Bodie ghost town (which is the official gold rush town of California) is an abandoned gold mining town. Located in the Bodie Hills, Mono County. Bodie town was left to rot years after its establishment in 1876.

The rise of Bodie town

A group of prospectors discovered lime gold in Bodie Hills while traveling to Monoville. The town would later be called Bodie town named after one of the prospectors Wakenman Bodey. It began as a mining camp with only two mining companies interested in its riches. Between 1876 to 1879, bodies changed drastically when deposits of gold-bearing ore were discovered by the Standard Mining company. As if that is not enough, another discovery was found in the nearby Bodie mine. The two discoveries attracted more mining companies and miners, raising the population of the town to over 700. Over the years, Bodie transformed as railroad, telegraph lines, and other amenities were established in the town.

The decline of Bodie town

Despite the success of Bodie town in mining, competition from other mining regions proved to be too much for it to handle. In 1880, mining booms in other neighboring states such as Arizona lured many of the miners, reducing the population at Bodie drastically. Bodie became a small community that was more family-oriented than a mining community. In 1990, the mines at Bodie developed and started the cyanide mining process which gave it a little hope of coming back to life. This did not work as they planned because many of the miners had fled and the population remaining could not provide enough labor needed. By 1910, Bodie town had a population of fewer than 700 people. (Only 7% of its initial population). Although some mines were still operational in Bodie, the profit was low and this led to the closure of most of them. The railway and school, which were still the only amenities standing in the town, also closed, driving the nails to the coffin for Bodie’s existence. Bodie town was shut down permanently during the world war never to open again.

Hazards at Bodie

Cyanide remnants at the mining site are dangerous as they might cause health issues when inhaled. On top of that, large depressions left after excavation of the ground are equally dangerous as visitors may fall and get hurt in them.

What is the current situation of Bodie town?

In fear of vandalism, the owners who purchased the town after its closure, The Cain Family, hired caretakers to protect and maintain the property. Today, Bodie state historical park which was established in 1962 is still operational and at least 110 original buildings of the town still stand. Bodie state historical park is open to the public to visit at any time. Just don’t touch or interfere with the monuments.