Bodie -- California's Famous Ghost Town Part 1

Join Jeff and Sarah as they tour the famous California ghost town Bodie. They also get a huge surprise as they begin their tour walking down one of the main streets! They'll explore the site in this Part 1.
#bodie #ghosttown #historyhunters #monocounty #u2
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[@paulm.newitt3246]

My great uncle, "Grant H. Smith", lived in Bodie with his parents in the 1890s (his dad was a professional gambler). He wrote about it in the 1930s (it's online). Grant married one of my grandfather's sisters, and they moved to Virginia City in the 1940s, where wrote the famous history book: "History of the Comstock Lode" with his son, Grant Jr. BTW, My grandfather was a conductor on the Nevada Northern RR in the 1930s 40s in Ely, Nv.

[@ZeranZeran]

Your family is part of American history. How cool! Thank you for sharing.

[@Magravator1671]

My exs great grandfather lived in McGill, just north of Ely in the 1860 - 1920s. He was friends with Mark Twain who stopped in at his house on layovers between Missouri and Virginia City and San Fransisco. My ex had a collection of Twains books with handwritten notes on the first page of each book written to his great grandfather as appreciation for letting him stay over. Such a small world, when you're talking about Nevada.

[@patrickwade3150]

My family on vacation in the 60’s going up 395 we decided to check out Bodie. Had no idea it was so far off the highway and horrible dirt road for miles. But when we got there we weren’t disappointed. Back then we could walk in many of the buildings. It was so desolate nobody was there and we didn’t see another vehicle. We had lunch and left. It was a big thrill for me as I love history. Nice video, brought back memories.

[@hankbarr8892]

Hi, Jeff and Sarah. I visited Bodie about a month before you to stop and inspect our family plot in the cemetery. The Gregory family are my relatives...Catherine Cook Gregory, her husband Nathan Hall Gregory, and their son Nathan Cook, aged two years. These were the parents of my Great Grand mother Idelle Gregory Sherwin. The Gregory's ran a stage relay station east of town on the road to Aurora Nevada. Idelle and her sister ran the newspaper in Bodie for a short while...the sisters married two Sherwin brothers who were the sons of the man who built Sherwin grade and ran the toll road over the pass. Cathcart Sherwin was the first white man in Inyo county. I enjoyed your video...have lots of stories of Bodie! Any who, keep up the great work of keeping our history alive! Thank you!

[@nickspallone8372]

Hank Barr was this the stage stop that was on the California/Nevada line? Love digging into the History.

[@glenjonesiii576]

Nothing like breakfast and history hunters on a sunday morning 😀

[@timothygreener6045]

Rosa May, who lived and worked in Bodie's red light district, aided the town men during an epidemic, saving dozens of miners lives; however, when she passed away a few years later, was consigned to be buried outside the cemetery's fence. Harsh life. Thank you again for giving those of us sheltering at home from this pandemic, a little walk on the wild side.

[@johnrambo7630]

I really liked how you incorporated the lives of those who lived in Bodie, including the boy who played with matches. People did their best to live their lives and raise their children in a challenging location.

[@cathywhite9415]

One of my late beloved sister-in-laws favorite places. My niece actually scattered some of my sister-in-law there, so she's amongst the spirits there now. RIP our beloved Donna 🙏🕊🕯

[@jbenziggy]

Very touching! Thank you for sharing. You never know where a person's ashes have been scattered.

[@AmiJurgl]

My first visit as a twelve year old in 1965 is still fresh in my memory all these years later.

[@charlesmlane32]

I love the fact that I have a very close connection to Bodie, my godfather is a descendant of William S. Bodie. I love the history of this town so very much.

[@marigoldmeadowsfarm7495]

My grandpa Clarence Birks was the last night watchman of Bodie & he lived in the Cain House. We visited him & roamed all over the town in about 1960. Thank you for the lovely memories.

[@gasparocelloman9852]

Absolutely marvellous and moving narration at the end, humanising the long gone inhabitants of Bodie. We aren’t so different from those who came before us.

