Exploring the Abandoned Lake Dolores Waterpark
If you’ve ever driven between Southern California and Las Vegas on I-15, you’ve probably noticed the ruins of an old waterpark in the middle of the Mojave Desert. I’ve passed it many times, always curious but never stopping—until now.
On a recent road trip, I finally took the time to pull off the highway and check out the abandoned Lake Dolores Waterpark. And wow… what a fascinating, surreal, and slightly eerie experience.
A Brief History
Lake Dolores Waterpark has a wild backstory that dates back to the early 1960s. Originally built by a man named Bob Byers as a private desert oasis for his family, it eventually opened to the public and became a quirky roadside attraction.
During its heyday in the 1980s, Lake Dolores was all about adrenaline—towering metal slides that launched you into a man-made lake, no lifeguards, just DIY thrills. In the late ’90s, it was rebranded as Rock-A-Hoola, with a nostalgic 1950s twist. Sadly, the park struggled financially, and after a tragic accident and legal issues, it closed in 2000. A final attempt to reopen as Discovery Waterpark fizzled out by 2004.
Since then, it’s been left to the elements—an open canvas for graffiti artists, urban explorers, and curious photographers like me.
Capturing the Vibe
For this shoot, I brought along the FUJIFILM GFX100S II paired with the FUJIFILM GF 32-64mm f/4 R LM WR lens. This combo is a dream for capturing high-resolution detail and dynamic range—perfect for documenting the park’s gritty textures, peeling paint, and scorched remnants.
Out of habit, I shot most scenes using exposure bracketing because I was working in harsh midday sun with extreme contrast. But once I got into post-production, I realized I didn’t need the extra exposures at all. The medium-format sensor captured everything I needed in a single frame—shadows, highlights, and all the subtle details in between.
Honestly, it was kind of a revelation. At 102 megapixels, each file is ginormous, so being able to rely on single exposures not only simplifies my workflow but also saves time and hard drive space. It’s nice knowing that with the GFX100S II, I can shoot confidently in tough lighting conditions and still get stunning results without needing to merge exposures.
Back in my home studio, I processed the raw files in Adobe Camera Raw, refined the images in Photoshop, and gave each photo its finishing touch in Radiant Photo 2 — just enough to enhance color and contrast while keeping the natural, gritty feel of the scene intact.
If you ever find yourself headed to or from Las Vegas and have some extra time, I highly recommend the detour. Just be cautious—this place isn’t maintained, and it’s definitely not “safe” in the traditional sense. But for those of us drawn to forgotten places, it’s a treasure trove.
Gear & Tools I Used:
- FUJIFILM GFX100S II – Medium format magic with incredible dynamic range
- FUJIFILM GF 32-64mm f/4 R LM WR Lens – Sharp, weather-resistant, and a perfect walkaround focal range
- Adobe Camera Raw – My go-to for processing high-resolution RAW files
- Photoshop – For creative editing and cleanup
- Radiant Photo 2 – Finishing polish to make the colors and textures pop
Have you ever explored an abandoned place like this? Or do you have a favorite roadside curiosity? I’d love to hear your stories—drop them in the comments!
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Really cool post, Angela. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve driven by a spot that I thought was “neat”, promising myself I’d come back, and then rarely do… Good for you for stopping and sharing the waterpark with us. Reminds me a little bit of the playground and ferris wheel in Chernobyl that Rich and I visited some years ago! Keep on clickin’, my friend!
Thanks, Kev! I’m so glad I took the time to stop. You’d love it!
Really nice images and a great story! Thanks for stopping and sharing!!
Glad you enjoyed it, Lee!
As a teen in the mid seventies through mid 80s, I used to go out to lake Delores. It had FILTHY WATER, and when flying down those slides and hitting that water fast, it always made some “inroad” and you left with an infection in the ears, in the urinary tract, and who knows what else.
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment, Beth. It sounds like it wasn’t the greatest place when you visited, and maybe more fun at this point to someone like me as a relic.
In the 70’s, the vamp I attended as well as served as a counselor, would visit the lake on day trips. There was a rope slide I remember well.
I lost a ring my grandfather made for me with a cats eye stone somewhere in that muddy lake.
Yep, over 50 years ago and I still remember.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Coleene! Sorry to hear that you lost your ring there, but hopefully you have a lot of good memories of the park there, too.
Back in the day, I was bit of a desert rat and photographed the water park several times – none of the images were as beautiful as yours. That stretch of 1-15 is loaded with weird and wonderful photo opportunities, such as: the Early Man Dig Site, several Route 66 museums, abandoned Route 66 buildings, and, of course, the fabled ZZYZX Springs!
I’d love to see some of your pictures! I’m sure it has changed over the years. There is a ton of cool stuff out in the desert if you take the time to look. I almost stopped at one of the Route 66 museums, but home was calling!
Very cool story & pictures!!
Hi Jamie – Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog! Hope you’re doing well. :)
I just learned the land on which the water park is located is for sale: only $11,000,000!
Is that all?! Ha! Quite a lot of money for a mess out in the middle of nowhere.
Really nice series! Found you through your comment on Stephen Bay’s recent FB post. I wanted to stop here, but was on a family trip in 2021, and didn’t want to delay our travel more than necessary. Here are two cool abandon sites on Route 66 (Interstate 40) between Flagstaff and Winslow that I visited in 2019.
Twin Arrows – https://www.instagram.com/p/B1rJcsFnmoA (think there is only 1 arrow left)
Two Guns – https://www.instagram.com/p/B2GJr9TH1lx
Hi Bobby – Thanks for your kind comments and for stopping by! Your photos are cool, and I followed you on IG. Looking forward to seeing more!