Investigating The Most Dangerous Waterpark in The Desert

What this episode is about

Lake Dolores Water Park, once a bustling oasis in the Mojave Desert, has transformed into a notorious site of urban exploration following its abandonment over two decades ago due to tragic accidents and financial struggles. Once celebrated for its attractions, the park now serves as a haunting reminder of its past, attracting criminals and potentially paranormal activity amid its decaying infrastructure.

Key takeaways

• Lake Dolores: where family fun washed away to create a playground for urban explorers and the paranormal.
• Once a vibrant water park, now a canvas for graffiti and ghost stories; who knew decay could be so artistic?
• Abandonment turned Lake Dolores into a cult hotspot—cue the horror movie vibe and urban explorers' mischief!
• Caution: Enter at your own risk! The only thing scarier than the ghosts may be the living.
• Lake Dolores exemplifies that nostalgia can drown in tragedy; the echoes of laughter now replaced by whispering winds.

Who speaks in this episode?

• Tashara (Host) · 9 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 5:00: Dolores Buyer, Lake Dolores Water Park, Mojave Desert, John Buyer
2. 5:00 – 10:00: Mojave Desert
3. 10:00 – 15:00: James Mason, Lake Dolores Water Park, Mojave Desert, Dolores Buyer
4. 15:00 – 20:00: Mojave Desert
5. 20:00 – 21:05: Lake Dolores Water Park, Dolores Buyer

Notable quotes from "Investigating The Most Dangerous Waterpark in The Desert"

• Oh, my, god. Lake, Dolores, Water, Park., One, of, the first water parks in the United States.

  about Lake Dolores Water Park · at 0:12

• What, began, in, the, 1960s, as, John, and Dolores Buyer's homemade oasis quickly became a desert escape for locals and road trippers on their way to Las Vegas.

  about Dolores Buyer · at 1:19

• Know what's out here in the desert. That, doesn't, mean, you, have, to, alert or like ask them to come. You, just, got, to, know, what, we're, up against. So in, its…

  about Tony Hawk · at 4:24

• And YouTubers that have documented their experiences and have openly condemned the area. Whispers of rituals and other dark activities have surrounded the park as no one is…

  about Mojave Desert · at 5:13

• In, 1999,, an, offduty, park, employee,, James Mason, rode the Dooop Super Drop water slide after park hours. He instructed another employee to turn it on despite the park…

  about Doop Super Drop · at 10:01

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• James Mason — Person · Referenced accident victim / lawsuit plaintiff · 2 mentions · first at 10:01
  Cited as the off-duty employee whose 1999 slide accident led to paralysis and a $4.4M judgment that financially crippled the park.
  Slide after park hours. He instructed another employee to turn it on despite the park being closed and the ride officially inactive. Tragically, the catch pool at the slide's…
• Dolores Buyer — Person · Referenced founder/creator (namesake; historical figure in story) · 5 mentions · first at 0:12
  Named alongside John Buyer as co-creator of the original oasis and a namesake tied to the park's identity and history.
• John Buyer — Person · Referenced founder/creator (historical figure in story) · 1 mention · first at 1:34
  Identified as a co-creator of the original Lake Dolores oasis in the 1960s, establishing the park's origin story.
  What, began, in, the, 1960s, as, John, and Dolores Buyer's homemade oasis quickly became a desert escape for locals and road trippers on their way to Las Vegas.
• Tony Hawk — Person · Referenced celebrity visitor (skateboarding) · 1 mention · first at 4:42
  Mentioned as a famous skateboarder who discovered the abandoned park's potential as a skate spot, illustrating its post-closure cultural afterlife.
• Robin Big — Person · Referenced celebrity visitor (skateboarding/TV personality) · 1 mention · first at 4:42
  Named with Tony Hawk as part of the skateboarding subculture that used the abandoned park, reinforcing the site's draw for creators and explorers.
  In, its, abandonment,, Lake, Dolores, took, on a new life. Urban explorers began wandering its broken arcades and drained pools, uploading videos of the eerie ruins. Famous…

Products & tech

• Doop Super Drop — Product · Case study · 3 mentions
  A water slide at Lake Dolores Water Park where a tragic accident occurred, leading to the park's downfall.

