Exploring Bombay Beach in Salton Sea, California: Top 10 things to see

Once a booming resort town, not too far from Palm Springs, Bombay Beach in the Salton Sea is now a haunting reminder of a one-time tourist destination. A hollow shell of what it once was, it is still a favorite spot for us but for a whole different reason. If you are into the weird, unique art and abandoned places, this town is right up your alley. (Note: We updated this article as of January 2020. Much of the art has been replaced by new ones.)

STATS:

Where:
Bombay Beach Avenue A, Niland, CA 92257
Coordinates: 33°21’24.7″N 115°44’02.2″W

Elevation:
223 feet below sea level

Parking:
There is plenty of parking all over the place at Bombay Beach

Ideal Weather:
Cooler months. It gets very hot there in the summer and the early part of fall. 

 

HISTORY:

For many years, the Colorado River has emptied into a body of water known as Lake Cahuilla on the northern side of the Gulf of California. The Salton Sea was born in 1905, when the river busted through a dike and flooded the plain for two years, bringing the farming industry to the Imperial Valley in California’s southeast corner. California’s largest lake by surface area soon became a booming desert playground.

 

The lake grew to become the largest lake in California with 70+ miles of shoreline. The water is saltier than the Pacific Ocean. On its shore, in 1929, two thousand excited spectators were witnessed to 5 world speedboat records. High salinity in the lake made boats more buoyant and, at more than 200 feet below sea level, barometric pressure improved performance.

In the 50s, the Department of Fish and Game stocked the lake with sargo, corvina, croaker, and other fish in a successful effort to draw anglers. Water skiing also flourished. The North Shore Beach and Yacht Club opened as the largest marina in Southern California. Celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, the Beach Boys, Jerry Lewis, the Marx Brothers, and Desi Arnaz flocked to the lake. The “Salton Riviera” rivaled nearby Palm Springs and attracted more tourists than Yosemite National Park.

Developer Penn Phillips led a real estate boom in the late 1950s, buying and selling thousands of acres on the lake’s western shores. He suddenly abandoned Salton City without explanation in 1960, leaving behind only a few houses, sewers, a maze of empty roads and street signs with names like Sea View Avenue and Sea Mist Place.

Torrential storms in 1976 and 1977 destroyed several marinas and resorts, triggering a sizable economic decline. Environmental catastrophes, rising salinity, and a receding shoreline caused tourism to come to a standstill. The Salton Sea economy rode the last housing boom and bust. New houses that sold for up to $270,000 when they were built in the mid-2000s fetched as little as $50,000 after the bubble burst.

 

The lake was dealt another blow in 1986 when the state of California banned fishing due to high toxicity levels. The only problem is that the level got even worse in the ’90s. It got so bad that it resulted in the deaths of hundreds of birds and a breakout of botulism.

Bombay Beach, a community that doubles to about 500 people during winter, has a post-apocalyptic feel. Utility poles and trailer debris that were flooded a few years ago are now exposed because of the decline of the lake. The main tourist draw today is the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge on the lake’s southeastern shores, which has about 25,000 visitors a year. Nearly all are bird watchers. The other draw to the area is the people who are curious to see what still exists in this seemingly desolate place.

THE ADVENTURE:

Vy and I have a very special place in our hearts for Bombay Beach because of our love of abandoned places as well as our fascination with bizarre and unique art. Bombay Beach in the Salton Sea definitely checks both boxes. One of the best things about Bombay Beach is that it’s always changing. As with the nature of abandoned things, what you see now might not be there when you get back. However, there are new and fascinating creations that always seem to raise up from the rubble. Please note that Bombay Beach is not completely abandoned, so please respect the locals. Here are our top 10 favorite things to do in Bombay, not in any particular order:

1. Last Resort Sign 

As soon as you turn onto the main street of Bombay, 100 yards from the Bombay Beach welcome sign, you will come across the infamous “Last Resort” sign. Someone had changed it from “The last stop for the Bombay Beach Resort” into “The last resort”, and it looks fantastic! 

2. Ski Inn

This is the only public bar in town. The bar has been under the same ownership for more than a quarter of a century. It is popular among local residents. The Ski Inn has been featured in Anthony Bourdain in a fourth season episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. It was also used as a filming location in an episode of The Mentalist where it was renamed “Borrego Gas Diner.” Cheap drinks, decent food, not too bad if you’re starving in the middle of nowhere. 

3. Fish airplane

This is literally a giant metal sculpture of a fish with wings. This sculpture is in front of someone’s house. It also spins around on its metal base if you’re there at the right time. 

