New fungal and bacterial species call this deadly lake home.

Beyond the usual stories that attend old prisons, this one has deep bloody undercurrents.

A turn-of-the-century architectural marvel built on healing mineral springs and salt licks.

A hard-to-reach oasis in a desolate corner of Death Valley National Park.

Former farm staffed by mental patients is now a public park.

A fake town founded by Western movie stars is now becoming a hip desert community.

A desert ghost town—occupied for only 12 years—was once home to more than 500 silver mines.

This concert pavilion on the shore of the Great Salt Lake has been destroyed by fire, water, and disinterest but keeps coming back.

A new kind of theme park for adults off the Las Vegas Strip.

One of the last free public hot springs is decorated with hippie art.

Only known mainland rookery of the threatened Stellar sea lion.

Secret Manor, a house full of legends, the least of which is the haunting of long-deceased ladies of pleasure.

The best Tiki bar in Las Vegas.

An institution that preserves the history of institutionalization.

A mining town once rife with murderous disputes over its copious treasures now creates income as a popular spot for photo shoots.

Graffiti, cars, and religion combine to create this jungle of scrap in the Nevada desert.

100-year-old shipwreck you can walk up to at low tide.

Scores of vintage street lamps shine along L.A.’s Miracle Mile.

A ruined hotel with an unlucky history and an eerie present.

Half of a waterfall goes into the river while the other half seems to disappear.

The mysterious wonder of an underground waterfall is illuminated by multicolored lights.

Wild lights and sound effects turn a walk through some caves into an eye-popping 1960s tourist attraction.

This Big Sur waterfall drops 80 feet directly into the Pacific Ocean, and inspired the hillside house up top.

A haunted hill that supposedly defied gravity.