Bombey Beach Ruins Along the Salton Sea

The Bombay Beach Ruins are one of those places I absolutely love, but I am not sure if others will or not. It is a gem for photographers looking to capture a stunning example of urban decay in an area that has a background of a beautiful lake amidst the rubble. You will probably see no one else while there, and that adds to both the eerie vibe and the charm. Here is all the information. Update 2024: This place has expanded to include dozens of pieces of art and is much more of a destination then it was when I first visited.

History

Tucked along the shores of the Salton Sea, Bombay Beach is a place unlike any other. Once a booming resort town in the 1950s, it fell into decay as the lake’s waters became increasingly toxic. But in recent years, artists and visionaries have transformed this desolate landscape into an open-air gallery, where surreal sculptures, immersive installations, and thought-provoking murals bring new energy to the abandoned spaces.

This is seen most prominently in the ruins of the Bombay Beach area that was overcome by rising water and the elements. This area is now just a beach with lots of ruins and crazy places for photography. I mean how often do you see an old TV sitting on a beach like the below photo. Update 2025: The water level has receded a lot since this photo and is no longer near the pier at all.

What It’s Like Now

The ruins consist of about six main houses that are in varying levels of destruction, what looks like an old dock and what appears to be a pile of the leftovers from the things that stood here. Plus dozens of different art installations with new ones popping up ever year.

The Houses

These houses range from a pile of wood to a floor with a couple of rooms still standing. I have to imagine that the ruins change with the wind and weather as well. One of them had old lightboxes still connected, which was cool to see.

This houses are mostly gone now with only one really remaining in 2025.

The Beach and Dock

The beach area was pretty crazy, as the water was a brownish color, and there was a lot of different debris strewn around. I would assume the debris changes relatively often as well. While the area was desolate, there were still a lot of birds flying around over the water.

In 2025, the water level is very far away from the docks as you can see in the below photo. The lake is receding rapidly.

The Art

The main aspect of the beach now is the art that has shown up all over the sand. Among the ruins, you’ll find stunning art installations that transform crumbling structures into thought-provoking canvases, with graffiti and murals breathing new life into forgotten spaces.

Many of the art pieces look like something you would see at Burning Man, and they feel like something out of the Mad Max movies.

Some even have stories as to what inspired the art and others have QR codes where you can donate to the artists if you are interested.

The area is constantly evolving and every time I visit the water level recedes more and more art pieces are added.

As you exit the ruins back into the city, be sure to visit one of my favorite installations, the drive-in. This piece has dozens of rusted out cars pointed at a theater screen an it is unique to see.

All in all, the ruins are something to experience for sure, especially if you are a photographer or someone looking to explore abandoned history. Make sure to continue to Salvation Mountain and East Jesus if in the area as well. Live me a comment if you visit below.