Ghost town of, "Bodie"

[johnnycat]

Will be hitting the surrounding areas of Bodie in the next 2 weeks or so. Can anyone help me find what the boundaries are for the off-limits areas. Don't want to get in trouble with the, "man".

[Detectingfreak]

before hitting bodie. I would make sure no one owns that land first.

[Minelab Ron]

Here's an article about Bodie from 1932....

[boogeyman]

Used to be a couple stores around Mono that had some nice books and tourist stuff. I'm sure they're as strict or stricter than the times I went. But if you are any where near (in the parking area) DO NOT even let the rangers see a metal detector even in your trunk! When I went up there years ago I had a jacket with a MD patch on it & got questioned & lectured by three rangers. Think they were looking for any excuse to seize my gear. With things the way they are now days they'd probably threaten you with a trip to Gitmo

[lastleg]

Bodie is in every ghost town book in the library. Those early day California
detectorists probably combed every inch of it. Plus the thousands who came
later. Finding a barely touched ghost town is like nivarna only better. lastleg

[Tom_in_CA]

last-leg, you say: "Those early day California detectorists probably combed every inch of it" No, I don't believe so. Reason is, it became a protected historic park in the early 1960's ('63 or '64 I think). There were very few detectors worth a darn at that time. And even if someone DID get there prior to it being off limits, they probably barely scratched the surface. Remember, that was a long ways (and still is) from anywhere. I talked to some guys who didn't start till the late 1960s, and they found virgin ghost towns even then (as evidenced by the barrage of conductive signals and easy pickens). The hey-day of detecting didn't start until the late '60s/early '70s. The earlier guys had real primitive stuff, and were usually wiped out busy with virgin fairgrounds, schools, parks, beaches, etc.... So I doubt Bodie has ever been legally hit.

[lastleg]

Tom in Ca: Thanks for the info. Now I have done the research I find
you are correct about Bodie becoming a State Historic Park. In 1962
no less. Also I wasn't aware of it's altitude and remoteness.

One thing you can be sure of I think is that the caretakers have taken
advantage of the ban since 1962.

KVM wasn't the only TH'er using the Spartan brand detectors and the
early White's w/wooden coils and tubes before transistors. I have seen
evidence of finds made with 'ancient' detectors.

I hope some of the early California detectorists will provide information
that we aren't privy to. If not I'll have to review my earliest 'Latham'.
'Search' mags. Maybe more to come. . . lastleg

[Gold_Needle]

Ah, the rangers are looking to grab peoples' equipment...

I wondered where all those discounted metal detectors on Ebay came from...