Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to Curious Coast

    Curious Coast

    What is all that abandoned land near LAX?

    If you look down from the plane as you take off from LAX, you'll see a long swath of seemingly empty streets. A long time ago, this was an upscale, beachfront neighborhood. Eventually, it made way for an airport that was growing and expanding. And it wasn't the only community gobbled up by the airport's growing footprint.

    • Share
    By Jenny Hamel • Oct 25, 2017 • 7m Listen

    If you look down from the plane as you take off from LAX, you'll see a long swath of seemingly empty streets. A long time ago, this was an upscale, beachfront neighborhood. Eventually, it made way for an airport that was growing and expanding. And it wasn't the only community gobbled up by the airport's growing footprint.

    Abandoned community of Surfridge. Photo credit: Jenny Hamel.

    Aerial view of Surfridge. Photo courtesy of Google Maps.

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Jenny Hamel

      KCRW

      CultureCaliforniaLos Angeles
    Back to Curious Coast