Bodie California ghost town was one of the richest gold strikes in California. The historic gold mining town is spread across the high, remote valley of the Bodie Hills. Once known as the most lawless, toughest mining town in the West, Bodie California is now a deserted ghost town. Today, the settlement appears much the same as it did more than 65 years ago when the last residents left.

“The Bad Man from Bodie”

The “Bad man from Bodie,” was a well known phrase throughout the west making the town better know for its lawlessness than for its gold. What’s left of Bodie California looks like an old Western movie set. Put this together with the beautiful scenery we saw in Monument Valley and you have the perfect setting for a thrilling Western movie!

Walking the streets of this deserted ghost town, looking into the windows of the aging homes and abandoned businesses, is like being transported in time to the days when this was a rip-roaring, gun-slinging, gold mining camp.

Bodie CA Early History

In 1859 W.S. Bodey and E.S. “Black” Taylor discovered one of the richest gold strikes in the Eastern Sierra. Gold and Silver mined from the Bodie Hills amounted to millions of dollars but sadly Bodey was never able to enjoy his discovery. Bodey froze to death in November 1859 in a blizzard while returning with supplies. At an elevation of 8,375 feet, winters here can be unpredictable and harsh with high winds and snow drifts up to 20 feet. The Eastern Sierra is also the location of the world famous Alabama Hills that we visited. Hundreds of movies have been filmed in the Alabama Hills and just like Bodie, it’s full of history!

Tales of the quality and amount of gold that was being mined by the Standard Mining Company caused a flood of people to arrive and by 1877 Bodie California had become a boomtown. You can read an interesting history of gold mining here.

The Bunker Hill Mine (later renamed the Standard Mining Company) made a rich strike of gold and silver ore in the mid-1870’s. Over a 25 year period of mining ore, almost 10,000 tons were removed from the mine, close to $15 million worth!

The towns population swelled to approximately 8,500 with more than 2,000 buildings by 1879. I could almost see the townspeople going about their daily lives as I was standing there.

General stores, saloons and dance halls all provided the miners with needed supplies, relaxation and entertainment after their hard work deep in the mines. However, the town’s peak was to be short lived due to depleted ore in the mines.

The Decline of Bodie California

In its heyday, Bodie CA boasted banks, churches, newspapers, general stores and a school. The gold mining town was in decline by the year 1881 and the mining companies went bankrupt. The rich mines were depleted of gold forcing miners and businesses to leave the town for areas more profitable.

The population of the town had declined to approximately 1,500 people by 1886. Two disastrous fires threatened the town and by 1932 fire had claimed all but 10 percent of the settlement.

Bodie California Today

During the 1940’s Bodie faded into a ghost town and by 1962 the surviving part of the town was designated a State Historic Park and a National Historic Landmark. More than 150 well preserved buildings remain today.

Homes are still furnished, store shelves are still stocked, and the hotels appear ready for guests. It’s like taking a walk into the past when you walk the streets of this authentic ghost town. Bodie is now being preserved in a state of “arrested decay” which means the buildings are being protected from further decline but not being restored. The buildings interiors are maintained just as they were when the residents left.

The dusty town exists today as it did when the last residents left. Because at the time the townspeople were leaving there were no moving companies in the area. Folks loaded up what they could on a wagon or truck and left the rest of their belongs behind.

Ghost and Spirits in Bodie California

Ghost and spirits in Bodie CA have been reported throughout this deserted town. There are many unexplained happenings surrounding Bodie suggesting paranormal activity. Tales of a women peering from an upstairs window in the Dechambeau house, the sound of children’s laughter heard outside the Mendocini house, doors opening and closing on their own and the smell of cooking food coming from an abandoned home. Visitors report that it sometimes feels like someone is watching them as they walk along these deserted streets. It all sounds very familiar to us after our frightening experience at The Haunted Stanley Hotel in Colorado. We definitly felt paranormal activity there!

The Bodie Curse

The Bodie Curse is said to cause misfortune to visitors removing anything from this ghost town. Furthermore, the curse will remain with them until the removed item is returned. According to Park Rangers, every year visitors return their stolen items in the mail in hopes of having the Bodie curse removed. Not that we believe in things like curses but you never know, and besides just to be on the safe side we were certain not to remove anything from Bodie!

Visiting Bodie State Park

We haven’t mentioned or even photographed many of the cool things you can see here. You will be amazed at how it looks as if the residence are going to return at any minute. Even the pots are on the stoves and the dishes set on the kitchen table! You can visit and tour the many remaining building on your own or with a Park Ranger on a guided tour. There’s a lot of walking when you visit but you can see as much or as little of the town as you wish. Spend an hour or an entire day, there’s definitely plenty to see and reflect on in this authentic ghost town.

