Deserted Dreams

The California desert stands as a testament to the ever-changing interplay between human ambition and the forces of nature. In the early pioneer days, towns would quickly spring up like mirages in the sand as people moved west in search of a more fortunate life. Yet, as quickly as these towns emerged, they faded into obscurity, leaving behind echoes of their former glory. The unforgiving heat and unreliable water sources of the California desert took a toll that many were unprepared for. The very essence of desert life that had attracted people to this challenging terrain became the force that pushed them away. This book takes a journey through the remnants of this exodus, uncovering the abandoned places of the California desert. You will learn the stories of forgotten dreams as we explore decayed motels, abandoned waterparks, the impossible railroad, and a mining town with over 400 abandoned structures, which has been closed to the public for the last forty years. This is the story of Deserted Dreams, a look into California’s Abandoned Oasis.