[@jbenziggy]

Thanks for appreciating my brief observations at the end about life and past generations. It’s easy to forget they were much like we are today. It’s not like the old sped-up black and white films. Thanks very much for watching and commenting l!

[@gasparocelloman9852]

History Hunters it’s an absolute pleasure. One of my all time favourite channels. Safe travels.

[@RMBB4202]

​ @History Hunters I live in CA, and Bodie is one of the places I take family from back east who come to visit, if we have time to go up into the Yosemite area. Highly recommended. Places like Big Sur, the Redwood country of the north coast, the Yosemite/Bodie area of the Sierras, too many other places to list, are great counterpoints to the typical LA/SF touristy things seen by most visitors to CA. On the subject of how the old black and white and off-speed films make people back then seem so distant and remote, I've recently gone down online rabbit holes watching many early 1900's films of city street scenes, WW 1, and etc that have been very realistically colorized and speed corrected. It almost magically humanizes the people in those old films and makes them suddenly more relatable to modern eyes. I'm a huge history buff, at least partly because as a kid in the '60s I knew many older family members and people in the neighborhood who were born in the late 1800s and early 1900s and talked about those times. That left me with a strange affinity for that era and generation. For example, my dad was born in 1902, a year before Kitty Hawk, and lived until 1998. His mom, my grandma, was born in 1868 and also lived to be 96 (died 1964), although unfortunately I was too young at that time to remember her. I do remember many of my dad's stories about growing up in the pre WW1 years. The oldest family members and neighbors I remember meeting in the 1960s were in their 90s at that time, meaning they born in the 1860's and 1870s. All of that didn't seem odd to me back then, but now it's mind boggling for me to think about. I wish I could talk to them now. I have so many questions I'd love to ask that of course never even cross your mind as a kid. Back then, even people in their 40s seemed old. People in their 60s and older were a little scary. 😄

[@random22026]

So gratifying to meet people who love your channel, and what you do to keep history alive. Lovely! 😀😀 5:25 And then? U2! Y'all are full of surprises! You made my night, thank you, HH! 👏👏👏🙌🙌🙌🎵🎵🎵

[@HollywoodGraham]

Good one and happy to hear there is a part two coming. My first trip to Bodie was with the Scouts in 11955. Back then it was wide open, you could go inside the houses and buildings till the Watchman ran you out, he drove around in a Model A Ford and carried a six shooter. There were many more rusting hulks of cars around then. I bought a Bodie book by Ella Cain in the school house, she signed it for me. There is an old hulk of a rusted 37 Chev Coupe there that has been photographed more than Marilyn Monroe. It was blue in 1955 with Nv. lic. plates. Can't wait till Vol.2. I am going to get Sarah a Do Not Touch sign for Christmas.

[@photofire100]

HollywoodGraham, My mother also bought the Bodie Book from Ella Cane when she was signing them in Bodie. A few years later you would occasionally see her sitting on the porch of a home at the Southern end of Bridgeport. I believe we have a second Bodie book written by her after the first one that we purchased. It's around our home somewhere. Cheers.

[@Slick2462]

I am voting Sara and Jeff California's Top Explorers! I know Bodie is a protected site but still amazed at the lack of broken window glass and lack of graffiti. I find that encouraging. I always learn something!👍

[@Thomas-lk5cu]

Isn't Bodie guarded at night? It's also in an extremely remote area, I believe there's only one muddy road in and out?

[@knova]

You have to be about that life to even get out there. So riff raff don't generally get out there I would think. That's probably why it's lasted this long in perfect decay

[@vic7160]

Great video! I’ve visited Bodie a few times. I used to have a cabin about an hour away. I read a book that I bought from the museum there. It was fascinating! So music history and the way people thought and did things back then. Hard times! The book talked about the opium dens, child death rate, how the water lines for the fire hose was filled with dirt, due to neglect, all kinds of stuff.

[@mundee7792]

I visited Bodie about two years ago on the dot, which wasn't long after I realized it existed while I was on a trip to Mammoth Lakes. As a fan of history, I very much enjoyed checking this place out, and I also found that the trash and equipment left behind is about as interesting as the town itself. So neat to get a glimpse of people's lives back in those days.

