Offbeat L.A.: Sunken City- 20th Century Ruins in San Pedro

Sunken City in San Pedro (Photo by Nikki Kreuzer)

Sunken City in San Pedro (Photo by Nikki Kreuzer)

Crumbing foundations (photo by Nikki Kreuzer)

Crumbling foundations (photo by Nikki Kreuzer)

Ghosts of a former hillside housing community that slid into the sparkling Pacific way back in 1929 still haunt the sunny cliffs of San Pedro. Now known as Sunken City, the broken foundations and shards of concrete have been covered and recovered with technicolor graffiti. It has been a teenage playground for decades; the perfect dangerously romantic make out and underage drinking destination. Mysterious and secluded, it waits with its spectacular views for adventure seekers and those who dare to ignore the clearly posted No Trespassing signs and slip under the pre-carved hole beneath the fence. Every good adventure seeker knows that when there is a will there is always a way.

Sunken City (photo by Nikki Kreuzer)

Ruins (photo by Nikki Kreuzer)

When the earth started sliding back in 1929, it was quick and relentless. Two homes on the 600 block of Paseo del Mar were completely lost, plunging into the hungry sea, while the rest were swiftly relocated. The earth stretched its weary bones, moving sometimes as much as 11 inches a day. This continued into the mid-1930’s. Over 70 years later it is exciting and beautiful, although technically illegal and off limits, and functions as an urban climbing mecca where danger lurks close with a misplaced footstep. It is a perfect reminder of how fragile our time is on this planet. Nature can act with capricious whim and destroy even as it creates. Nothing is truly solid.

The author at Sunken City (photo by Thomas Kreuzer)

The author at Sunken City (photo by Thomas Kreuzer)

 

Sunken City: 500 W Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro, CA 90731. Located next to Point Fermin Park.

Explore at your own risk. 

 

 

Nikki Kreuzer

About Nikki Kreuzer

Nikki Kreuzer has been a Los Angeles resident for over 30 years. When not working her day job in the film & TV industry, she spends her time over many obsessions, mainly music, art and exploring & photographing the oddities of the city she adores. So far she has written 110 Offbeat L.A. articles, published at the Los Angeles Beat. As a journalist she contributes regularly to LA Weekly, Blurred Culture and has also been published by Oddee.com, Twist Magazine, Strobe and Not For Hire. Nikki is also a mosaic artist, radio DJ and published photographer. Her photography has been featured in exhibit at the Museum of Neon Art, in print at the LA Weekly and in exhibit at the Neutra Museum in Los Angeles. She has recorded with the band Nikki & Candy as bassist, vocalist and songwriter, directing and appearing in the 'Sunshine Sunshine Santa Claus' music video for the band. She co-hosted the monthly radio show Bubblegum & Other Delights on Dublab.com for over two years. Her acting credits include a recent role in the ABC-TV show 'For The People', 'Incident at Guilt Ridge', 'Two and a Half Men', the film 'Minority Report' and 'Offbeat L.A.', a web series, written and hosted by Nikki Kreuzer. Her writing, radio and video portfolio can be found at OffbeatLA.com, her photography work @Lunabeat on Instagram and her music history posts @NikkiKreuzer on Twitter. Find Nikki & Candy music on iTunes or Amazon.
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