37 Abandoned Resorts From a Bygone Era You Can Still Visit

16. Salton Sea Resorts: Desert Dreams Turned Toxic

In the Southern California desert, the shores of the Salton Sea are littered with the decaying remnants of once-thriving resort towns like Bombay Beach and Salton City. In the 1950s and 60s, this inland sea was hailed as the "Salton Riviera," attracting boaters, vacationers, and celebrities. However, increasing salinity, agricultural runoff, and ecological collapse led to mass fish die-offs and drove tourism away. Today, abandoned motels, marinas, and homes bake under the desert sun beside the receding, often pungent water, creating a surreal landscape of mid-century dreams turned dystopian reality.