[@renofredrenofred4913]

Nice walk around the old town......A much closer look than many of he Bodie Videos I've watched....also...as you said toward the end of this video.....there's more to come in part 2.

[@titchyjp]

Hi I’m from Scotland and I’ve just started watching videos from your channel this week.I find the history of your country very interesting especially the ghost towns of the old west.

[@salysellsss]

Thanks, Jeff and Sarah, for taking us along on your trip to Bodie. We get to watch from the comfort of our homes while you do all the hard work!

[@stevemccoy8138]

Just remember don't take any souvenirs,or the Bodie curse might appear.

[@mlbolts72]

So true

[@genesanford9412]

found a nail in the dirt there ,& made a cool ring from it.I,ve had it 45 yrs ,or so, ...& no curse.

[@jamiecee4960]

Only if yo believe in cursess.

[@karenvecchio2229]

Thank you, I was just thinking the same thing.

[@mrramdom4406]

😳

[@JanisLC]

Love Bodie ! Been there a few times .. You do such a great job telling the tale of the old miners of this era . Thank you for all both do ! ❤

[@retrorewindllc9363]

The u2 band joshua tree thing was too cool, would never knew that of that ghost town if u haven't told it!!!

[@deanvinlove6095]

Thank you for another wonderful adventure into our past ! I lived in California for many years and often wanted to visit Bodie, never got the chance, I’m living in Kansas now and regret not visiting there. Thank you for the opportunity to virtually visiting!

[@jbenziggy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@stuartstuart866]

It was a fun old photo showing the residents smiling and having a good time. Most old photos don’t show people smiling. I’d heard it was because picture taking was rare and serious event, but I also heard it was because people had bad teeth and didn’t want to show them. Thanks guys for another neat video.

[@stabbincabbincowbboy3770]

What Great Story’s of The Wild West Bodie- Well Done History Hunters.. Love the Bodie History 👍🏻🤠🇺🇸

[@blakemiller138]

An old timer told me that many people thought they would return to Bodie someday which is why they left so much stuff behind. Before it became a state park you could walk into places and things like china, pots, pans were inside. In the 1960's the road into Bodie was a real challenge, before the current one was built. My first time there we drove a 1959 Lincoln and what an adventure. I remember that hardly anyone was around and do not remember any rangers. My Dad did photography as a hobby and I still have large prints of several buildings and cars. Nice job on the video.

[@jbenziggy]

Thanks Blake! Trust me that last stretch of washboard road is horrible still! I dreaded that part on this last trip. Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories!

[@panther7603]

Wow...4 years earlier practically unknowns. This visit, Jeff and Sarah were met by “History Hunter” fans. How cool is that! Just another amazing walk through time. Thanks again for the history ride.

[@wadedurbin9950]

By far the best video of bodie I have seen. Well done☺️

[@jbenziggy]

Wow. Thank you so much; that’s a great compliment!

[@scottlebaron2994]

Mining towns like Bodie had a life similar to the people that inhabited them. The wild times of youth followed by a period where raising families was an important part of the community and finally fading to a memory. Thankfully it is a National Park and still provides the opportunity to see what life was like back then. Another excellent episode particularly the closing words and images.

[@Thomas-lk5cu]

I happened to visit Bodie a couple of years ago by incident, and was completely blown away by this historic town and all the relics just lying around, and probably have been for almost a century. Truly amazing.

[@tresilewis5925]

LOVE Old West history. and loved the video. Thanks so much, for all of your time and effort.

[@therightsdefender2802]

Amazing video i loved it,great job Jeff and Sarah

[@carlmclelland7624]

This was an interesting 're-visit' to a town I first visited in the early 1050's. Dad was home from the Korean War and Mom - who first saw Bodie and Aurora (east of Bodie, follow Bodie Creek Road east about 15 miles and then turn south) before the start of WWII, wanted to explore her youth. As Mom explained... "When I was first here there was a caretaker who watched over the town, but you could enter all of the building. In Aurora, it was as though the people left for work one morning and never returned. Dishes and silverware lay on the kitchen table and clothing still sat in the dressers and hung in the closets." I live in Sparks, NV, and from the early 70's through the mid 80's, I've explored almost every ghost town and mining camp in my state. I applaud the State of California for maintaining Bodie in its present state, for it gives people the opportunity to see - in stark reality... what once was. Thank you Jeff and Sarah..........

