Bodie’s old mining buildings
A ghost town now, Bodie was once one of the largest mining towns in the U.S. In the late 1800’s upwards of 8,000 residents lived in this remote town east of the Sierras. The take? It is estimated that 35 million dollars in gold and silver was mined here before the town’s eventual decay.
For a moment we thought this old fellow was one of the old miners.
Today, gusty winds, a few ghosts and some random tourists wander through the buildings and streets much as they existed in their heyday. Wall paper peels from the dining room walls, a set of clothes hangs on the bedroom wall ready to be worn tomorrow, a broken wheel barrel sits outside a house, and a horse cart decays in its barn. It is a step back in time to the “gold” rush era.
Clothes hang on the bedroom wall, waiting to be reworn tomorrow
The stories, the ghosts, and the rich texture and color of the wooden structures make for a photographer’s haven.
A view through the windshield across town
An old horse cart sits on the side yard
Near the center of town
A window reflection shows the remoteness of the area
We did not see any ghosts, even though we looked for them in the most obvious place.
A view across the remains of Bodie from the Cemetery
Tired from our early morning (star and sunrise shoot), we did not stay late to see if the ghosts eventually did come out.
This old wheel in the foreground gives you the feel of the old town.
At the end of the day, no gold and no ghosts, but we were not disappointed. Bodie is the best ghost town we have visited. Still exhausted from our workshop, we headed back early, needing to traverse a long dusty dirt road with ominous snow clouds hovering over the mountains.
Remember, it’s all about the light, even a ghostly aura.
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