Amidst the desert sage and rabbit brush in the high mountains lies the "Ghost Town of the Wild West". Frozen in time, Bodie State Historic Park preserves the lives of those who rushed to the west looking for gold. During it's heyday from 1877 to 1888, Bodie was home to more than 10,000 residents. Five percent of the buildings (about 110 building) remain in a state of arrested decay. The one-mile long main street housed 65 saloons at its peak, a red-light district, and even a small Chinatown.
We were impressed by the authenticity of this ghost town. We have been to so many in our travels, most either a few structural ruins or made into a tourist trap. This was an incredible example of how hard the mining life must have been, and how fleeting the time. By 1910 the population dwindled to less then 700 people and by the 1940's only a care taker for the are remained. It became a national historic site and state park in 1962. We saw so many examples of life that seemingly came to a standstill. A pool table just after a game played, a schoolhouse with lessons still on the chalkboard, a pressure cooker in the hotel kitchen, numerous toys that have been worn down from many children's hands. We did not take the opportunity to tour the stamp mill, however, we wish we had. From highway 395, you have to drive 10 miles east on a paved road then 3 miles on a dirt road. Admission is charged per vehicle occupant and they sell a self-guided tour booklet for $2. This was definitely worth the diversion from our course and we would recommend it to anyone interested in life during the mining gold rush.
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April 2019
AuthorCarolyn and Will Bollwerk share their adventures with their 5 year-old daughter, Dylan. |