Any treasure hunter dreams about ghost towns from time to time. Just don't get caught in one after dark! The State of California has preserved an authentic gold-mining ghost town named Bodie that you can visit today. I drove to Bodie several years ago and it is truly a neat place to visit. The state has preserved it as it was left almost 100 years ago, with bottles still on the bar in the saloon, and boxes still on the shelves in the general store. Bodie boomed in the late 1870's when gold was discovered, and went from a population of 30 to over 10,000 in less than 4 years. Then big gold strikes were reported elsewhere, and the fortune seekers rushed off to stake their claims in places like Tombstone, Arizona. Bodie's Main Street, pictured here, once had 65 saloons on it, and all the mayhem that you can imagine.
Bodie is preserved as a State Historic Site today, so there's no treasure hunting allowed, but it is rich with memories and history. Bodie is located between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe in eastern California. For additional info and Bodie Photo gallery click here. Definitely visit if you have the opportunity. Bodie is a piece of American hiistory you won't see elsewhere.
One of my all time favorite towns to visit. Benn going there since the early 60's. It has been fun watching the cahnges through all these years!
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