The curse of Bodie Our creepiness rating 💀💀💀💀💀
KQED reported that "curse letters" returning stolen nails, glass and rocks arrive about once a week, with writers blaming the items for bad luck. A park interpreter said a ranger years back apparently invented the curse to deter theft, and staff now play it down. Source: KQED, Jan. 12, 2018.
Facts below are drawn from the linked sources.
Real history
Bodie boomed in 1876 after a profitable gold vein was found, and by 1879 it had about 8,000 people. It was called a ghost town by 1915 and became Bodie State Historic Park in 1962 (Wikipedia).
KQED reported that State Parks keeps the town in "arrested decay" and that mining went on until 1942 (KQED, 2018).
Ghost stories
These are reported legends, not verified events. The creepiness score (1–5) is Spook Atlas's own editorial rating, not a measurement.
Then and now
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Public access
Open to the public It is a state historic park (Wikipedia). Seasonal road conditions unverified. Last checked: Oct 31, 2026.
Explore more
- More places in Bodie and California
- More haunted & abandoned ghost towns
- Nearby: Fort Churchill (Silver Springs, NV), Nevada State Prison (Carson City, NV), Gold Hill Hotel (Gold Hill, NV), Mackay Mansion (Virginia City, NV)
⚠️ Please read: This information may be outdated and conditions change. Verify access with the owner or operator before you go. Spook Atlas does not encourage trespassing. Entering private, closed or condemned property can be illegal and dangerous. Report a correction.
Reader experiences
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