Gold rush ghost town frozen in time becomes tourist hotspot – but it hides a chilling secret

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 approximately 8,000 people and 2,000 buildings.

It is named after the man who first found gold buried in the hills just north of Mono Lake in 1859. Two years later, a mill was established and the town began to prosper, attracting miners from all over the country.

But the good fortune did not last long and in 1881 the town began to go bankrupt, with residents leaving en masse and mining officially ending in 1942.

Today, tourists from all over the world come to the city that is still frozen in time. But visitors are urged not to disturb the remains or steal items for themselves, amid reports that those who do end up being plagued by bad luck. LAD Bible reported.

There were once 65 saloons in the area, including many brothels and “houses of ill repute,” gambling halls and opium dens, the city’s website reports.

During its boom years, the town boasted homes, a school, a Wells Fargo bank, four volunteer fire companies, hotels, a jail, cemeteries, stores, churches, newspapers, a mortuary, and other structures that supported its large community of residents.

There were once 65 saloons in the area, including many brothels and “houses of ill repute,” gambling halls and opium dens. website reports.

This led to a huge increase in nighttime shootings, stabbings and fights, with the area quickly becoming infamous for the violence in the area.

Combined with a sharp decline in mineable material and increasing racism against Chinese immigrants, Bodie’s population began to decline and by 1886 only about 1,500 residents remained.

Meanwhile, two devastating fires in 1892 and 1932 destroyed huge numbers of buildings, with the harsh climate also contributing to the city’s decline.

Today, only about 200 buildings remain in the abandoned community.

Combined with a sharp decline in mineable material and increasing racism against Chinese immigrants, Bodie’s population began to decline and by 1886 only about 1,500 residents remained.

Meanwhile, two devastating fires in 1892 and 1932 destroyed vast numbers of buildings, with the harsh climate also contributing to the city’s decline

Ultimately, Bodie became a National Historic Landmark District in 1961 and a State Historic Park in 1962

Ultimately, Bodie became a National Historic Landmark District in 1961 and a State Historic Park in 1962.

Although it receives dozens of visitors every year, the area is kept in a state of ‘arrested decay’ to ensure everything remains as it did then.

However, those who visit believe that the dead city is plagued by a curse.

Several tourists have reportedly returned souvenirs they stole from sites in Bodie after an accident.

Although it receives dozens of visitors every year, the area is kept in a state of ‘arrested disrepair’ to ensure everything continues to look as it did then

Aaron Scarborough, a park assistant at Bodie, formerly said: ‘The streets are covered with their own souvenirs, from old glass and nails to the occasional coin. But park officials advise you not to shoplift in Bodie. Not because of any moral code, but because of the curse.

‘People take old rusty nails as souvenirs and send them back. They take them home and their luck goes bad. Just bad.’

“As evidence, he points to a table in the museum, covered with bits of glass and metal, full of letters from people apologizing for looting and telling stories of bad luck: tax investigations, car repairs, fires and fights,” reads a newspaper article. added in 1993.

Some have since compared the rumors to the ‘curse of Pompeii’ – with visitors to the ancient city destroyed in 79 AD when Mount Vesuvius erupted reportedly suffering tragedies after taking home objects from the ruins.

Meanwhile, others claim that several buildings and areas in the abandoned city are haunted by ghosts.

Those who visit believe the dead city is plagued by the ‘curse of Pompeii’

Some believe that the JS Cain House, once owned by a wealthy businessman, is haunted by a Chinese maid

Bodie Cemetery is said to be haunted by an angel ‘ghost’ of three-year-old Evelyn, daughter of Albert and Fanny Myers who was ‘accidentally’ killed by a miner’s pickaxe in 1897.

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 being accused by Cain’s wife of being his mistress and subsequently dismissed.

The publication also claims that the Bodie Cemetery is haunted by an angel “ghost” of three-year-old Evelyn, daughter of Albert and Fanny Myers, who was “accidentally” killed by a miner’s pickaxe in 1897.