Places & events

• Lake Dolores Water Park — Place · Setting · 3 mentions · first at 0:12
  The main location discussed in the podcast, an abandoned water park with a dark history.
• Mojave Desert — Place · Setting · 4 mentions · first at 0:21
  The geographical area where Lake Dolores Water Park is located, adding to its eerie and isolated atmosphere.
• Rockahula Water Park — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at 2:07
  A failed attempt to revive Lake Dolores Water Park, which closed shortly after reopening due to financial issues.
  To a developer who planned on turning it into a massive RV resort. The project fell through, and after a short-lived reopening, the park shut down again in 1989. It sat…

Full transcript with timestamps

0:00 We're about to enter a place that has had a lot of controversy in the past. Cults murder.

0:04 You, see, that? That, clearly, says, die. Yeah,, I'm, bleeding. What?, What? Oh, my, god.

0:12 Lake, Dolores, Water, Park., One, of, the first water parks in the United States. Once an oasis in the middle of the Mojave Desert, positioned on the interstate between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, has now become a popular destination for urban explorers and possibly cults and criminals. After a series of failed attempts to keep attendance up and a tragic accident that left multiple people injured and one man paralyzed, the park has now been abandoned for over two decades. On the surface, it has become an oasis, but not for families to escape the sun and instead a safe haven for criminals and potentially the paranormal. We just made it here to the Lake Dolores abandoned water park. We're we're actually just at the front here and made a good point.

1:03 What are you smelling right now? Um, like, spray, cans., Like, someone, just like got done painting.

1:07 Yeah,, I, think, you're, right., Which, at first is like maybe not super scary, but someone's here.

1:15 Yeah., like, or, was, here, recently, could, be still here. What, began, in, the, 1960s, as, John, and Dolores Buyer's homemade oasis quickly became a desert escape for locals and road trippers on their way to Las Vegas. In its prime, visitors swam, camped, and water skied in the middle of this barren desert. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, Lake Dolores had grown into a fullyfledged water park, complete with a lazy river, arcade, and picnic grounds. That success, however, couldn't last forever. In 1986, buyers sold the park to a developer who planned on turning it into a massive RV resort. The project fell through, and after a short-lived reopening, the park shut down again in 1989. It sat abandoned for nearly a decade before a bold attempt was made to revive it in 1998 as Rockahula Water Park. This 20 million renovation promised a second golden age. But within a year, disaster struck. A catastrophic

2:19 accident left a park employee paralyzed resulting in a $4.4 million lawsuit that crippled the business. Brahula closed its gates in 2000, barely two summers after its grand reopening, marking the last time it would ever be a family attraction. Today, little remains of the original slides, and instead, layers of graffiti cover the walls, buildings collapsed in on themselves, and the landmark attracts the uncanny with an influx of urban explorers at the abandoned park. But there have been rumors amongst those explorers that there might be more than just graffiti going on here. Oh, look at that. That corridor.

3:01 Oh, this is terrifying. Holy. Ew. What?, What? No,, I'm, just, hearing, stuff., It's, okay.

3:11 You're, hearing, stuff? Yeah. What, are, you, hearing? I, don't, I, just, heard, like, walking., I, was probably just like like tripping.

3:19 Hearing, us? Yeah. Okay., Oh,, here's, the, new, spray, paint, for sure. Look at this. It's still glistening. This is brand new. How do you feel? Oh, where's she at? Sh. Tashara, what the Tashara? Oh my god. Okay. Jesus Christ.

3:40 I, was, getting, Are, you, good? Yeah., You, just, like, Okay,, hold, on., I need to breathe. You said you heard footsteps and then we didn't hear you and I was just like, "All right, well the shower's gone." Okay. All right. Let's uh let's keep it moving. There's nothing in here. So we're at the entrance and the sun is is gone now. I know. I'm feeling it. My heart's racing after thinking that I lost to Shaw forever. We're about to enter a place that has had a lot of controversy in the past and is a is a hot spot for vandalism, urban explorers but also potentially cults and other unsavory skin walkers potentially.

4:20 Why, would, you, say, it, now?, You, can't, say it. It's out in the I mean, we know we know what's out here in the desert.

4:24 That, doesn't, mean, you, have, to, like, alert or like ask them to come. You, just, got, to, know, what, we're, up against. So

4:32 in, its, abandonment,, Lake, Dolores, took, on a new life. Urban explorers began wandering its broken arcades and drained pools, uploading videos of the eerie ruins. Famous skateboarders like Tony Hawk and Robin Big had discovered its potential as a skate park. What was once a family water park became a canvas for creativity, rebellion, and subcultures drawn to forgotten spaces. But amidst all of this, few rumors began to surface of the abandoned water park's chilling atmosphere. Some who have been brave enough to explore the park at night have reported the area feeling haunted. There have been a handful of online bloggers and YouTubers that have documented their experiences and have openly condemned the area. Whispers of rituals and other dark activities have surrounded the park as no one is here to monitor it. Like lots of other abandoned structures especially in the Mojave Desert, it has become a magnet for criminals and other unsavory characters.

