Image
Photo
CLUI
Once a test area on the southwest edge of the Salton Sea, the base is now abandoned, with all or most of the buildings torn down. The navy first used it as seaplane base in the 1930s.In the 1940s, it was used as a base to help develop the nuclear weapons being developed at Los Alamos. Water-based targets and photographic stations on shore would study the performance and ballistics of the test bombs, which did not have nuclear or explosive components. This continued into the 1950's, as the area was used by Sandia National Labs, the nation’s nuclear bomb builder, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as its primary ballistics range. In 1960, Sandia moved this operation to the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada. The Navy continued to use the Salton Sea Test Base through the 1970s, and over 1,100 missile and bomb tests were performed here. Though there were reports of military activities at the site as recently as the Gulf War, the site was flooded by the slowly rising Salton Sea, and was abandoned for years. In the 1990s, clean up began, and has been completed, to a degree. It is now visited by the public on ATVs, as its access road is covered by blowing sand dunes.
Image
Image
Photo
CLUI
Image
Photo
CLUI
I'm a military history enthusiast with a particular focus on the development and testing of military technologies. My deep knowledge in this field stems from years of research and exploration of historical sites. One such fascinating location that aligns with my expertise is the Salton Sea Test Base.
The Salton Sea Test Base has a rich history dating back to the 1930s when it served as a seaplane base for the U.S. Navy. However, its significance increased during the 1940s when it played a crucial role in the development of nuclear weapons at Los Alamos. The base served as a testing ground for water-based targets and photographic stations onshore, analyzing the performance and ballistics of test bombs without nuclear or explosive components.
Throughout the 1950s, Sandia National Labs, the nation's nuclear bomb builder based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, utilized the Salton Sea Test Base as its primary ballistics range. Over 1,100 missile and bomb tests were conducted at this site. In 1960, operations were moved to the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada.
The Navy continued to use the Salton Sea Test Base into the 1970s, and there were even reports of military activities during the Gulf War. However, the site faced abandonment due to the slow rise of the Salton Sea, which eventually flooded the area. It remained abandoned for years until cleanup efforts commenced in the 1990s.
Today, the Salton Sea Test Base is a unique historical site that has undergone partial cleanup. Accessible by the public on ATVs, the base stands as a testament to the significant role it played in the development and testing of military technologies, including missile and bomb tests spanning several decades. The blowing sand dunes covering the access road add an additional layer of intrigue to this once-secretive location.
