If you are a lover of all things creepy or rustic, Bodie Ghost Town is the perfect day trip. And if you aren’t? It’s still one of the more unique and quirky destinations in California, and well worth the visit. This historic cowboy town captures the true essence of the lost Wild West days. And if you’re already spending time in Mammoth, it makes the perfect day trip for when you need a break from hiking or climbing. Here is how to plan the perfect day trip to Bodie Ghost Town from Mammoth.
About Bodie Town
Bodie is a historic mining town located in the Eastern Sierra Mountains in California, about 2.5 hours from Mammoth Lakes. It was founded in 1859, and came to its peak about 20 years later in the 1880s. At the height of its glory days, it was home to over 10,000 people from all over the country and the world hoping to strike it rich with the gold rush.
It was a lawless wild town, a reality not a far stretch from those wild west Hollywood cowboy movies. Rowdy citizens, seedy saloons, opium dens, gambling halls, plus being home to numerous outlaws – this town has seen some things, to say the least.
Unfortunately the glory days didn’t last long, and the slow decline of Bodie began just a few years after its peak. By 1942 the official last residents of Bodie moved out and it became a ghost town. In 1962, it became a California State Park as a historical site “arrested in decay”, meaning protected in its current state as a ghost town.
When to Go
A day trip to Bodie Ghost Town requires a bit of planning, for a few reasons. For one, Bodie is an official California state park, meaning it has an entrance time and fee – you can’t come and go as you please.
In summer, it’s opening hours are from 9am – 5pm, while in winter it closes at 3pm. It is possible to visit Bodie at night by joining a private tour or a ghost tour (more on that later).
Peak Season
The most popular time to visit Bodie Ghost Town is in the summer, from late May until the beginning of September. Keep in mind this will likely be the busiest time in the park, which can detract from the creepy factor (if you are into that, like I am).
Also bear in mind that Bodie is situated at over 8,000 feet above sea level, meaning it can get pretty cold even in summer. Shoulder season is also a good time to visit, as it will have less people but still acceptable weather.
I visited in late September on a weekday and it was perfectly sunny, and with very few people. However even in early autumn there was major wind which made it bitterly cold at times. No mater which season you visit, I highly recommend bringing a good jacket, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
Off-Season
It is open year round apart from federal holidays. In winter, depending on weather conditions, Bodie does become inaccessible by car. In times of snow, you can only enter Bodie by snowmobile, skis or other non-motor vehicle forms of transport since it’s common for cars to get stuck otherwise. Winter conditions are known to be extreme so I don’t recommend visiting in this season.
Spring isn’t much better either as it can be really wet and muddy – not entirely enjoyable.
How to Get There
From Mammoth, you’ll have to drive about 2.5 hours to reach Bodie Town, making it a 5 hour roundtrip journey if you’re doing it as a day trip from Mammoth.
You’ll take the 395N passing Mono Lake on the way, and then 270E. The last three miles or so of this drive are on windy, unsurfaced roads so expect to drive really slow.
On Arrival
You’ll have to pay the entrance fee of $8 USD per adult ($5 for kids) and once you park your car you are free to explore! I opted to pay I think $5 more for a map and history guide of Bodie. I highly recommend this, as it really gives you some context and history about each building and corner of the ghost town. And let me just say, there is a LOT going on here.
You’ll read stories about murders, the seedy corners of Bodie and their dark history, opium parties, cowboy shoot outs, scandals, tragedy and more.
8 Things to See on a Day Trip to Bodie Ghost Town
Today what’s left standing is a fraction of what Bodie once was. The town saw a number of fires in its past, the last of which burned down 95% of the town.
But you can imagine it in its prime: 10,000 residents from around the world, 2,000 buildings in total, over 60 saloons, countless brothels, numerous opium dens, 3 churches, and 0 law enforcement.
What I regretted most was having less than 2 hours to spare on my day trip to Bodie Ghost Town. This ghost town has a lot to see, and its sites are somewhat sprawled out over the hills. Once you factor in all there is to see, the walking time, plus photography time, I really recommend planning to spend a minimum of 3 hours here. Make that 4 – 5 hours if you plan to do some serious photography.
1. The Cemetery
Start or end your time exploring Bodie by heading to the cemetery a short distance away from the town up a hill. The cemetery is likely the best vantage point for taking in the view of the entire town of Bodie from above. Naturally, this makes it a great photospot.
