Summer is here and it is a wonderful time to come visit Bodie State Historical Park. As a matter of fact, plan to come on out for Friends of Bodie Day on August 10. This is a vintage celebration of Bodie that is held each year. There will be an 1880's Parade, Live Music, Gold Panning with the Delta Gold Diggers and lots more. Everyone is encouraged to dress up in period costumes. There is a Members-Only BBQ and Special Evening Activity. Contact us to join Friends of Bodie and be a part of the festivities. As you see it today (and you must really come see it - check out our Tour Schedule) Bodie is but a shell of its former self. In the 1800's during the California rush for gold, it was populated by more than 10,000 folks. The locals included miners, merchants, gunfighters, cowboys, sheep herders, lumber men, ladies of the night and some brave families as well. However, time takes its toll, and when the State of California turned Bodie into a State Historic Park in 1962, it referred to the region as being in a state of "arrested decay." As it turns out, this was an optimistic assessment: the natural decay of an uninhabited building is accelerated by deep winter snows, treacherous winds, and hot summer sun. It's a constant struggle to halt the deterioration process, to stabilize the buildings without interfering with their historically accurate, charmingly dilapidated condition. That's where the The Friends of Bodie step in and help. We're dedicated to helping the state fund its ceaseless work to preserve Bodie in "arrested decay" for generations to come. We also support the interpretive staff, education programs, oral histories and resident research, special events, public and private tours that enrich the experience for many park visitors. Everyone is welcome to become a Friend of Bodie to assist us in making sure future generations will have the opportunity to walk through the streets and peek into the windows of this fascinating old gold mining town. And of course, we'd love to hear from you, whether you're an old-timer or a newcomer: Telephone Get Directions on the California State Parks website, or view map here.