



Bombay Beach, was established in the 1940s and 50s, as the Salton Sea region





became a playground for rich and powerful. The city was on course to





become Southern California’s own French Riviera, but the steady rise of salinity in





the Salton Sea led to problems, like massive fish and wildlife deaths. In the





1970s, a series of tropical storms ruined most of the beach city, and it never





recovered. Shorefront homes, businesses, and resorts were flooded several





times, before the water finally settled in the 1980s. Today, most of the city stands





in ruins, making Bombay Beach visually striking and dramatic. Despite its





downfall, some residents refused to go, and still gladly live in this semi-ghost





town.





I visited the only restaurant for miles around, the Ski Inn, owned by Bombay





Beach residents, Jane and Wendell Southworth. The Southworths have lived here





their entire lives, and still remember the city’s mid-60s heyday. Getting ready to





retire, they recently put their restaurant up for sale. I asked Jane about swimming





in the Salton Sea, and she said there is nothing at all wrong with the water,





where she swims daily. In fact, she believes that the water is healing, and





removes toxins from her skin, keeping it moisturized, clean, and refreshed.





The couple agreed that Salton Sea tilapia tastes better that any tilapia found in

the supermarket, however, while taking pictures at Bombay Beach’s shoreline, I

saw many dead fish, mostly tilapia. Some of the fish floated, while others washed

up on the shore. Although the July heat made it tempting, I chose not to swim. If

the water killed all those fish, then swimming might not be the best idea for me.











The sign of Ski Inn Restaurant







Ski Inn Restaurant







Inside Ski Inn Restaurant







Wendell and Jane Southeworth , the owners of Ski Inn and full time residents of Bombay Beach.





A visitor tapes a dollar bill on the wall of Ski Inn restaurant









Ruins of Shorefront homes in Bombay Beach





























Inside the abandoned house

the Living Room



Children room

Ups, left the toy behind



Living Room

the view



Ruins of shorefront home







Article and photography by Natasha Petrosova