Lake Dolores Waterpark

Lake Dolores Waterpark is an abandoned recreational complex in the Mojave Desert between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The structures include several empty pools, slides of different heights, and artificial water features now standing idle among the dry hills.

Businessman Bob Byers opened the park in 1962 and named it after his wife Dolores. After multiple ownership changes and renamings, the facility closed its doors permanently in 2004.

The site has served as a filming location for several American movies and music videos depicting post-apocalyptic scenes. The abandoned pools and colorful slide towers now stand in contrast to the bare desert surroundings.

The site sits directly beside Interstate 15 roughly halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Access is not officially regulated, but entering is at your own risk due to unstable structures and lack of safety measures.

Skateboarder Rob Dyrdek used the empty pools in 2008 for an episode of his MTV series. The colorful graffiti and artworks that have since been added turn the place into a sort of open-air gallery.

Location: California

Official opening: May 1962

GPS coordinates: 34.94820,-116.68700

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:22