5:34 So about 100 ft into the water park it's giving some eerie vibes for sure. I, don't, get, like, good, vibes,, good, energy from them, you know.

5:45 Yeah,, I'm, feeling, that., You, know, there's not a ton of reports saying that this place has a lot of activity, but it doesn't mean it doesn't, you know, you can't deny how you feel.

5:54 Yeah. And, we're, we're, we're, definitely, feeling something right now. It's feeling off.

5:58 Yeah. We, are, venturing, into, this, building., I couldn't tell you what this is.

6:04 There, was,, I, think,, an, arcade, here, at one point. So, maybe this is the arcade.

6:09 We've, got, our, EMF, sensor, right, now., It's picking up Nothing. I'm, very, worried, about, like, the stability of the building that we're in.

6:22 Yeah., But, I, mean,, if, it's, standing, now, the wind's not strong enough to blow it down. So, I think we're chilling.

6:26 Did, you, hear, something? Yeah,, I, thought, for, sure, I, heard, a rustle. Is, there, someone, in, that, room?, I, don't think so. No, but I definitely heard something just, now., All right., If, uh, anyone, is here with us, maybe give us a sign.

7:00 You, want, to, call? You, want, me, to? You, want, to? This, is, giving sketch.

7:06 Yeah,, this, is, giving, definitely, like, uh Satan Circle vibes. Yeah. Okay., That, clearly, says, die.

7:12 Maybe, we, shouldn't, go, in, there, then. I'll, take, one, for, the, team., I'll, enter. You, just, stay, on, the, outside., All right.

7:22 Okay., Don't, die. Ew. What? Something, just, ew., Felt, like, a, I, don't know. It's probably just a bug. Like

7:28 Okay., Don't, scare, me, like, that. If, there's, anyone, in, here,, make, yourself known. Nothing. All right. Well, I did it. I walked in the room that said die. E.

7:43 Sorry., It didn't, die. Good, job. What? Sorry. Did, you, feel, something, else?

7:54 Another, bug. It, was, just, my, hair., I'm, pretty, sure. Okay., All right., Well,, clearly, this place has us spooked uh cuz we're flinching over little things. So, let's venture deeper. You know, we've done a few of these ghostly expeditions. I really haven't felt this way on any of ours yet. This is kind of getting to me a bit.

8:10 I, feel, like, the, closer, we, get, to, what, I assume would be the standup slides of people, the more like nervous I feel like I get.

8:21 I, mean,, there's, theories, online, saying that the reason for all the activity here and all the misfortune here is that that injury on that slide. That's where we're heading. I think uh I'm going to do a test on this bridge. We use the EMF again and see. You see that? I'm just going to go out to the center of this bridge and call out real quick. Here goes nothing. Oh I'm bleeding.

8:45 You're, bleeding? Yeah,, I'm, bleeding. How? I, don't, know. Did, something, scrape, you?

8:55 I, hope, not., Okay., All right., Just, forget about it. Wait, we'll film this. We'll film this.

9:01 If, there's, anyone, any spirit here in this water park with us, let it be known.

9:09 Wait,, get, back., Come, here., There's someone over there. What, are, you, talking, about?, Where? Where? Where? Where?

9:13 Look. I, don't, see, anyone. I, swear, to, God,, there, was, someone, over there.

9:18 A, person? Yeah, like, an, actual, person. Yeah,, like, a, person. Okay. So, we took a quick breather. Tara took her jacket off cuz she's feeling a bit hot. And how do you feel now?

9:31 I, feel, nauseous. Yeah. Mhm. And, you're, positive, you, saw, a, person. Yeah., Like, 100%.

9:44 I, don't, I, don't, think, it's, anything. We're still close enough to the car. I think we Let's keep going. We're pretty close to the slide. kind of the center center of all this negative aura, I think, is Let's Let's make our way there.

9:57 Okay., You, You, okay, with, that? Yeah. Okay. In, 1999,, an, offduty, park, employee,, James Mason, rode the Dooop Super Drop water slide after park hours. He instructed another employee to turn it on despite the park being closed and the ride officially inactive. Tragically, the catch pool at the slide's end lacked adequate water, causing Mason to crash into the dam, which rendered him paralyzed. In the ensuing legal battle a jury awarded Mason $4.4 million in damages. This judgment proved devastating for the park. The park couldn't withstand this financial hit leading to it filing for bankruptcy in February 2000 and officially closing later in 2004.