Bodie is located northeast of Yosemite National Park. 13 miles east of Highway 395 on S.R. 270, seven miles south of Bridgeport, CA. We stayed in the small town of Bridgeport for our visit to Bodie. You can find lodging deals for any season at the town of Bridgeport.
Check Rates & Availabilities!

 Other ghost towns you may find interesting:
Rhyolite, Nevada
Calico, California
Animas Forks, Colorado

*Mention a good ghost town in the comments and we will add it to the list above*

For more information on Bodie you can visit the California Division of Parks & Recreation.

The Alabama Hills in Lone Pine, California is the perfect movie setting. Have you heard about the Alabama Hills but didn’t really know where it was? Have you ever wondered where the fabulous scenery of rounded boulders, arches and mysterious gullies seen in so many famous Western movies and TV shows was located?

The Alabama Hills has been the filming location and perfect movie setting for over 300 movies. It reminded us of the perfect movie setting in Shelburne Falls, MA for Robert Downey, Jr’s movie “The Judge;” you can read our post here.

Movies and television shows filmed in the Alabama Hills during the 1920s to 1950s were mostly Westerns. More recently films such as Star Trek V and VII, Tremors, Gladiator, Dinosaur and Iron Man to name just a few have been filmed here. We stayed at the Dow Hotel in nearby Lone Pine because of it’s historical interest. The hotel was built in the early 1920’s for a convenient lodging place for the many actors and filming crew that came to film in the Alabama Hills. The adjoining Dow Villa Motel was added in 1959. You can find deals for any season at the Dow Hotel or other hotels in the Lone Pine area at Booking.com. We found the location of the town of Lone Pine to work great as a stopping point during our adventure as we traveled along scenic Highway 395 in California.

What are the Alabama Hills?

The Alabama Hills, designated a National Scenic Area in March of 2019, is an outstanding area of rock formations and stunning scenery framed by Mount Whitney and the Sierra Nevada mountains. Its rugged environment is a popular location for movie makers, television shows and commercials.

The desert setting of the Alabama Hills with its unusual rock formations and oddly shaped desert plants is admired by nature lovers and photographers alike.

Where are the Alabama Hills Located?

More Fun Destinations to Visit

• Bryce Canyon National Park – Utah
• Antelope Canyon – Arizona
• Mt St Helens Volcanic Monument – Washington
• Canyonlands National Park – Utah
• Zion National Park – Utah
• Monument Valley – Arizona
• Mesa Verde National Park – Colorado

Mobius Arch at Alabama Hills

Here you will find the Loop Trail that will lead you on a hike through beautiful rock formations and several arches. Mobius Arch is located a short way along the trail head that starts on the left of the parking area. There’s a small sign and easy to follow trail to the arch.

Face Rock at Alabama Hills

I have no idea how this Face Rock art started but I was looking forward to seeing it on our way to the Alabama Hills. I’ve been told that the locals like to change the look of this whimsical rock art from time to time so purhaps it will look different when you visit!

Movie Road Self-Guided Tour

There have been so many famous movies filmed here that you will want to pick up a copy of the Movie Road Self-Guided Tour booklet in Lone Pine. The booklet will help you locate some of the filming sites. Movies from Lone Ranger to Tremors and some Star War scenes have been filmed here. Movie stars such as John Wayne, Hopalong Casside, Gene Autry, the Lone Ranger and Tom Mix have been shooting it out with outlaws since the early 20’s. Mel Gibson, Alec Baldwin, Burt Lancaster, Cary Grant, Clint Eastwood, Nicolas Cage and Robert Downey, Jr., to name just a few have stared in movies filmed in the Alabama Hills.

We visited the Alabama Hills and the sites along US Highway 395 in California which included the incredible ghost town of Bodie. It was a rainly day while at the Alabama Hills but we were able to locate Face Rock and Mobius Arch and hike the entire Arch Loop Trail. It was really fun for us trying to locate Mobius Arch in the rain!

The Alabama Hills is a great area to visit not only for the historic movie interest but the scenery is remarkable and unique. Enjoy!

Directions to the Alabama Hills Trailhead

Take Hwy 395 to Lone Pine
At the stop light turn west onto Whitney Portal Road
Drive approximately 2.5 miles to Movie Road, turn right
In approximately 1.5 miles you will come to a Y in the road
Go to the right and pull into the dirt parking area immediately on your left
Markers for the hiking trail are on the left and right sides of the parking area
You can begin your hike at either side. The marker to your left is the shortest route to Mobius Arch.

To read more about the history of the Alabama Hills and to download a copy of the Movie Road Touring Brochure you can visit the Bureau of Land Management website.

Have you been to Alabama Hills? We’d love to hear your thoughts on the area too.

Let us know about your visit to the Alabama Hills in the comments below.