake Isabella’s waters, still displays original shackle rings and haunting paranormal activity.
Don’t miss the Claraville Post Office with its protective cage and authentic postal equipment, or the compact Miner’s Cabin illustrating the sparse living conditions of gold seekers.
The architectural styles of these buildings reveal their historical significance, particularly the Apalatea/Burlando House – constructed with hand-hewn lumber and square nails, it stands as the oldest structure in the entire Kern River Valley region.
Daily Life in a California Boomtown
While the buildings stand as silent sentinels of Silver City’s past, they once housed a vibrant, bustling community during California’s gold rush era.
Mining life was demanding, with workers toiling for 12-hour days, six days a week. Unskilled laborers earned around $2.50 daily, while skilled drillers could make about $4.
Community gatherings centered around:
- Saloons and coffee houses, where miners relaxed after grueling shifts
- General stores and merchants, supplying everything from mining equipment to daily necessities
- Makeshift entertainment venues like opera houses and circuses
- Community services that grew over time—newspapers, churches, and schools
The primarily male population adapted by taking on traditionally feminine roles, cooking and cleaning for themselves.
Women, though fewer in number, contributed notably as business owners, cooks, seamstresses, and entertainers.
Hauntings and Paranormal Experiences
You’ll feel a chill down your spine while exploring the Isabella jail, where shackle rings and prisoner markings accompany reports of shadowy figures and cold spots.
In the miners’ cabins from abandoned gold camps, you might hear whispered conversations or see tools mysteriously moving, remnants of those who once toiled for fortune.
Silver City’s nighttime paranormal tours offer a chance to experience these phenomena firsthand, with guides sharing accounts of Newt Walker’s restless spirit and unexplained phenomena that have earned the town its listing in the National Directory of Haunted Places.
Jail’s Restless Spirits
The notorious Isabella jail stands as the epicenter of Silver City‘s most chilling paranormal activity, where visitors frequently report unsettling physical encounters with the unseen.
Walking inside and closing the cell door might connect you with the restless spirit of gunslinger Newt Walker, whose presence lingers in this preserved structure.
Haunted encounters you might experience include:
- Physical sensations of something brushing against you, pulling your hair, or poking your back
- Witnessing a heavy miner’s lunch pail fly across the room unaided
- Observing doors and windows opening and closing on their own
- Hearing unexplained sounds, including those from a violin that sometimes plays itself
These spectral sightings have convinced even the most skeptical visitors, including former owner J. Paul Corlew, earning Silver City recognition as “the most haunted site in Kern County.”
Miners’ Ethereal Whispers
Beyond the jail’s haunted confines, Silver City’s mining heritage has spawned an extensive web of paranormal activity throughout the ghost town.
You’ll encounter unexplained phenomena in buildings preserved in “arrested decay,” where ghostly echoes of whispers and disembodied voices drift near the miner’s cabin and post office.
Cold spots and sudden temperature drops frequent these historic structures, while miner apparitions dressed in period clothing roam reconstructed streets after dark.
Listen closely for the mysterious footsteps, clinking metal tools, and distant mining sounds that permeate the site.
Paranormal activity intensifies near miners’ personal artifacts—lamps, shovels, and whiskey bottles displayed within buildings.
These manifestations, officially recognized in the National Directory of Haunted Places, reflect the unresolved stories of those who toiled and perished during the area’s tumultuous Gold Rush era.
Nighttime Paranormal Tours
As darkness descends over Silver City‘s weathered buildings, guided paranormal tours transform the ghost town into an immersive supernatural experience.
You’ll explore structures once occupied by miners who may have never truly departed, with documented paranormal activities throughout the relocated mining camp buildings.
During your nighttime exploration, expect:
- Access to the jail building—officially listed in the National Directory of Haunted Places
- Encounters with mannequins positioned throughout darkened interiors, creating eerie silhouettes
- Opportunities to detect unexplained artifacts and phenomena within the out-of-plumb walls
- Authentic ghost town ambiance enhanced by the “arrested decay” preservation style
The spirits of former miners seemingly followed their familiar architectural homes during the 1960s relocation, creating the perfect setting for genuine ghostly encounters amid Silver City’s remote mountain setting.
Visitor Information and Planning Your Trip
Planning your visit to Silver City Ghost Town involves understanding its accessible location and operating schedule.
You’ll find this historic gem at 3829 Lake Isabella Blvd in Bodfish, just 45 minutes from Bakersfield and 2 hours from Los Angeles.
The ghost town welcomes visitors daily from 10 AM to 4 PM (5 PM Saturdays), though it operates weekends-only from September through mid-May.
Admission costs $7.50 for general entry, with separate pricing for specialized tours.
For the best trip planning experience, consider these visitor tips: bring cash as card payments aren’t always available, allocate at least two hours to explore the 20+ historic buildings, and book ahead for popular lantern tours or ghost hunts.
Contact them at (760) 379-5146 or ghosttown@verizon.net to arrange guided experiences.
Photography Opportunities in a Time Capsule
- Shoot the Isabella jail’s interior at midday when light filters through barred windows, illuminating prisoner shackles and worn floor markings.
- Capture golden hour light on the red Wells Fargo office for warm tones that accentuate authentic weathered textures.
- Frame wide-angle shots of the courtyard to showcase the relationship between over 20 relocated structures.
- Focus on close-ups of period artifacts inside miners’ cabins—lamps, tools, and whiskey bottles tell intimate frontier stories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Visitors Touch or Handle Artifacts on Display?
Like precious history frozen in time, you can’t handle most displayed artifacts. Visitor etiquette requires hands-off respect for artifact preservation, except at the Isabella jail where interactive exploration is specially permitted.
Is Silver City Suitable for Visitors With Mobility Limitations?
You’ll find limited accessibility features due to uneven terrain, dirt pathways, and historic buildings with steps. The ghost town lacks specific visitor accommodations for mobility limitations, making navigation challenging for wheelchair users.
Are Guided Tours Available at the Ghost Town?
Yes, you’ll find multiple guided tour options available with tour guide availability through owner J. Paul Corlew. Contact them directly at (760) 379-5146 to arrange standard or specialized paranormal investigation experiences.
What Happened to the Original Residents of These Buildings?
All roads led elsewhere as the original inhabitants scattered to other mining towns, cities, or farming regions when gold and silver diminished. The buildings, not the people, were relocated for historic preservation.
Can Silver City Be Rented for Special Events or Filming?
Yes, you can rent Silver City for special events and filming. Contact (760) 379-5146 or ghosttown@verizon.net to arrange event rentals and obtain filming permits for your unique occasion.
References
- https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/silver-city-ghost-town
- https://californiawanderland.com/silver-city-ghost-town-bodfish-california/
- https://www.flyingdawnmarie.com/new-blog/silver-city-ghost-town
- https://theancientsouthwest.com/2019/09/24/silver-city-ghost-town/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lzdBuyt4Rg
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=51825
- https://sierranevadageotourism.org/entries/silver-city-ghost-town/fa654570-64cd-43c2-b7f9-84ffc3a0bbd1
- http://www.psaapg.info/cloud/sjgs/2017_Wilkerson.pdf
- https://www.kvpr.org/podcast/central-valley-roots/2025-08-21/the-towns-of-the-kern-river-gold-rush
- https://hrc.csub.edu/tales-from-the-vault-12/
