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17 March 2017 – Lake Isabella, California

Silver City Ghost Town

The #1 attraction in the Lake Isabella area is the Silver City Ghost Town located in Bodfish, CA.  Aside from that most come to the region for the natural beauty and white water rafting.

The ghost town isn’t the traditionally abandoned townsite and scattered dilapidated buildings associated with so many others.  Instead, it is a collection of mid-to-late 19th-century buildings collected and moved from other towns (some abandoned) in the area to this site.  Together they represent primary functions in any town in that period, but individually they each have a unique story.  There are about 20 buildings in different stages of decay or repair.  Some have drywall inside, and others have bare planks.  Some have been painted, some stained, some left dry.  You can examine about half the buildings by standing outside the door or a window and looking in.  The only buildings you can enter are the jail and the entryway to the church.  Inside are arranged items from various periods all the way up to the 1950s and odd-looking mannequins.

Silver City Ghost Town Church

There are about 20 buildings in different stages of decay or repair.  Some have drywall inside, and others have bare planks.  Some have been painted, some stained, some left dry.  You can examine about half the buildings by standing outside the door or a window and looking in.  The only buildings you can enter are the jail and the entryway to the church.  Inside are arranged items from various periods all the way up to the 1950s and odd-looking mannequins.

All-in-all a unique place and a concept I’ve never seen before.  Sherrie and I first thought about turning away because it seemed like a tourist trap but the site has some notoriety, and the kids would love it regardless – so we endeavored to explore.  The cost was $20 for our family, and we took about 90 minutes to explore the town and attached antique shops.  The gentleman running the place was knowledgeable and helpful.  The town cat mostly aloof and sleepy on a warm afternoon.

Giuliana exploring Silver City Ghost Town

The kids took off exploring the town and scared of any potential apparitions which may materialize at any moment.  Aurelia and Guiliana still think you call it a ghost town because it’s haunted.  The site has many associated ghost stories, but we didn’t encounter any on the visit.

If you’re in the area and looking for something to do, I’d recommend it.  It’s inexpensive, and young kids love it.

A vintage sign in Silver City Ghost Town