The Bodie boom started in 1876, when the Standard Company discovered a large deposit of gold-bearing ore in an isolated mining camp. Within a couple of years, more gold was discovered in the Bodie mine, and the boom was born. By 1879, it is believed that Bodie had a population of around 10,000 citizens and as many as 2,000 buildings.
The town of Bodie was notorious for being lawless, as was the case with many mining towns of the west. Gunfights were common. Along with more than 60 saloons, Bodie residents had a variety of other entertainment options which included opium dens, brothels, and gambling halls. They did have a few churches and a school to accommodate the more decent folk.
It is reported that during the very harsh winter of 1878-79, hundreds of Bodie’s townspeople lost their lives due to exposure and disease.
Today Bodie is a State Historic Park, and it is estimated that some 200,000 people visit each year to catch a glimpse of California’s mining past. Just over 100 structures still remain standing, preserved in a state of arrested decay, meaning that they are pretty close to original. The interiors of the buildings remain as they were left when the town was deserted. Contents and all.
Removing any items from the park is prohibited by law, and apparently by some unseen forces as well. Rumor has it that If you take a souvenir from the town (even so much as a rock), you will be cursed with bad luck, health problems, and possibly more!
As with most mining towns of the era, Bodie has had its fair share of ghostly encounters. Paranormal investigators come to Bodie from far and wide to see if they can catch a glimpse of one or more of the town’s original citizens.
If you visit Bodie State Historic Park today, you may want to check out these haunted hotspots.
