Driving up to Bodie, California | A Living Ghost Town Along the Eastern Sierra

[@dwood78part23]

Thanks for the nice albeit brief tour of Bodie. Hopefully the next time you visit you spend more time there to give us a more look at the ghost town.

[@travist.7279]

Bodie is a lot busier than when I last saw it (late 70's). I'm sure that all of that paved road, helps. If I recall, back in the 70's, the pavement seemed to end just around the first bend, as soon as 395 was out of sight. 13 miles of dirt road was enough to discourage most tourists. Also, the turnoff was poorly marked. Drivers would be winding along the cliffs on 395, when suddenly, around a turn, a tiny sign by a gap in the rocks whispered, "Bodie 13". There was never enough time to stop---which meant driving a few miles further, until a place to make a U-turn could be found. By then, most folks tended to say, "Screw it!" I don't think the road even had number signs yet. And, the buildings in Bodie looked a lot more decayed, back then.

[@grizzfan08]

I've lived in CA my whole life, and have never been to Bodie St. Park before (the shame). Just make sure your tires and suspension are in top form when you get to the unpaved section, and be careful about fishtailing as well.

[@mattwiser8406]

Nice video! I thought about going up there once my Census work was done back in '20, but went to MInarets VIsta instead. Wouldn't mind going back and making this stop. Since this was a mining town, one does wonder how much gunplay there was back in the day. Probably not so much as, say, Tombstone or Deadwood, but no doubt it had its share.

[@loragunning5394]

Would really love to see a more extensive tour of the town, especially the mining facilities. Does the state or any other private companies offer guided tours?

[@dennishilligoss7386]

I was snowed in in the late 60’s there

[@jamesmassey-cc4ml]

I’ll bet the winters there were windy, cold and miserable!!!🤔🤔🤔

[@BrendanMacWade]

This drive is on my list of road trips for 2025 or 2026.

[@marydaleo3701]

It is not a living ghost town. No one lives there. A ranger stays there sometimes. Also, the average temperature in July is definitely not 36. It can reach 100. I don't know where you got your information.

[@jayski9410]

Someday I've got to make this trip myself. I live in L.A. these days but I born in Poughkeepsie, NY where W.S. Bodey was from but even more coincidental, I grew up on the same street. Although 100 years after him. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._S._Bodey