The Ghost Town of Bodie, California

When you think of a ghost town, do you picture tumbleweeds blowing in the whistling wind and old creepy buildings just sitting there emptily? Well, when you go to Bodie, California it’s just that. It looks like something from a movie. Bodie was a town known for the gold hot spot back in 1876-1891. In 1880 Bodie was considered California’s 3rd largest city and the population was 10,000. 

Bodie was named after William.S Bodey who had died before the rise and the fall of the town. The town had started losing residents due to the loss of mining profits. In 1915 Bodie was given the title as a “Ghost Town”, even though the population was 120 until 1942. And in 1892 and 1932 there were two devastating fires accidentally started. The first one was a kitchen fire that destroyed most of the town’s main street. Although it was rebuilt, many residents left. Then, disaster struck once more when a little boy was playing with matches and started the fire that eventually ended the once glorious town of Bodie, California. By the time WW2 came around, the population was only 6. Five of the six died tragic deaths. Two murders occurred and three died from strange diseases. 

You can visit Bodie to this day, but be wary. It is said that if you take anything from Bodie, even the smallest rock, you suffer tragic consequences and bad luck unless you return what you have taken. There are also said to be spirits of the old residents remaining. The J.S Cain House is considered one of the most haunted hot spots in Bodie. The ghost of a maid who loves children but hates the adults with them resides there. The adult visitors are said to have felt being pushed and feelings of suffocation. Some even say they’ve seen doors opening and closing on their own. The Mendocini House is home to many benevolent ghosts. One of them possibly being Mrs.Mendocini herself. Other tourists report hearing children playing and the sound of large gatherings. From outside the Dechambeau House, people tend to see a woman peeking from out the upstairs window. At the Bodie Cemetery there’s the spirit of a three-year old girl who was accidentally killed by the swing of a pickaxe. She’s most commonly called the “Angel of Bodie'' and her grave is marked with a white marble angel. She likes to play with the living children who visit her grave. So, if you’re thinking of visiting a ghost town on your next paranormal investigation or road trip, make Bodie your first stop.