[@heru-deshet359]

1050s. That makes you over a 1000 years old, lol.

[@KB6YAF]

Surprisingly, I have never visited Bodie, but your video, along with your extensive historical narration brings it back to life. Thanks Jeff and Sarah for once again starting my Sunday morning off with a fascinating video.....Russell D.

[@jenniferbrewer5370]

You should go, it's awesome! Well worth the drive.

[@terrydevries914]

Always look forward to History Hunters on Sunday mornings! Another good one😎😎

[@harrisonmantooth3647]

Thanks for sharing your adventures with us Sarah and Jeff. Everytime you two head out for another "trip" into our past, I get this terrible itch to take a road trip myself. With each adventure you take, I learn more about our history. For the town of Bodie being as old as it is, it's still in remarkably great condition. Again, thanks for sharing this video with us. Be safe out there. Stan

[@rolandocastaneda4429]

I love Bodie. I want to go and see it. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@johnkelsey2482]

Excellent again....Good Job...Can't wait till Part 2...Thanks...

[@slink1957]

Well Done! Looking forward to part two.

[@chipahoycook1452]

Loved this one a lot! The old general store shot was awesome. Thanks again for bringing history to us.

[@pamelakern2849]

This was great !!! I just loved this trip. What an interesting old town this was . Bodie has always sounded fascinating to me . I am so excited to get a tour ☺ . It was fun to see other fans of your channel , in this video. 👍 I am looking forward to part two. 🤩🤩

[@SoonerGirltravels]

Love the charm of this old town. So many stories it could tell. I’m falling in love with the desert...so beautiful.

[@eskigunler62]

absolutely great video thanks guys bodie is beautiful old wild West town.

[@davidcarr286]

Awesome. I really enjoyed this. Keep it up.

[@heberfodo4624]

Just wanted to say love all the vids keep them up! Just recently found the channel while looking for something and have to say this channel being recommended is a better find than what I was looking for. I've been binge watching your stuff and love it all.

[@markgeyer3591]

Great video, I always have wanted to visit Bodie, am looking forward to seeing the next part!...

[@tractorhyatt7044]

Another great video with terrific narrative! I would love to visit Bodie someday. Nice job, thank you! 🇺🇸🚜👍

[@greyghostjay]

Visited Bodie a long time ago. Didn't get to explore like you did. Thanks for this! Can't wait for the next part.

[@y077er]

Wow that was brilliant, can't wait for pt 2.

[@andzir]

Loved that you guys ran into fans! Well deserved.

[@Corgis175]

You put a lot more of individual info into it like the boy with the matches and even his eventual passing and the photo of him in a movie. I never get tired of watching Bodie and hope someday to get there, not winter, of course, ha ha. Look forward to your next edition on Bodie.

[@TandysHandcraftedCreations]

What a great place to see, Great vlog, I am looking forward to seeing part 2. Safe travelling yall!

[@vonwebber7852]

Hi Jeff and Sarah! Your video was a walk down memory lane (again). Wife and I took our boys there almost 30 years ago. You detailed more areas than we were able to see that day. Looking forward to part 2. After we watched your video, ironic, when I stood up from the TV, there on our wall was a photo my wife took of the Bodie church. Her next comment, now to explore the ghost towns of Colorado.

[@paulaambros278]

Nice to see your Bodie videos! Makes us want to go visit there again!👍❤

[@aaronandrews3059]

Bodie, is my favorite. It truely is a glimpse into a time long lost. Looking into the homes is a time capsule with a relic from each passing decade. Those thin walls didn't keep out the cold much, even with multiple layers of wall paper. Thanks again for the great video.

[@terrycolberg6543]

Thank you Jeff and Sarah for a relaxing and enjoyable journey into the past.

[@reneeburdick8886]

Such a beautiful part of history, still looks the same from when myself and my family were there in 1985. There's a fish hatchery not too far from there also I believe it's called Hat Creek or Hot Creek fish hatchery.

