Tag: Salton Sea

  • Slab City

    Slab City

    123 BEAL ROAD
    NILAND

    Just a mile east of Salvation Mountain is your final destination, Slab City. Originally a World War II training facility, the town takes its name from the concrete slabs left behind after the base was shut down, where those wishing to live off the grid eventually set up homes. With no running water, sewer system, or electricity, most residents inhabit tents erected on the slabs or RVs situated beside them. Though it might sound desolate and dreary, the community is welcoming, friendly and inviting, not to mention truly unique. And there is a great deal to see, from BYOB bar/nightclub The Range (887 Beal Road) to the open-air art museum East Jesus(East Jesus Road). Singular, whimsical and begging to be photographed, Slab City is an extraordinary slice of Americana.

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  • Salvation Mountain

    Salvation Mountain

    603 BEAL ROAD
    NILAND

    Next stop, Salvation Mountain! A monument to God’s love created in the ‘80s by visionary Leonard Knight out of adobe, straw, local junkyard trash and gallons upon gallons of paint, the vibrant bluff stands like a beacon on a wide expanse of dusty desert land. Leonard sadly passed away in 2014 after almost 30 years of maintaining the installation, but it remains intact today thanks to his legions of devotees who have painstakingly preserved it. Thousands of visitors make the pilgrimage there each year to meditate, reflect and view the true wonder of it all. (If you need a restroom, the last one out this way can be found just a few miles before hitting Salvation Mountain at the Soco Mini-Mart at 8004 CA-111 in Niland).

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  • Bombay Beach

    Bombay Beach

    709 CA-111
    NILAND

    About 20 minutes down the road lies Bombay Beach, a small census-designated town of 200 homes and trailers, many of which are abandoned. The lowest city in America, elevation-wise, Bombay Beach is one of the most filmed and photographed spots in Imperial County – and it’s not very hard to see why. Half-populated, half-vacant and dilapidated, it is like no other place in the world. Thanks to the Bombay Beach Biennale, founded in 2015, the area is also home to countless unique art installations, which are dotted around the shoreline and surrounding streets, offering endless photo opportunities. Be sure not to miss the Ski Inn while in town. Though rough around the edges, the restaurant serves decent food in a fun atmosphere (Anthony Bourdain even had his first patty melt there!) and is a filming location! (Bonus – there is a bathroom on the premises available to patrons.)

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  • North Shore Beach & Yacht Club

    North Shore Beach & Yacht Club

    99155 SEA VIEW DRIVE
    MECCA

    Once a luxury vacation destination, the Salton Sea is a virtual post-apocalyptic dreamland today due to agricultural runoff that turned the waters toxic and massive flooding that forced residents out in droves. At the height of its popularity in the 1960s and ’70s, though, the Sea was THE place to be, and the Albert Frey-designed North Shore Yacht Club THE hangout for visiting A-Listers such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and The Beach Boys. Shuttered in 1984, the structure sat abandoned until being renovated in 2010 and currently serves as a recreation center, with the adjacent parking lot providing stellar views of the sea’s gorgeous blue expanses and white sands. Venture closer to the shore, though, and it becomes apparent that the water is actually brown, the picturesque blue seen from afar nothing more than a reflection of the sky. And that pristine beach? In reality, it’s crushed fish bones left behind by the many carcasses that regularly wash ashore. Simultaneously beautiful and harrowing, the Salton Sea has to be seen to be believed.

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  • Salton Sea

    Salton Sea

    CA-111
    MECCA

    If you’re spending more than a few days in the desert, there’s nothing quite like a road trip to the Salton Sea! In fact, it’s one of my favorite spots to take guests. I recommend visiting the east side, as the west isn’t all that unique. The Sea’s four main attractions are chronicled in detail below, but first a few notes. The journey takes at least five hours to complete, and while there are some bathrooms along the way, they are few and far between. As such, a stop at the Mecca Travel Center at the start of your trip is suggested. You can fill your tank with gas at the Arco on the premises (90480 66th Ave., Mecca) and utilize the bathroom at the neighboring Starbucks (90496 66th Ave., Mecca). The Travel Center is the last major retail you will see on your route.

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