A California ghost town abandoned decades ago has been transformed into a tourist hotspot, but visitors warn it is plagued by a “curse.”
Bodie is a small former gold mining town near the Nevada border that was once home to about 8,000 people and 2,000 buildings.
It is named after the man who first found buried gold in the hills just north of Mono Lake in 1859. Two years later, a mill was installed and the town began to flourish, with miners arriving from all over the country.
But its good fortune did not last and, in 1881, the town began to go bankrupt, residents left en masse and mining officially ended in 1942.
Today, tourists from all over flock to visit the city that remains frozen in time. But visitors are urged not to disturb what is left or steal items for themselves, amid reports that those who end up plagued by bad luck. LADbible reported.
A small former gold mining town near the Nevada border, Bodie was established after William S. Body found small amounts of gold in the hills north of Mono Lake in 1859.
There were once 65 taverns in the area, including many brothels and “houses of ill repute,” gambling dens and opium dens, the city’s website reports.
During its boom years, the city had homes, a school, a Wells Fargo bank, four volunteer fire companies, hotels, a jail, cemeteries, stores, churches, newspapers, a morgue and other structures that supported the large community. of residents.
There were once 65 taverns in the area, including many brothels and “houses of ill repute”, gambling halls and opium dens, the town website information.
This led to a huge increase in shootings, stabbings and nighttime fights, and the area soon became notorious for violence in the surrounding area.
Along with a sharp decline in mineable material and growing racism against Chinese immigrants, Bodie’s population began to plummet and by 1886 only about 1,500 residents remained.
Meanwhile, two devastating fires in 1892 and 1932 destroyed a large number of buildings, and the harsh climate also contributed to the city’s decline.
Today, only about 200 buildings remain in this deserted community.
Coupled with a sharp decline in mineable material and growing racism against Chinese immigrants, Bodie’s population began to plummet and by 1886 only around 1,500 residents remained.
Meanwhile, two devastating fires in 1892 and 1932 destroyed a large number of buildings, and the harsh climate also contributed to the city’s decline.
Bodie eventually became a national historic district in 1961 and a state historic park in 1962.
Bodie eventually became a national historic district in 1961 and a state historic park in 1962.
While it welcomes dozens of visitors each year, the area is kept in a state of “arrested decay” to ensure things continue to look as they once did.
However, those who visit believe that the dead city is plagued by a curse.
Several tourists have reportedly returned souvenirs they had stolen from sites around Bodie after suffering a misfortune.
While it welcomes dozens of visitors each year, the area is kept in a state of “arrested decay” to ensure things continue to look as they once did.
Aaron Scarborough, park assistant at Bodie, formerly saying: ‘The streets are covered with their own memories, from old glass and nails to the occasional coin. But park officials recommend against stealing from Bodie stores. Not because of any moral code, but because of the curse.
‘People take old, rusty nails as souvenirs and return them. They are taken home and their luck worsens. Just bad.’
“As proof, he points to a table in the museum, covered with shards of glass and metal, littered with letters from people apologizing for looting, telling stories of bad luck: tax investigations, car repairs, fires and fights,” he says. a newspaper article. since 1993 added.
Some have since compared the rumors to the ‘Curse of Pompeii’, where visitors to the ancient city destroyed in 79 AD when Mount Vesuvius erupted allegedly suffered tragedies after taking home items from the ruins.
Meanwhile, others claim that several buildings and areas of the deserted city are haunted by ghosts.
Those who visit believe that the dead city is plagued by the “curse of Pompeii.”
Some believe the JS Cain House, once owned by a wealthy businessman, is haunted by a Chinese maid.
Bodie Cemetery is supposedly haunted by an angel “ghost” of three-year-old Evelyn, daughter of Albert and Fanny Myers, who was “accidentally” killed in 1897 by a miner’s pickaxe.
According to the Little house of horrorsSome believe that the JS Cain House, once owned by a wealthy businessman, is haunted by a Chinese maid.
Legend suggests that the maid committed suicide after Cain’s wife accused her of being his mistress and she was subsequently fired.
The publication also alleges that Bodie Cemetery is haunted by an angel “ghost” of three-year-old Evelyn, daughter of Albert and Fanny Myers, who was “accidentally” killed in 1897 by a miner’s pickaxe.
