Bodie

Located about 13 miles off of Highway 395 along SR 270 and very close to the Nevada border, Bodie is a large gold rush ghost town from the 1880s. It was built around a gold mine, and at its peak had a population of 10,000. It followed the boom-and-bust arc of most mining towns in the American West, and was largely abandoned when the gold ran out in the early 1900s. A fire destroyed many of the structures in 1932. It was declared National Historic Landmark in 1961, and the state of California turned the town into a park in 1964. The park keeps about 200 stuctures in a state of "arrested decay." It's a good place for some black and white photos, and does have the occasional photography seminar.

Bodie is at an elevation of 8,000 feet, and prone to major snowfalls. The park is open year round, but reaching it between October and March requires snow transportation. Visit it in summer, but bring a jacket.