[@OfficialGhostBoiiz]

Hi Jeff & Sarah! Thank you for sharing your explorations with us all! Have you two been to Black Star Canyon?

[@jbenziggy]

Thanks very much! We have not been there and confess we’ve not heard of it.

[@nadiazahroon6573]

Always enjoyable venture in California. Ive always wanted to visit Bodi for a long time. Life was and is hard and trying. I loved Sarah's purse treasure. Thank you Jeff and Sarah

[@raccabird8889]

Awesome just made my day 🤘

[@dianaott2662]

Thank you so much for sharing! That made for a great Saturday morning! I love Bodie. I have the cutest picture of my husband and son sitting in a rusted out car! That was 24 years ago. Fun! Happy trails! 🤠🚙🏚🕰🌧🌞 The weather in Bodie is real unpredictable. When we were there it was real clear, blue skies. All of a sudden we had to run for shelter. It poured rain. Then it was suddenly clear again. A fun adventure!!

[@MrMonkeyGeorge]

I love the long episodes that have to be broken up and the way you talk about the people that once lived there, i.e. the firebug lol. Please make a video of the st francis dam disaster. I think you would bring a lot life back to that once tragic moment in California's history. California's second largest natural disaster in our history.

[@mattmaher3814]

Jeff, Sarah. Thanks for another great episode. Took the day off work to do some work in the garden (yard) but as it was raining I ended up watching History Hunters for the day. Really enjoyed your live Q & A as well. And I'm with Sarah. Jeff, you have met 4 presidents. Keep up the hard work. It brings a lot of joy to a lot of people.

[@nicholassteel5529]

Super cool✌️; old gold mining ghost towns are amazing relics; nice one thanks!

[@haroldnelson3734]

Great video! The part about U2 and the Joshua Tree album was way too cool! I've visited Bodie several times and it never gets old...arrested decay and all. Thank you for taking us there with you and for so many interesting facts.

[@royston8044]

Brillant , enjoyed that.

[@agaterockhoundz8918]

Wonderful job as usual!!

[@jbenziggy]

Thanks Barry!

[@ThePeebucks]

Love this and your passion for history Jeff! I lived in Sonora for a time as a kid and have visited several times in my youth and as an adult. I have a photo of my sister and I from Bodie taken 40 years ago that I cherish. And thanks for the U2 mention! I’m a huge fan and knew some of the images from “The Joshua Tree” were taken at Bodie. Looking forward to part 2!

[@churchofpos2279]

Another great adventure. I love going to Bodie. I always find something new to discover.

[@marrtianchronicles5702]

We just visited Bodie last week. How fun to come across your video. I really enjoyed some of the old photos and cultural references you added as well. Looking forward to part 2.

[@jbenziggy]

Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you! I hope you will subscribe! If you have already, welcome Diana!

[@marydilley4455]

We enjoy watching your shows very very much. We want to visit Bodie

[@jbenziggy]

Thank you! Will you get to visit there? We hope that you can!

[@katobrucelee08]

love all the artifacts lying around! Would love to visit one day!

[@donnarigby3686]

Thanks for taking me round Bodie, I can’t wait for part 2 that was great x

[@jbenziggy]

Thanks Donna! Part 2 will be good too.

[@russellbarnes7728]

Growing up in Reno, and with much family history in Virginia City, I've been to Bodie MANY times, always find something new! Great video. Last time I was there, the stock was still in the General Store, Fire equipment, pool table in the saloon, and an old weathered globe in the school house. Mark Twain also spent some time there, on his way to work for my great great grandfather, Washington Wellington Barnes, at the Territorial Enterprise newspaper in Virginia City...

[@flwoods1]

WOW, I went thru there in 1971 when it was all but gone, so glad it was saved.

[@jupite1888]

Another Great Story, Excellent Thanks

[@jbenziggy]

Thank you very much for watching and commenting. We appreciate hearing positive feedback like yours jupiter2!

[@Smithsgold]

fans from Bodie !!!! very cool and it's also weird when you get recognised specially for me when most of the time we are filming out in the boonies !!!!! great video looking forward to part two !!!!

