California City

Bonus Episode: Cashing In On The Desert

For decades, Californians have been obsessed with trying to profit off desert land. In this bonus episode of California City, host Emily Guerin, the Desert Oracle’s Ken Layne, and artist and curator Kim Stringfellow explore the myths of the Mojave Desert as "wasteland," failed schemes and utopias, Instagram-driven tourism and coronavirus refugees. The audio was recorded during a live virtual event on September 3, 2020 and presented by LAist Studios and KPCC in partnership with <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheautry.org%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ckhayford%40scpr.org%7C463df867dec343e52c6f08d855fdb32f%7C8245ecb6b08841218e216c093b6d9d22%7C0%7C0%7C637353895409297476&amp;sdata=VlBD02JksMB%2FmmzevGbxsrIeBHotqY9fFA5yuSrPEA8%3D&amp;reserved=0">The Autry Museum of the American West</a>.   California City sponsors include: Sun Basket is offering $35 off your order when you go right now to SUNBASKET.com/calcity and enter promo code calcity at checkout. Simplisafe: Try SimpliSafe today at SimpliSafe.com/CALCITY. You get free shipping and a 60-day risk free trial. There’s nothing to lose. Korea Tourism Organization: Visit Korea and experience delicious food, vibrant cities, and natural beauty. Please visit <a href="https://www.visitkorea.com.my/">https://www.visitkorea.com.my/ </a> Caltech: Cal Tech Science Exchange provides trustworthy answers, clear explanations, and fact-driven conversation on critical topics in science and technology. Please visit <a href="http://scienceexchange.caltech.edu/">scienceexchange.caltech.edu</a>

Deep in the Mojave Desert, there is a little town with a big name and a bizarre history: California City. For decades, real estate developers have sold a dream here: if you buy land now, you’ll be rich one day. Thousands of people bought this dream. Many were young couples and hard-working immigrants looking to build a better future. But much of the land they bought is nearly worthless.  In this new podcast from LAist Studios, host Emily Guerin tells a story of money, power and deception.