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Bodie State Historic Park is one of the
best preserved ghost towns anywhere. The many buildings
are kept in a state of "arrested decay." Gold
was discovered here in 1859, and by the 1870s it boasted
three breweries and dozens of saloons and dance halls.
There was more gambling, drinking, and shooting than any
other mining camp. Those lawless days come alive as you
wander through its deserted buildings. Bodie is
considered to be the best, and most well-preserved,
historic ghost town in the country. Bodie reached a
population of about 10,000 by 1879, but today only a few
State Park Rangers live there year-round. It is a
45-minute drive from Lee
Vining. The park is open year-round, 8:00 a.m. to
7:00 p.m. in the summer months, and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00
p.m. the rest of the year. Summer is the best time to
visit--at other times the weather is unpredictable. Bodie is one of the
coldest spots in the country--in 1999 it had the coldest temperature
on 71 days! Over-snow travel may be required to reach the park during
the winter months. An entrance fee is charged. Bring drinking
water--there are no services within 14 miles of the park.
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