[@timberk5]

Great video been to Bodie a number of times still learned a few things from your video

[@philh664]

As always extremely enjoyable. Iam sorry to have missed your live streaming thing.

[@jbenziggy]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed this one! We will do another live stream chat soon!

[@jennysjourney02]

Great video. So much interesting history too. I'll be in Mammoth Lakes next month and want to check out Bodie. I remember when I was a young teen in the 90's my parents took a road trip through Yosemite, we went to Mono Lake and tried to go to Bodie but the road was so rough on our mini van we turned around. So I'm really excited to finally see it. I'm glad the road is more accessible nowadays.

[@leahreposa4599]

Congratulations on breaking 30k on Facebook! Loved the tour of Bodie!

[@carolynwalter8961]

So glad your doing this blog I'm unable to explore like you . You explore for me! Love you.

[@jbenziggy]

Thanks Carolyn! Glad you are enjoying! Stay tuned for part 2! We feel the love!

[@photofire100]

Thank you for reliving our trips throughout the years to Bodie. We've been going since 1955. Your narrative is informative and fun. Keep up the great work.

[@jbenziggy]

Thanks Gary! I appreciate your very kind compliments and hope you enjoyed reliving the experience again!

[@mariemorgan7759]

I always enjoy watching your history tours! Bodie is one of my favorites,since it has a beautiful,haunting feel about it. I would love to live and work in a old West ghost town.

[@DEATHWISH209]

You are awesome! Keep doing what you're doing. Do a video in Turlock CA

[@nancyschwabedissen3361]

Have been fascinated with Bodie for years now. Would love to visit. I am from Poughkeepsie, and live a few blocks from where W Bodey had a business and where he lived. His wife and children are buried in Poughkeepsie rural cemetery- also close by. Thank you for your videos! I love all the history and information you give ❤

[@marklawson8346]

Great video Jeff and Sarah looking forward to the next 😊👍🏻

[@jbenziggy]

Thanks 👍

[@justinvernal]

Your work is great.top shelf production decided to go patron 👌🇺🇸

[@melissajensen3166]

Great vlog. Usually, mining camps or towns had 1 or more areas used for garbage dumps. That makes it so cool.

[@steveblankenship5474]

Great job making this video. Bodie is a must stop for California history. I remember going there after high school in the 70’s and you could go inside that church. There was some rumors about mining starting up again adjacent to the park and with the price of gold going up again it would be something to watch for.

[@stefaniephillips4013]

Another great video! Super happy to discover you guys. There’s only so many Huell Howser re-runs I can watch 🤣♥️

[@axidhaus]

He was great

[@buddy8225]

This reminds a little of the ghost town I visited in Utah called Sego just north of Thompson springs. Not a whole lot left compared to Bodie though. But a great place to camp for the night. Bodie is amazing place. I have now started a Western Field trip. It’s in the planning stages. Thanks for the amazing trip back in time.😀

[@NickP]

Excellent video... Great footage and commentary.

[@sassyfrass4295]

Yes! We love History Hunters!!!!

[@JudyHill-lc4rg]

I love to see old towns and our history.

[@jamesmunro8783]

Looking forward to part 2

[@ralphpatrick3071]

Loved my trip to Bodie!

[@TomPauls007]

My favorite ghost town. Been there twice. Dying to get a tour of the processing factory. Gorgeous day there for you!

[@foxmulder4269]

Nice !! I hope I can visit there one day, you do good work from a historical perspective, and its appreciated. I love everything Old West.

[@jasonsmith7338]

I've visited Bodie twice in my life... and while I had a pretty decent visit there, I actually enjoyed these videos MORE than my trips. They are both so well done, so in depth, that I walked away from the vids with a deeper understanding of what happened there and who was living in Bodie. Versus walking away from actual Bodie with a sunburn, 2 flat tires, and a wife with a headache. Excellent job!

[@jbenziggy]

Wow thanks very much for that glowing review! I can tell you that Bodie has a way of beating up a person in just a few hours so I do relate to what you’re saying! We appreciate you watching and hope you’ll subscribe to our channel too!