Posted 2 months ago
valentino97
(720 items)
After realizing all was closed Christmas and with a full tank of gas, lodging and food planned, we drove from Anza Borrego Desert East to the Salton Sea. 130 miles to drive around - starting at the West side town of Salton City. This abandoned 1950's town was planned as a vacation getaway until nature caused salt seepage and farm chemical run-off added the fast decline in the 1970's. Here's a few links if you are interested. The first 2 pictures are from Slab City near Niland, CA and the last are of another artist community Bombay Beach.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slab_City,_California
https://roadtrippers.com/magazine/bombay-beach-apocalyptic-wasteland-art-hub/
It took us 2 days because we wanted to see Slab City and hike around the Southern thermal area, but this drive can be done in a day. Hwy 111 is so gorgeous with date farms alongside. Hwy 86 shoots fast North to Indio. 30 years ago there weren't gas stations along 86 - that was the last time I had been to Salton Sea. Now there is no fear of running out of gas. Sadly, towns haven't prospered.
Hardly anything was open in Salton City, Bombay Beach or Niland (where Slab City is) and yes the beaches were smelly but SS has such a wild, strange beauty. And, traveling further South a bird wildlife refuge named after Sonny Bono that is so gorgeous! Nothing dying there. At first I was scared to go to Salton Sea because residents are reserved and off the grid, plus all the abandoned buildings, but we hung back respectfully and enjoyed the experience.
Christmas 12/25/2020
Thank you Watchsearcher for your love.
Looks like a fun ride I have never been to that area but have seen shows on it man what a boom town it was then things changed abandon houses and shops the amount of dead fish was incredible think it was because of LA depleting the water could be wrong do you know
Happy New Year Mary! What a fabulous trip and thanks for sharing it with us !
I have been meaning to drive around the Salton Sea myself. Drove along the east side once and visited Salvation Mountain then went to Yuma. Still need to drive along the west side. Hardly anything was open a few years ago.
Bill - thank you! Well...everywhere in the state of CA could put LA to blame for depleting their water. Salton Sea is an ancient ocean bed - over 200 feet below sea level so water would find its way there. Fish were introduced. In prehistoric times this was connected to the gulf. Now it has no outlet.
Mani - Road trips - trapped inside a car with that same person (family) you've been trapped with since March LOL!! Well, its one way to do it....or by yourself, but what is the fun in that? XOXO
Fort - yes, hardly anything open now. on west side (86) there's gas, minimart, a small casino, but on east (111) no gas until Westmoreland. I would suggest you put a full day into it and drive around it all. There's more to see on the east side, but a visit to Salton City is interesting at the very least for all the streets planned, signed, but never developed.
Thanks everyone for your loves - Scott, kwqd, dav2no1, Phil, Thomas, Vynil, Kevin