It’s also worthwhile to visit the graves onsite, as it gives a huge perspective to who exactly once inhabited this bustling town. You’ll see entire families buried together, and notice the immensely high number of folks who tragically met an early death living in Bodie.
2. Miner’s Union Hall
The Miner’s Hall of Bodie was once a place of celebration and community, as it held many parties, meetings and events back in the day. Today, it is a museum and gift shop, and home to some seriously fascinating artifacts from the town. You’ll find all types of items, including opium pipes, old Chinese artwork, letters, and more, all telling the story of Bodie’s past.
If you wish to buy a postcard or souvenir, this is also the place to do so.
3. Chinatown
Bodie was home to many Southern Chinese immigrants, who lived on the outskirts of town and formed their own mini-Chinatown. This area was home to Chinese-ran laundry services, gambling halls and of course, the infamous opium dens. It was known to be a seedier part of the town for sure, and a hotspot for crime.
Sadly, these minority residents faced a lot of discrimination from the locals of Bodie.
4. The Church
The methodist church is easily the most prominent structure left standing in Bodie. It’s the only church left in the town, and is one of the most intact buildings left from the area. You can’t go inside though, because the building is not actually stable enough. But don’t worry, you can visit the interiors of plenty of the other houses in the town.
5. J.S Cain House
James Stuart Cain was a prominent figure who built himself a small empire right here in Bodie at the height of its boom.
He moved to Bodie at the age of 25, and started off working in the lumber business. He was involved with transporting timber across nearby Mono Lake to be used in the mining shafts in Bodie.
In the end, he became the owner of several properties across the town of Bodie and well as the most important mines. He rightfully established his title as the town’s most wealthy person. Today, this home of his shows large windows with various bottles on display.
6. The Schoolhouse
This is one of the best preserved and largest structures left in Bodie Town. Unfortunately you can’t go inside, but you can peer into the many classroom windows which literally look stuck in time. Lesson plans are still on the walls, and writing still on the chalkboard.
7. The Stamp Mill
The stamp mill can be seen from far away both due to it’s size compared to the rest of Bodie, and it’s uniform blue colored facilities.
Tourists can no longer enter the area of the stamp mills without paying for a tour. When asked why, a park ranger told me, “you can’t trust tourists to not fall into a shaft down to their death”.
To visit the stamp mill, you can book a stamp mill tour onsite at the visitor’s office. There are also ghost tours of the mill available at night for a more thrilling experience.
8. Boone Store & Warehouse
This shop was a general store built in 1879 by Mr. Harvey Boone. Back in the day you could purchase all your everyday needs here like food, coffee and gas. It’s an interesting place to have a peek because most of the shelves are still stocked with vintage posters and household goods from back in that era; like stepping back in time.
It’s eerie, you can really get a feel for how quickly Bodie must have declined when you see how much people left behind. They must have been in a hurry to leave when they did.
Bodie Ghost Stories
Okay, now that we’ve covered the practical stuff, let’s get into the real fun of doing a day trip to Bodie Ghost Town. There are a number of interesting and supernatural stories surrounding this once thriving town of sin. Here are some of the main ones to keep you on your toes while you visit.
Bodie Curse
The Curse of Bodie is a legend that precedes the reputation of this town at times. The curse entails that if any visitors takes home any items from the town, whether it be as small as a pebble – they will be cursed. Interestingly, the State Park rangers have admitted that they were the ones who made up this curse in an attempt to stop people from stealing the remaining objects from the town.
Back when Bodie had just been abandoned, it suffered from a lot of looting. People came and took what they wanted and left. So the curse was invented by California State Parks and Recreation as a form of anti-theft.
Weirdly, the curse seems to actually stick. Every week the ranger claim they receive letters, often unmarked, from an apologetic visitor who wants to send back something they took from Bodie.
From pieces of glass, to an entire piano that was once stolen, these all end up finding their way back to Bodie via remorseful letters from believers in the curse.
You can now see some of these letters in the Bodie museum in the Miner’s Hall.
Bodie Ghosts
Bodie Ghost Town is also home to many stories of ghosts, which you can hear all about by booking a ghost tour in the evening. This is also a great opportunity to get access to Bodie at night! Great for photography and a much different ambience for seeing the town.
