The Last Mayors of the Salton Sea | Local Legends

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The Last Mayors of the Salton Sea | Local Legends | Atlas Obscura

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4 жыл бұрын

In this episode of Local Legends, we sit down with Wendell and Jane Southworth, co-owners of the Ski Inn*, located near the Salton Sea. The Salton Sea, which some have dubbed a wasteland, is home to a small community. Most of these locals often gather at the Ski Inn, one of the last few bars left in Bombay Beach, and at 223 feet below sea level, it’s described itself as the “lowest bar in the Western Hemisphere”.
*The Southworths were co-owners at the time of filming, but as of mid-2019, the Ski Inn is under new ownership.
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Пікірлер: 42

@atlasobscura 4 жыл бұрын

Want to see more videos like this? Subscribe for more videos: trib.al/GD9qhdX At Atlas Obscura, our mission is to inspire wonder and curiosity about the incredible world we all share. See where we’re exploring here: www.atlasobscura.com Subscribe for more videos like this: trib.al/GD9qhdX Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/atlasobscura Tweet us: twitter.com/atlasobscura

@timohyland 4 жыл бұрын

Bombay Beach is a great place to visit. Some art from the 3-day March 2019 Biennale is still there, and new art is constantly going up. However, this video is a bit out of date already. The Ski Inn changed ownership in mid-2019. The new owner is freshened up the place, the food has improved, and they now bring in bands weekly. The new owner of the bar is also now the town's only certified EMT and as I understand it, has taken charge of the volunteer fire department's single fire truck. Still, this is a great video of the previous owners, and a look at the history of the Salton Sea and Bombay Beach.

@atlasobscura 4 жыл бұрын

Good to know! Thanks for the additional info, Tim! We'll let our team know on this end.

@johanna7254 4 жыл бұрын

Always been fascinated by the Salton Sea. My dad remembers stopping there with his family during its popularity. Incredible place with a strange story.

@cblurton56 4 жыл бұрын

Hey Johanna, I use to go to the Salton Sea with a family of Millers in the 1960s. Rex Miller, one of the sons of Gladys and Clayton Miller, was a friend of mine. Any connection?

@atlasobscura 4 жыл бұрын

This really would be the smallest world if you two connected over this!

@thejoeben 4 жыл бұрын

@@cblurton56 We've gotta know if this happens!

@Kakashigirl250 4 жыл бұрын

Johanna needs to reply!

@thejoeben 4 жыл бұрын

@@atlasobscura Any news if they followed up?

@cheose 4 жыл бұрын

I've re-listened to the explanation of how fish assholes are procured and still can't figure it out.

@alicehallam7949 4 жыл бұрын

Debi Taylor Bombay Beach is not a ghost town at all! It is only less than a mile square, but has about 300 residents. It never was much bigger unless you count the mobile homes and trailers that they used to allow on the beachfront. There was a series of storms that flooded the beach area repeatedly, so the beach area is closed off to vehicles by a seawall now. The area is being reshaped for the future now that the Sea will lose about 40% of it's water inflow. The water is being redirected to San Diego to allow more coastal development. Still the residents love the area, feel privileged to live there, and growth is expected.

@eugefederico1178 4 жыл бұрын

Fascinating! Thanks AO ❤

@atlasobscura 4 жыл бұрын

You're welcome! :)

@LadyMaven 4 жыл бұрын

It was created by accident to begin with and never really belonged there. However, it is still sad to see what happened to it. What I remember most about it is the stench and the salt encrusted bodies of dead fish and water birds that were absolutely everywhere.

@muteme3771 4 жыл бұрын

this place has been the best dirt bike riding in the last 50 years and its great to see you uncle wendall and aunt jane looking good

@superintelligentapefromthe121 2 жыл бұрын

RIP Wendell. You were one hell of a nice guy.

@CharonsNightmare 4 жыл бұрын

Did anyone else catch that story about fish assholes? 🤨

@potatotrain7813 4 жыл бұрын

I thought I misheard so I went back and listened again. 😵

@asasial1977 4 жыл бұрын

Sad, more money on the walls than the place is probably worth

@reneb91964 4 жыл бұрын

Money taped to the walls in the bar...Your insecurity is showing...

@bieuxyongson 4 жыл бұрын

When my dad was stationed at George AFB near Victorville, this was one of his favorite places to fish. That was in the early 60s. So I’m guessing that some of these folks were there then.

@atlasobscura 4 жыл бұрын

Oooh! Maybe he would have recognized them in this video!

@bieuxyongson 4 жыл бұрын

Atlas Obscura You never know. He might have.

@gamescentrel2951 4 жыл бұрын

this is like gta in real life

@zozopanda2554 3 жыл бұрын

I've been wanting to go there recently! 2+ hours away! But it's the summer time and each time I check the weather, it's like 110°F aaugh I guess I'll wait until it's winter time ahaha :-p

@richardfranklinmorse 3 жыл бұрын

My home town!

@AlphaGeekgirl 4 жыл бұрын

I’m curious to find out what happened to the place… Why is it now a ghost town? And also, what’s the story with the money on the walls and the ceiling?

@gabrieljose5027 4 жыл бұрын

Debi, check out Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea, a documentary film by Chris Metzler and Jeff Springer, with narration by John Waters and music by Friends of Dean Martinez. - from Wikipedia

@richardfranklinmorse 3 жыл бұрын

It’s a ghost town in the sense that Virginia city is a ghost town. That is, a good part of it is abandoned but there are a whole lot of people still living there. Me, for example. As they say in the interview, what happened mostly is that the original inhabitants got old and died. There is a new generation moving in now. The money on the walls and the ceiling is just an odd local custom that has become a ritual when you visit the ski inn

@jimmann4485 4 жыл бұрын

I’ve always been curious about the Salton Sea, this was great to see ( no pun intended) the focus on real people. The big question I have is who eats fish a..holes, how and why, and how many go in a can and, who buys it and who sells it, and what kind of fish and again why? BTW do not google fish a..holes it’s a dark path. Great video, other great links I’m subscribing.

@debbieomi 4 жыл бұрын

Welcome to the wonderful world of dive bar jokes.

@jonathanbanks2114 4 жыл бұрын

Jim Mann -Cool I think I finally get it! Thanks