 

4. Bombay Drive-in

This is one of Dustin’s favorite places. We had heard about the Bombay Beach Drive-in and we were set on finding it. It definitely did not disappoint. To be clear, it is NOT a movie theater but an eclectic art exhibit. The amazing vintage style drive-in sign opens up to a whole lot of cars lined up and ready to catch the next Hollywood blockbuster. You really have to see some of these cars to believe them. There are a couple of little Metropolitans that had seen better years, along with other vintage cars, and a Pacer that is decorated with old VHS tapes and an awesome quote from back to the future. Each car has its own unique decorations. Coords: 33°21’06.3″N 115°43’47.6″W

  

5. Bombay Beach Estates

This place is a goldmine for anyone that loves abandoned places. It is a block of at least 6 or more abandoned structures. This block is on the corners of Avenue F/ 5th Street / Avenue G. This area is always changing. There were tons of new art exhibits added since or the last visit a year ago. My favorite book room is still there, however, it had been graffiti all over. There are new graffitis all over the block. One of the abandoned houses is decorated with brown cutout cardboard, detailed with white cutout papers. It is very unique. Another abandoned house turns into a dark room with strings that were strung up to resemble spider webs. In between the web are pairs of underwear with confession pinned on them. One of the bigger houses in this Estates become “the world shittiest museum”. The rooms are all painted in different vibrant colors. It is someone you have to experience for yourself.

 

6. Bombay Beach Ruins

It is located at the Bombay Beach Marina. Avenue E will take you there. This is where you can find a giant mysterious metal cube, a pirate ship made out of driftwood, a painted crash boat, a sea monster, and some other interesting stuff.

 

 

7. Treasures on Bombay Beach shoreline

Right on the shores of Bombay Beach are some of the best pieces. If you take Avenue C to go out onto the shore, you’ll run straight into the giant star that made out of concrete. It is covered with barbed wire and metal rods. Right next to it are these tall towers that made out of metal rods. From here, you can head down the beach toward Avenue E. Glimmering in the sea is a triangle-shaped swing. The swing rises out of the still water, so peaceful in its simplicity. There are other treasures sprinkled around the shoreline of Bombay beach as well.

 

8. Burning Man Airplane

This is one of Dustin’s favorite. This airplane was featured at Burning Man in 2018. Now it has its permanent home here in Bombay Beach. 

 

9. The Polaroid Museum of Bombay Beach

This little place features adult vintage styles polaroid photos. Be warned, this museum has a lot of nudity inside.

 

10. Hidden Treasures of Bombay

There are so many things to see in Bombay Beach. Our favorite thing to do is to drive around the town. You can spot so many cool things such as the Bombay Beach Botanical Garden which happens to be next door to the Opera House. Along another street is a futuristic-looking house right before these giant cubes with hanging spheres and yarn. 

  
  
Disclaimer: Please be careful if you are exploring the abandoned structures. There is no shortage of broken glass and other sharp things that will cut you if you don’t watch your step. Make sure you wear closed-toe shoes! Again, please respect the locals. It is not illegal to explore the abandoned places here but please don’t go into people’s homes! While we were exploring Bombay Beach in the Salton Sea, we saw a police officer come walking up. He was super nice. He just saw Butternut, our adventure jeep sitting on the side of the road, and he wanted to make sure there was no foul play going on. He told us to be careful and with a smile left us to get back to exploring. We never had any problems or felt threatened when we were here but like any place, always be extra careful.

If you are looking for a very interesting way to spend a day, we highly recommend making a trip out to Bombay Beach. Don’t forget to swing by Salvation Mountain and Slab City/East Jesus. If you are looking for a hike while you are in town, you should definitely check out Painted/Ladder Canyon Hike.

Happy Adventuring. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, subscribe to our Youtube channel, and sign up for our newsletter!

RECOMMEND GEAR:

Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.

•  Sunscreen:
    We use eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen. Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen or Sun Bum Sunscreen

•  Closed toes shoes
   There are lots of broken glass and other gross stuff there so this is a must! You are exploring abandoned places after all. 

•  Water
   It can get very hot there so bring lots of water. You are always in the middle of nowhere.

•  Food and snacks
   Again, you are in the middle of nowhere so bring food!

CAMERA GEAR:
•  Camera:
    Sony a7 III

•  Lenses:
   Sony 24 -70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T Zoom Lens 
   Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX   

•  Drone:
  DJI Mavic 2 Pro

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