If you don’t have time to stay after dark, just find a park ranger and ask them about their experiences or stories. Odds are they will be happy to share, and probably even enthusiastic. I heard a lot of interesting stories just by asking. Here are some supposed ghosts that haunt Bodie:
White Mule
A park ranger told me the story of a mining mule that sadly died in the shafts while working. They suspected the horse suffocated after a part of the mine collapsed or died of an injury.
At a later time, when another miner was doing work in one of the shafts, he saw a white mule appear. It’s said that he shortly died in the mine later. It became a superstition among the miners that if you saw the horse, it meant you’d have an accident in the mines.
J.S Cain House Ghost
Park rangers are the only ones left living in Bodie, and there was a time when the J.S Cain house was occupied by park staff. Many claim that the home is haunted by a Chinese maid.
Bodie’s Last Resident
There is a story of the last days of Bodie, when it was down to just six residents. A man was murdered by his neighbors after he shot his wife, and is said to still haunt his neighbors houses.
Gregory House
It’s reported that some visitors see the ghost of an older woman when looking through the windows of this home. They say she is usually found knitting or sitting in one of the chairs.
Tips for Visiting Bodie Ghost Town
1. Bring Sunscreen
Bodie is located at high elevation and is often very sunny. Wear sunscreen to avoid sunburn.
2. Bring a Thick Jacket
Regardless of the time of year, the elevation can make Bodie a pretty cold place to visit. When I visited we had insanely harsh winds from time to time, so I was grateful to have a jacket to take on and off depending on the wind.
3. Visit In Summer or Fall
Although Bodie Town State Park claims its open year-round, the weather is extreme in winter, and the town becomes hard to access. In spring, the snow turns into mud, which makes it uncomfortable to walk around the town. Try to visit in summer, on a weekday (for slightly less crowds) or in early autumn.
4. Wear Good Shoes
Bodie is sprawled out and on unpaved ground. Bring good shoes because you will do quite a bit of walking on dusty roads.
5. Bring Cash
They didn’t accept card payments when I went, so have some cash on you for the entrance fee.
6. Bring Snacks
There is no place in Bodie that sells food or anything really, apart from the few souvenirs available in the museum. Just the drive out here alone takes some time, plus the time you’ll spend exploring can easily mean going all day without food. Bring your own snacks and drinks. There are seating areas to eat as well.
And that’s all you need to know to plan the perfect day trip to Bodie Ghost Town from Mammoth, or anywhere really. We almost skipped visiting Bodie, but I’m so glad we didn’t. Besides being one of the best preserved ghost towns left in California, it’s the stories of this places legendary past that make it a place you won’t forget.
Shafinah says
ahhh this puts me in such a mood! I love abandoned towns and places and i’m loving the vibe in this town!
Fern says
I love how detailed and organized this post is! Now I really want to visit Bodie.
Travel A-Broads says
Oh my gosh! This is SO cool. I’m so happy I came across your blog post because I had never heard of Bodie Ghost Town, and now I’m dying to visit! I’d love to plan a little girls trip here with some of my friends even. All of your pictures are gorgeous btw. Thanks for sharing! Xx Sara
kmf says
This looks like a perfect day trip to Bodie Ghost Town from Mammoth. I would love to explore this area.
Josy A says
I LOVE this kind of thing. What an amazing place to visit. I don’t think I have ever seen a ghost town in such good condition – I guess it makes sense once you know Bodie is an official California state park. The ghost towns we have found have always been much more overgrown or falling down. I love that Bodie oozes with history that you can see for yourself. It would make a great film set!
Bob says
I went to Bodie on three occasions back in the early 90s. It is fascinating and should be visited by every American. I have researched it extensively and you are wrong when you say that there was no law enforcement. Bodie had its own police department, and there was a sheriff’s substation right in town. It had its own justice court that could hear all cases except death penalty cases. Those were heard in Bridgeport, the county seat. Also, at one time the Cain family owned Bodie, but they gifted it to the State for a park. The Cain family retains the right for family members to be married in the church and to be buried in the cemetery. This is from the state parks own literature that I read years ago. I have to add that only the “good” citizens of Bodie were buried inside the fenced in area of the cemetery. Other people were buried right outside, so look down as you walk around it.
Jacqueline says
Hi Bob, thank you for letting me know. I’ll do a bit more research and update the article 🙂 I just went off what one of the rangers said, but I guess she was speaking figuratively, not literally, about there being “no one upholding the law”. I agree every American should visit this place, it has definitely now put all the other ghost towns of America on my radar.