Bodie House on Wildcat Hill
The Bodie house on Wildcat Hill has seen many different uses. It was the first building on the property and was first used as a garage. In the beginning, Edward and Charis’ Wildcat Hill property did not have access to the highway. The property was connected to the property just to the North where the main access to the road was.
The property was originally Charis’ dad’s, Harry Leon Wilson, a well known American novelist. Edward and Charis bought the piece of property now known as Wildcat Hill from him.
After being used as a garage, Bodie House was converted into a garden shed. Once Edward and Charis bought the property, it was converted into a writing studio for Charis. She was a prolific writer and needed a place other than their one room cabin to write. Edward frequently used Bodie house in his photographs on Wildcat Hill. The most well-known photograph may be, “My Little Grey Home in the West” which features Charis holding Edward’s Carmel studio sign and her brother Leon playing a recorder out the window.
My Little Grey Home in the West
After Edward passed, it was eventually turned into a guest house, which is how it is used today. We frequently have friends from all over the world come to Wildcat Hill and stay in Bodie House. It is also available to rent (at a minimum of 2 days). The richness of art and creativity is still alive and thriving on Wildcat Hill. If you happen to stay Kim will gladly give you a tour of Wildcat Hill and provide a history lesson on the famous cabin that Edward and Charis lived in.