Magna, Utah: Saltair - The Cursed Resort

Restoration is progressing and the landscaping is blossoming. The gift shop is very well stocked and full of historical photographs and Great Salt Lake souvenirs. The store clerk gave the crowd a fascinating lecture of its history and was obviously delighted to have the audience. You are free to walk around inside and out.

There is a short path to the water and fresh water showers are provided free of charge to those that choose to swim in the lake. We did not notice the smell mentioned before, and everything was very clean throughout.

Saltair III still stands, but the gold has eroded off of the turrets, from what I could find, "Camel Lot" (where they were going to have camel rides) is gone, the landscaping is dying, and there are piles of rubble around the east end of the parking lot. The sign for Saltair's attractions -- a shop, concerts, etc. is handpainted and eroded, and it is closed for the season of winter.

The smell there is incredible -- brine and salt, and I have heard that in the summer it has become most intrusive. According to everyone I spoke to, it is now used for punk concerts and concerts that cannot be hosted in town.

I stopped by the "Cursed Resort" and found that a new gift shop had opened inside. A young woman had opened the gift shop and was trying to make a go of it. There were various gift items as well as some snacks. I told her that the place was referred to on RoadsideAmerica.com as the "cursed resort" but that I would update the site and refer to her biz as the "blessed gift shop."

There was a replica of the original resort "under glass" which looked very opulent. Too bad it was lost. It's pretty empty now with just a performance stage.

While driving randomly with my boyfriend one evening, we decided to drive out to the lake on I-80. What was really fun was driving back on one of the old roads that runs right along the lake and parallel to I-80. It almost feels like you are driving against the traffic. You can see all the old buildings along the lakeside, and you get some spectacular views of the lake. While not really on the list of "Must See," it was worth it to go out and watch the sunset.

PS: Saltair remains one of the better concert venues in the city. The acoustics are fantastic.

At first glance, I thought Saltair was a mosque, closed at my first visit to the now receded "great" Salt Lake. On the next day's visit, I found the doors of Saltair open, and people actually taking the half mile trip on the salt-crusted beach, to the stinking water. I wouldn't even attempt it, but, as we say in Tennessee, "When In Rome." It was worth the free admission just to look at the photos hung in the lobby of the Good Old Days, but this isn't a Must See. Either is the "boat trip" at the Marina, as the boat must be dry docked -- no one ever showed up at the 2PM cruise time, so we cruised back into Salt Lake City for dinner!