When most people think of the desert, bananas are not usually part of the mental picture. And yet, for years, just east of Palm Springs near the Salton Sea, there was a place entirely devoted to them: the International Banana Museum.

Update: The International Banana Museum Is Permanently Closed

According to its Google Business Profile, the International Banana Museum is permanently closed.

The museum, which operated for years in North Shore near the Salton Sea, became known for its massive collection of banana-themed items and its commitment to being unapologetically weird. At this time, there are no announced plans for reopening, and its official website no longer appears to be actively maintained.

This post remains published as a look back at one of the desert’s stranger roadside attractions and as a reference for anyone wondering what happened to it.

What Was the International Banana Museum?

The International Banana Museum housed a collection of more than 20,000 banana-related items. That included art, toys, novelty items, tools, and objects that had no business being banana-shaped but absolutely were.

The museum wasn’t large, but it was dense. Less curated exhibit and more full sensory overload, it leaned hard into its theme and never apologized for it.

First Impressions (They Leaned In)

Before even stepping inside, visitors were greeted by outdoor artwork that immediately set expectations. One of the first things you noticed was a piece by Kenny Irwin, the artist behind Palm Springs’ Robolights.

It wasn’t a banana, but it made it very clear that this was not a traditional museum experience.

Inside the Museum

There was a small admission fee, which was typically waived if you bought something from the gift shop. Options included stickers, souvenirs, and frozen banana treats.

They also served banana shakes, banana splits, and other banana-based snacks that paired nicely with wandering through an overwhelming amount of banana memorabilia.

According to the museum, items ranged from banana jewelry and novelty items to sculptures made of stone, glass, wood, metal, resin, and just about every other material imaginable.

Yes, It Was Really That Many Banana Things

Visitors often mentioned that the sheer volume of banana-related items made it difficult to take everything in during a single visit.

If You Were Looking for a Similar Desert Detour

If the International Banana Museum was on your list because you enjoy unconventional desert stops, consider adding these instead:

• Salvation Mountain (Niland)
• East Jesus (Slab City)
• Galleta Meadows sculptures (Borrego Springs)
• Salton Sea shoreline art and ruins

They offer the same offbeat, only-in-the-desert energy—just without the bananas.