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We like exploring historic and abandoned places, so we took a road trip to find one. We visited Bombay Beach, which was a once-flourishing vacation spot.
Now it’s a big outdoor art installation on the Salton Sea. We’ve seen a lot in California, and this had the most unique vibe of them all.
I’ll tell you about our experience, what to know and expect, and share personal photos from our trip. You might want to check it out too!
Getting There
We drove through Palm Springs on our way to Bombay Beach. Heading south on the CA-86 and CA-111, it took us about an hour to get there.
Going this way, we drove along the Salton Sea. What a pretty view along the vast, deserted stretch. We didn’t run into many people on the highway.
You can’t miss the big ol’ vintage Bombay Beach sign. Turn onto that street to get to the beach.
Visiting Bombay Beach
The area is pretty much open 24/7, however, we arrived during the day. I’m not sure what nighttime is like.
There’s no fee for entrance or parking. When we visited, we saw no police or security.
In the 1950s to 1960s, people visited this thriving beach resort. But in the 1980s, the residents moved out due to environmental conditions.
Agricultural runoffs and pesticides killed the fish. Well, that led to the beach becoming a wasteland.
Neighborhood Vibes
The first thing you’ll see when visiting is the community. Driving through the neighborhood, we saw a lot of interesting sights.
We passed The Last Resort, The Ski Inn, and found a community garden. We checked out the garden, but didn’t stop for grub.
Many buildings had graffiti smeared all over them and looked torn down. We saw many colorful RVs, houses, and cars.
Yet we saw a couple people renovating and working on projects in the neighborhood. There was a house with a TV exhibit outside, and that was cool.
Although Bombay Beach Estates looked abandoned, it appeared that people lived on some of the properties. It was hard to tell which ones were occupied, so we didn’t explore much in this area.
Salton Sea
When you head to the beachfront, that’s where you’ll find the open-air exhibits. You can drive in the sand or walk around.
We have a 4-wheel drive Sprinter van, so we drove through the sand. But if you’re in a car, I’d stay on the path where the sand has been packed in.
Once we drove toward the water, we got out of the van. Then we inhaled the rotten-egg fish smell.
You can actually see remains of the fish and seaweed embedded in the sand. The whole area seemed so elusive to me.
The water lapped to the shore as a few sea birds came around. The sea was the only sound we heard.
Looking out to where the blue sky and water meet, it’s such a beautiful place. But it’s got this desolate, sad feel.
Bails of hay lined the beach with signs warning ‘No trespassing.’ It’s hard to believe this was once a popular weekend escape.
Art Exhibits
We drove around to the art exhibits, and walked around some too. They reminded me of the things we saw at Slab City.
Many exhibits expressed statements and feelings about the beach. As art typically does make one think.
There was a yellow door on the beach with a view of the sea in the background. And a sign on it read, ‘Open house.’
Well, ain’t that the truth. In so many ways.
I couldn’t help but feel sad that this area wasn’t a vacation spot anymore. However, the artwork brought new life to this beach.
Other people walked around and took pictures of the exhibits. I wondered if they felt the same way.
While driving through the sand, we saw signs for a tow service. I’m not sure if these were real or part of the artwork.
Residents
A man in an RV had a set-up living by the water. He looked like he had been living there for a while.
Although he had a nice view, the smell was strong. The breeze flowed from the sea beneath clouds that were pillows of cotton.
We saw some other people who appeared to be locals. They sat around, smoking in a truck while eyeing us.
Then they popped the hood to work on it. Other than that, I didn’t see many locals hanging out on the beach.
I wasn’t able to talk to anyone who lived in the area. It felt post-apocalyptic and a bit eerie.
After exploring the area for about an hour, we left. I wondered if there was any possible way to restore this forgotten beach.
Camping Nearby
While driving back, we stopped at the Salton Sea State Recreation Area. We pulled into a campground and found people hanging out.
People waved to us in a camper van with a European license plate. Others were camping in vehicles and tents.
The campground was clean and maintained with shade. So if you would like to camp near Bombay Beach, we passed a couple places to stay.
And at the campground, we couldn’t smell the bad stench from the Salton Sea. It was close to the water, but the air seemed much better farther from the beach.
Travel Notes
We came from Palm Springs, and the weather was quite toasty on this day. We were visiting in the late fall.
However, driving an hour away, we found a forgotten beach community. A cool breeze met us at the beach, however, the sun was strong.
You might not spend a day lounging by the sea, but I’d bring a hat and sunscreen just in case. We did a bit of walking on the beach.
I’m sure that going during the summer will bring much more extreme heat. It’s the desert, after all.
Final Thoughts
We saw many interesting things while visiting Bombay Beach. This once-popular destination is still a great place to explore.
The artwork is really a treat to see, especially if you like upcycling with imagination. Maybe next time we’ll stop at the restaurant and talk to some of the locals.
More Travel Adventures
I have more related posts on my blog. You might want to check them out.
- In Slab City, you can also visit a historic site in the desert with similar upcycled artwork.
- We hiked the mysterious Ghost Mountain to find the Marshal South home in the Anza-Borrego Desert.
- Soda Springs is another abandoned place off Zzyzx Road, where we explored in the Mojave Desert.
- What about stepping into the historic Wild West at Calico Ghost Town?
I’d love to hear all about your travel adventures!
Originally published: June 7, 2025
