49 Abandoned Landmarks That Are More Beautiful Than Ever

18. Bodie State Historic Park – California, USA

Frozen in time high in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Bodie is a gold rush ghost town preserved in a state of "arrested decay." Unlike manicured historical sites, Bodie feels raw and authentic, as if residents simply vanished mid-task. Interiors remain furnished with dusty belongings left behind when the mines dried up and harsh winters drove people away. Peek through windows to see tables set for dinner or goods still lining store shelves. Surrounded by a stark, windswept landscape, Bodie offers a visceral connection to the boom-and-bust reality of the Wild West, more hauntingly real than romanticized tales.