Things to do: Road Trip Bodie, California
There’s gold in them thar hills.
Boom Town to Ghost Town
Camp Notes: As of July 1, 2023 the road to Bodie is open but, it is best too check road conditions before travel.
Hitting the road for a camping trip offers the opportunity to explore the landscape.
In addition, using the camp spot as a base, day trips can be historical.
Highway 395 Road Trip
On the way to Bridgeport, California, we passed a turn-off for Bodie; looking at the map, it seemed a long boring ride, so we continued to Bridgeport. On daily mini-adventures checking out June Lake, Lee Vining, Mono Lake, vintage shops, driving through different campgrounds, hiking, and even gold panning, Bodie finally pulled us in. Take the 270 down a 13-mile road, which turns into a gravel path; imagine you are traveling by stagecoach to get the adventure started.
Fall in love with Bodie, California
To say the love of Bodie was instant is an understatement. History can slap you in the face. Looking into the windows of artifacts left behind was spellbinding. Life here was bustling with so much energy, newspapers classified the town of Bodie as the true wild west. We were lucky to arrive just as the park opened. No one was there, so we had the site almost to ourselves; the sun was creating shadows, the camera was ready to capture a few memories but no ghost.
They just got up and walked away with chips still on the table.
You can no longer go inside the building but a peek through the windows tell a story.
65 saloons, 10 faro tables, 5 wholesale shops, 4 newspapers, brothels, breweries.
Bodie was known for robberies, opium dens, street brawls, daily shootouts.
Look around the landscape for hints of the Bodie and Benton Railroad, built to bring wood for all the structures on the site. Also, please stop by the museum to pick up a few books and pamphlets on Bodie's history. The museum has all the information on different homesteads and businesses. Finally, take the time to explore the grounds dotted with old cars and fragmented tools.
Bit of info about the town's namesake: Waterman S. Body's discovery turned into a gold rush; he died before seeing the town he was named after.
Round trip: Plan at least 3-5 hours to enjoy the site.
Standard Gold Mill
The original structure burned down in 1898. This is one of the best intact mills in California, it is also one of the the first to use a gondola system to carry minerals from the mine directly to the mill.
It took a while before two churches came to town, one catholic and the still standing methodist church both built in 1882. The catholic church was destroyed during the town fires. Two fires one in 1892 and the other in 1932 destroyed most of the town but still standing are 100 structures you can still enjoy today!
Bodie Superstitions
Take not
a nail or a rock or a piece of gold,
use only a camera or your imagination
but if you do take a few
Beware the Bodie nightmares coming to you!
Bodie became a state park in 1962
Camp Checklist
Check the website for hours and admission prices.
Check road and weather conditions.
There are no gas stations so fuel or power up!
Get there early.
No food services
Bring water and a picnic if you plan to eat.
Restrooms and picnic area on the grounds.
Dog friendly/must be on leash.
Museum and Walking Tours
Don’t forget to walk up to the cemetery.
No metal detectors or drones.
Leave No Trace
Color vs sepia Tones.
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