Salton Sea North Shore Beach & Yacht Club renovation. The project is nearing completion.

Salton Sea North Shore Yacht Club renovation progress

All doors and windows are now in place. The grand (re)opening should be sometime in March.

Abandoned for over two decades, this building is now in the process of being restored to its former glory - thanks to $3.5 million in federal stimulus funding. When the renovation is complete, the building will reopen as a visitor center, museum, and community center.

The North Shore Yacht Club is an historically significant--not to mention architecturally significant--part of California's legacy. The North Shore Yacht club was the whimsical design of noted architect Albert Frey, who just happened to be a resident of the Coachella Valley. Completed in 1958 by developers Ray Ryan and Trav Rogers, North Shore Beach Yacht Club was one of the largest marinas in Southern California and carried a price tag of $2 million. Celebrities like The Beach Boys, Jerry Lewis, and the Marx Brothers partied there and / or docked boats at the marina.

The Salton Sea was recently featured on Life After People on the History Channel.

View several photos of this place here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/slworking/sets/72157621960805804/

Grand reopening of the Salton Sea History Museum. Now located at 72-120 S. Lincoln Street (end of road across creek), Mecca, CA 92254

News video: http://www.kesq.com/video/30403959/index.html

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Salton-Sea-History-Museum/125597164130869

Museum homepage: http://www.saltonseamuseum.org/

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• salton
• sea
• north
• shore
• yacht
• club
• albert
• frey
• historical
• architecture
• abandoned
• building
• renovation
• construction
• structure
• california
• desert

[kraftymomma1979]

I saw a couple of new photos on their website, and the restoration is BEAUTIFUL! Is the community center/museum open to the public yet?

[slworking2]

@kraftymomma1979 Yeah, the inside is very nice, too. The grand opening will be on May 1st, 2010 from 10 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

[kraftymomma1979]

I hope the whole Salton Sea area can see some rejuvenation. The sea, the land, and the citizens who've stayed there (and no doubt pay taxes) deserve a chance.

[slworking2]

@kraftymomma1979 Indeed. As much as I like exploring decay, it would be nice to see the area brought back to life eventually.

[slworking2]

kraftymomma1979: That's some interesting history. Sorry to hear about your loss to fire. A few years ago, the San Diego wildflowers came to within a few blocks of my home.

[kraftymomma1979]

It is a Native American story, I believe. The story goes that the volcano helped create a major part of the area. It's been so long since I heard those stories. I took notes, but my home was gutted by fire several years ago. I lost many notes and photos. I might have a handful of photos left from the visits there in the 80s. I also heard that the gods would shake the earth every so often to send water to that area, hence the flooding every so many years. It had a cycle.

[slworking2]

tuttle566: No problem. I plan on visiting the area again at the end of March. It's a three hour drive from my home.

[slworking2]

I've never heard about the volcano. For some interesting information on the Salton Sea, you should by or rent Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea. A very informative and entertaining film about this place.

[slworking2]

kraftymomma1979: In addition to the flooding, the water quality of the lake went way downhill. Hundreds of thousands of fish died off and washed up on the shores. At the time, I don't think many people cared to return. I'm not sure if many landowners out here even had flood insurance. Then there are numerous trailers and homes that simply get abandoned when the owners get old and pass away. There's a 30% unemployment rate out here - simply no money to do a major cleanup.

[kraftymomma1979]

I am curious why the landowners/renters and the insurance companies weren't held accountable for cleaning up after the big flood in the early 80s. If everyone had his/her part to clean up their own discards, there wouldn't be broken down trailers, cars, etc. sitting around and detracting from the area. I used to hear stories that a volcano formed that area, and that one day it will blow its top again.

[tuttle566]

slworking2,

Outstanding thank you for the info.

tuttle566