10:45 Though some people online have conflicting opinions on the topic, and there are many theories of other victims within the last years of the park. After an urban explorer found a stack of accident reports and employee manuals among the rebel, a story of a 6-year-old boy came to light. The story, though brief, goes as follows. A 6-year-old boy who was swimming at the park with his family is said to have drowned. listed as one of the last accidents to have happened at the park in its last year of operation. Regardless of the validity of this particular story, it's clear that in the last few years of the park being open, it had become a death trap. Some have said the incidents started a feeling of unsafety for the park that only became worse as doors officially closed. Though there are no confirmed cases of any urban explorers making their last adventure within the park, it is not entirely off the table. As Tashar

11:40 and I have learned that this area of the Mojave Desert is a hotbed for murder and other explained anomalies with satanic imagery dotted throughout the park in the form of graffiti, it has been speculated that those who visit the park after dark are often there to commune with and summon evil entities. So, as we approach the water slides here, Tashara has brought out our night vision camcorder, and I figured it'd be a good time to see if we can't make any sort of contact, verbal contact with the spirits, if there are any here, with our spirit box.

12:16 If there is anyone here, specifically a Oh [ __ ] Is that, an, animal? I, tried, stepping, on, that, and, that, was, I would have went through for certain I would have went through. It's like fuzzy and wet.

12:27 That's, probably, mold., So,, uh,, we'll, go and avoid that. It looks to be a bomb here, too. Some firework.

12:37 Oh, my, god., Ew., Where, did, it, go? It's, over, there., It's, over, there., Oh, that gave me chills.

12:43 Can, we, go?, Can, we, leave, out, of, here, please? Yeah., Yeah., Yeah., Yeah., That's, fine. That's fine. So, no ghosts. Uh, that was definitely a camel spider. We've seen them before out here in the desert. Uh those things are terrifying. We'll we'll we'll go around. We'll go around. I'm going to turn the spirit box back on. Hopefully make contact with something that isn't a insect. If there is someone here, make yourself known.

13:17 There's, definitely, like, a, man, voice there. Mhm. What, was, that? Sound, like, a, scream.

13:23 That, did, sound, like, a, scream. Did you hear that? What did it say? Definitely, said, something., I, couldn't tell. All right, let's let's keep it pushing.

13:37 I, heard, hello. Hello. I, heard, hello. It, said, hello, again. It, said, it, again, for, sure.

13:43 Ew. Are, you, a, victim, of, the, Lake, Dolores water park? No, it said no clear as day instantly.

13:59 That's, kind, of, That's, kind, of, gross. Like I'm not Yeah,, that, is, legit said no, too.

14:05 Well,, if, they're, not, a, victim, of, the park, who are you? Do you have a name?

14:18 Maybe, we, should, get, closer, or, go, up higher. Let's Let's try to get Let's try to get closer and see if if the signal's stronger here. Uh I think the shark is freaking out a little bit, which I don't see too too often. I like this. This is We are arriving here at the slide.

14:38 Oh, my, god., Ew. Watch, what? There's, a, pentagram, right, there. Oh, my, gosh., Well,, the, pentagram, tells, me that maybe there's a little bit more activity here than just that. We are getting responses clear as day on our spirit box. So, I'm thinking it's time to maybe try the essence method up here.

14:52 Okay. Okay. Mhm. I, just, got, to, take, a, moment, this, uh feeling kind of weight almost.

15:06 Yeah,, I, was, feeling, a, bit, too, but, Okay,, I'm, ready., I'm, ready., Let's, do it., All right,, let's, try, to, find, out, who this is and what their story is. Is there anyone here that would like to speak with us right now? Anyone from the water park or in the water park?

15:32 Too, bad. Too, bad. Does, that, mean, you, don't, want, to, speak with us? Are the things that happened at the water park too bad for you to talk about potentially? Murder.

15:47 Murder. I, just, got, chills. Whoever, we're, speaking, to,, were, you murdered here at this water park?

15:53 Two. Are, there, two, of, you?, Are, there, two murders here at this water park?

16:01 Can, you, tell, me, more, about, the, murders here at this water park? Come, out.

16:07 Come, out. Come out. Come, out, where? Murder. Come, out., Murder. Like what?, What?, What?

16:23 I'm, getting, kind, of, freaked, out. Huh? I'm, getting, kind, of, freaked, out.

16:28 Yeah,, I'm, feeling, It's, just, a, lot, of like just pressure just everywhere.

