A Visual Tour of One of the Best Preserved Ghost Towns in America

Back in the mid-19th century, Bodie, California was a thriving, rough-and-tumble mining town, full of saloons and populated by optimistic miners. But by the 20th century, it was almost completely abandoned.

In the 1960s, Bodie was officially declared a National Historic Landmark, and to this day, the Wild West ghost town is preserved in a state of arrested decay. In its latest video, Great Big Story tours Bodie, venturing into its abandoned saloon, elementary school, and general store. The town once had 10,000 residents and 2000 buildings; now, just 200 buildings remain.

Check out Great Big Story’s fascinating, and spooky, tour of Bodie above.

Banner Image Credit: Great Big Story, YouTube