Bodie Ghost Town

Bridgeport, CA

4 (5 reviews)

Where are we going?

Address: Bodie State Historical Park, Bridgeport, CA 93517, USA Number: 760 647-6445 Website Contact How do we get there?

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What is there to do?

Don't be scared - we didn't mean proper ghosts! Bodie Ghost Town isn't a huge haunted attraction. Nope! When we say ghost town, we mean that it USED to be a hustling, bustling town but then one day the people just left. It's an incredible experience.

Bodie Ghost Town, otherwise known as Bodie Ghost Town, is a authentic California gold-mining ghost town. In 1875, a mine cave-in revealed that all precious gold, which led to the purchase of the mine in 1877. After that, there were fortunes to be made! People FLOCKED to the town and transformed it into a boomtown. At one point it had a population of nearly 10,000 people!

Only a small part of the town survives today, mainly because the buildings are delicate and built from wood. Some of the buildings you can actually walk up and look inside, and still see jackets hanging up, chairs at the dining table, and goods on the shelves. It's a very bizarre experience! The town is preserved in a state of "arrested decay", and is only home today to the howling winds (and yes, maybe an occasional ghost...)

You can take a 50 minute walk through one of the most intact Stamp Mills in the state, where kids can learn all about how the gold was extracted from quartz and transformed into bullion bars. You can also see the machine shop, amalgam tables, electrical room and might stamps. There are a maximum of 25 people on these tours so you will be in nice small groups.

A fascinating insight into American history, and kids will literally be stepping back in time to see how a 19th century gold mine town looked - an amazing family day out!

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How much does it cost?

Adults

$5

Children

$3 (ages 1-17)

Free Under

1 year old

Last Updates

2022

Additional Information

Bodie is open all year round, but sometimes in winter it's only accessible by skis, snowshoes or snow mobiles. Yep - it gets that cold! In spring, mud also might be a problem.

Any top tips?

The Stamp Mill tours are $6 per person, and during summer leave at 11am, 1pm and 3pm daily.

I'm Hungry!

Make sure you bring food with you, because if you do see food for sale in one of the ghost town shops...it may be one of the old residents who still linger around...oooooh!

Great things to do with kids near me in Bridgeport

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Where is it at?

Directions

The park is northeast of Yosemite, 13 miles east of Hwy 395 on Bodie Road, and seven miles south of Bridgeport. From U.S. 395 take State Route 270. Head east 10 miles to the end of the pavement, then continue 3 miles on the unsurfaced road to Bodie. The last 3 miles can be rough. Make sure you reduce your speed, and just give the park a call if you have any problems.

Can I get one of those?

Bodie is a fully protected park, so nothing may be removed or collected. Also, metal detectors are not permitted. So keep your only souvenirs your memories!