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Newberry Springs, California: Abandoned Waterpark, Guerrilla Art Site

The Lake Dolores Waterpark ("Fun spot of the desert") opened in 1962, was abandoned in 2004, and has been transformed with spray paint into an unofficial guerrilla art park. The rides have been dismantled. Post-apocalyptic culture in the desert.

Address:
Hacienda Rd, Newberry Springs, CA
Directions:
I-15 exit 206. Drive north on Harvard Rd, then turn left (west) onto Hacienda Rd. Follow Hacienda Rd west, paralleling the freeway, for 2.5 miles. There are two paved entrances on the right (look for the palm trees). They quickly turn to sand, but you can park there and walk back to the buildings. Note: you will be trespassing.
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Visitor Tips and News About Abandoned Waterpark, Guerrilla Art Site

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Waterpark ruins.

Abandoned Waterpark, Guerrilla Art Site

Riddled with graffiti... most of the waterslide and waterpark equipment are all gone.

[May A, 07/25/2018]
Abandoned Waterpark, Guerrilla Art Site

If you take Mountain View Rd around back you can drive in to the park. Was there a few minutes before a pleasant security guard drove up and asked me to leave.

[T, 09/06/2016]

Panoramic view of exterior and building interior.

Abandoned Waterpark, Guerrilla Art Site

We drove past on a 12 hour road trip and had to turn around and check it out. This is a great graffiti spot and lots of spots of you want to add your own. We could have spent way more time here but unfortunately had to make it short and keep going.

[Jeanine, 02/28/2015]
Abandoned Waterpark

We ran into the groundskeeper and he said that the Rock-a-hoola water park was only open for four months before closing. [Rebecca, 02/28/2015]

The Future is Blight.

Rock-A-Hoola Waterpark

Outside of Barstow, past the exit for Calico Ghost Town and Peggy Sue's Diner, is a site where many have passed but few have stopped. It was a water park, "Rock-A-Hoola," which couldn't stay in business and supposedly closed in 2000. Many of the slides have since been sold, but it remains a weird ghost town to visit as all the buildings, signs, and the lazy river are still there, along with the stairs to where the slides used to be. It's covered with graffiti, but some of it is actually art as a group of New York artists came and repainted the signs. This is for the people who love theme parks and always wondered what one would be like in a post-apocalyptic world.

[Jarrod M, 06/03/2014]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Bagdad Cafe: Route 66 IconBagdad Cafe: Route 66 Icon, Newberry Springs, CA - 9 mi.
Calico Ghost TownCalico Ghost Town, Yermo, CA - 10 mi.
Ice Cream Sundae Water TankIce Cream Sundae Water Tank, Yermo, CA - 9 mi.
In the region:
Giant Rock, Landers, CA - 46 mi.

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