16:34 Come, out., Murder. Yeah,, that's, not It, said, two., So, maybe, it's, multiple people. I I heard come out and the way it the way it sounded was like like it was someone trying to get another person to speak up. Like there's another spirit. They weren't talking.

16:50 Jeez. Okay,, I, think, we're, going, to, reposition here and then we'll have Tashara try speaking to them.

16:59 My, heart's, like, jumping. Yeah. Yeah., Mine's, a, bit, too., Truthfully,, I'm excited to leave.

17:04 Yeah., So,, me,, too. Let's, ask, a, few, more, questions, and, try to get out of here. Okay. Actually, now that I'm seeing it, I feel like that What? What? What? What? What?

17:14 What? Stop., What?, Hold, on., Here., Cut, it., Cut it. Cut it. Okay, so we just talked to our camera guy, personal friend of ours, and that little moment, he claims to have felt something poke him. Whether it's paranormal or someone else here, there's there is someone else here. It feels like

17:41 Yeah. Like, I, can, feel, it, deep., I mean,, we, have, to, remember, we, are, in, the desert.

17:50 We're, an, hour, away, from, Amboy, where we've been before. You know, we're we're within a few hours of most of the places we've already explored. So, it's not outside of the realm of possibility that it's it's something else. Sir, let's check on our our friend, make sure he's doing all right, and then let's get this last test done. Get out of here.

18:17 It, sounds, like, there's, like, walk, like walking or like shuffling or something.

18:21 And, you're, hearing, it, from, this direction. Yeah. I, mean,, should, we, stop, here, or, do, we It's our our slide is right there where we need to be. It's It's just right there. All right

18:33 let's, just, tread, carefully., Obviously,, I don't want us to get hurt, but I feel like we've really got something here and I I want to check it out. Okay, we see something concrete again. Let's just get out of here. Okay.

18:40 Yeah. Okay,, let's, go., We're, getting, close, to this thing. This is definitely a slide. But, uh, you want to give it a try?

18:50 Yeah. As, method,, then, we'll, wrap, that, quickly. Hopefully, we get some answers quick and we can get out of here. I'm not feeling the best. We got you blindfolded up. You ready?

19:02 Yeah., I'm, like, really, scared. Okay., You're, You're, okay?, Yeah. You, okay, to, do, this?

19:06 Yeah. Okay., We, can, back, out. No,, it's, okay., I, can't, do, it. Okay. All right., We, move, positions. Have you followed us here?

19:24 I'm, here. I'm, here., Okay., Jesus. What brings you here? Did you Did you die here?

19:24 Lur. Lur. Or, maybe, it, was, learn. Learn. It, was, kind, of, like, I, couldn't, like

19:41 do, you, want, us, to, learn, how, you, died? I'm, present., He, just, there's, just, it's just like a a deep voice that keeps saying like I'm here. Like I can't even

19:58 Okay,, hold, on., Hold, on. Uh, to, discharge, to, pull, off., Okay., Okay. Let's uh here. Can we Can we walk this way? Can we walk this way?

20:03 Come, on., Come on, walk. We, just, got, to, get, out, of, here., I, swear I heard something.

20:13 I, think, there's, definitely, there's something here. Yeah,, for, sure. We, just, got, to, get, out, of, here., Let's just get out of here.

20:16 We'll, uh, Yeah, Tashar and I can't fully explain the feeling that we had leaving the park but one thing's for sure. We were relieved to be in our car and heading back home. Whether or not the things we were hearing and seeing were of the paranormal variety or just another unsavory character lurking within the park, it didn't matter to us. We had documented enough of our own evidence to prove that the ruins of Lake Dolores Water Park are something that we won't have to explore any further. And at least to us, there is definitely something deeper under the surface here.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Investigating The Most Dangerous Waterpark in The Desert"?

Tashara (Host).

What is "Investigating The Most Dangerous Waterpark in The Desert" about?

Lake Dolores Water Park, once a bustling oasis in the Mojave Desert, has transformed into a notorious site of urban exploration following its abandonment over two decades ago due to tragic accidents and financial struggles. Once celebrated for its attractions, the park now serves as a haunting reminder of its past, attracting criminals and potentially paranormal activity amid its decaying…

What is mentioned in this BuzzFeed Unsolved Network episode?

9 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Lake Dolores Water Park, Doop Super Drop, James Mason, Mojave Desert, Dolores Buyer, John Buyer. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Investigating The Most Dangerous Waterpark in The Desert"?

The episode runs 21 min; the transcript is about 3,331 words in 84 timestamped sections.

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