Visited 4/29/2019 Wow This is a great little roadside attraction at the Salton Sea. Run by the owner they don't open till 12:30 AM. The owner drives a bright yellow banana color Camaro that will be parked out front. Everything about this place spells bananas with lots of souvenirs to be had and other little knickknacks that the owner has collected over the years. He also serves several different ice cream's including, you guessed it, Banana Ice Cream, I have heard that the banana chocolate shakes are amazing but have as of yet not tried one myself. Next visit. He charges a $1.00 a head to come in and take pictures. Spend as much time as you're like there is plenty of little things to look at. All in all this isn't a bad little attraction to spend a little hour of your time. Enjoy. read more

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The International Banana Museum is definitely a unique experience and a must visit, if you're passing along the infamous Salton Sea area. The couple that owns the establishment are very friendly! The price for admission is $1, but will be waived with a purchase. The place was once a bar that belonged to the owner's family, until he turned it into the Banana Museum it is now. They have some Banana flavored ice cream/shakes and other treats or other various assortments of souvenirs and knick-knacks. I wouldn't recommend traveling 30+ miles just to go to this place alone, but if that's what you are into, go for it! We visited while traveling back from Salvation Mountain & East Jesus. Please do call ahead! We got there at around 1:30pm and the place was still closed, but the owners happened to arrive as we were about to leave. So we got lucky! read more

International Banana Museum - Museums Near Me - Mecca, California

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Per their sign "The most A-peeling place in the world". This place though, is actually in a great location. Admission is $1 per person, but the fee is waived if something worth $1 is purchased. Cash is King here. It makes it much easier to purchase unless you're planning on buying more than $5-10 worth of items. Any less than that it's not worth the CC fees. Homemade banana ice cream is perfect on a hot day here, which is pretty much 365/365 days out of the year. Everything banana related is here from Pulp Fiction UCSC Banana Slugs toys and photos to a raggae themed banana joint ashtray. Whatever you're thinking they got it. Only thing I did not see was a Banana Bread. Go figure. Drop by this place if you're in the area you won't regret it. Oh, FYI...don't park on the left of the side of the banana store (the liquor store). They don't seem to like it much. read more

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Yummy banana splits! Hopefully they open soon, overall customer service is great as well as for the convenience store next door run my the same person o believe read more

Randomly came here on my way towards the Saltan Sea. From the road you see a yellow transformers looking guy pointing towards the banana museum. It's a collection of everything banana from food to statues to costumes. Entrance is $1 per person, but is waived upon purchase. I tried the banana strawberry smoothie and it was really good. It wasn't too sweet and just the right amount of strawberry and banana in it. The staff was really friendly and it's something fun and different when on the road. read more

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Yep, that's right! International banana museum, with banana paraphernalia everywhere! Once you pay your entrance fee of $1/person, you are free to explore the whole museum. Take pictures with a banana head or grab yourself a banana shake. Expect to spend about 30 minutes in the museum itself. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth it to spot by and check it out! There is plenty of parking outside the museum. Check ahead for business hours. read more

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What a wonderful place to go to bananas! Way off the beaten path is one of the most unique roadside stops you'll ever find. I'm very glad a friend recommended I investigate the delightful International Banana Museum because I never would have found it on my own. Trust that GPS! As soon as you park and step outside, the smell of banana greets you, perfectly highlighting the bright yellow sights already outside! The entrance stays closed (I assume to help keep out the rampant small bugs in the air that will also greet you), but as long as you're there during regular business hours, just open the door and walk in. The owners are incredibly nice and welcoming, and of course loaded with banana puns galore. Grab a banana shake for $3 (your $1 entrance fee is absorbed by any purchase) and explore! There are statues, stuffed toys, advertisements, agricultural displays, and so much more - this massive collection is clearly the result of decades of a very singular love of bananas. They have stickers, magnets, and other little souvenirs to bring your own banana magic home. Expect to spend 20-30 minutes absorbing the single room's items. I had so much fun going bananas, and was sorry I had to split! A great fix for museum lovers and appreciators of the wacky! If I lived nearby, I would treat every out of town visitor to this museum! read more

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This place is a great stop before or after your way to Salvation Mountain. :) It's a small museum but there's so much to see! There's either a dollar per person admission or each person must buy something and it's a free admission. Well worth it either way! We made purchases - banana and strawberry, banana and chocolate and banana fosters milk shakes ($3.50); a chocolate dipped banana with nuts ($2.00), a banana/mango ice cream (don't remember) and a banana float (i think $3.50) ! They were all sooooooooo good! I had a single scoop banana/mango ice cream and it was incredible! There were banana chucks in the ice cream and it was a perfect blend with the mango. I also split a banana float with my son. They serve it in a frosty mug with banana soda! BEST EVER! The owner and his daughter were welcoming and just seem to be really chill people. The daughter mentioned they are usually only open on weekends but Today was a special day :) FIRST DAY OF THE NEW YEAR! read more

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We had a blast here. We drove past it the first time but back tracked after doing a little reading about sights in the area. There are few stores so even if you think you don't want to see this amazing banana- themed attraction ...you may decide that you need a banana shake, banana soda, or other banana snack to enjoy on your tour of the area. The folks inside are so friendly, that alone is worth the visit. read more

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It's closed until "?", according to sign on door! There not much more to add, disappointed, drove awhile to get there.

This was our first stop on our way to salvation mountain. The directions we got were clear and it was very easy to find since it was the only building that was yellow and blue. Just look for the banana sculpture on the road. Was actually surprised how small the place is but there was a lot of things to look at. The highlight of this place is the owners I assume. She lady was very nice and cheerful. She made us feel at home and had a great sense of humor. We ended up buying a magnet for our fridge and a banana peanut butter shake. There was a bit of a wait but it was worth it!! Also take note that admission is a dollar so bring cash or buy something with your card for at least $7 to not incur a service charge. Definitely worth the stop on the road! Plus they have good desserts!! read more

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We stopped by here on our way to Salton Sea an hour before closing time and we had plenty of time to look at everything and take it all in. Now this is a small Banana museum that's filled from floor to ceiling with any and every banana item you can think of. They also have cool banana props that you can take pictures with. I overheard the lady behind the counter telling a guest that they don't promote themselves anywhere yet its a popular museum that a lot of tourists have found their way to. They ask for a donation to enter the museum. You also need to call for hours if you're going to be going to specifically visit the museum. The lady behind the counter said that the Banana mango ice cream is a must try. After trying it, I think its the greatest combination ever! If you go here and don't try the banana mango ice cream then then it's like you never stopped by. read more

Holy banana ... bananas everywhere! International Banana Museum is a small (no bigger than your typical Starbucks stores) banana collection store located approximate 20 miles away from Coachella / Indio. You will pretty much find all the banana accessories / desserts here (e.g. banana ties, Minions with bananas, banana shakes, banana soda, etc). In 2005, Guinness World Records recognized the International Banana Museum for owning the largest collection devoted to one fruit. Admission prices: Free admission if you make any purchase PER PERSON or $1 admission fee PER PERSON. No video, but you can take pictures. Ultimately, this place is worth a stop if you are on your way to Salvation Mountain (via Hwy 111) or just partying hard at Coachella. P.S. - After I parked right next to the museum, my car got bunch of flies the moment I stepped out of my car (like at least 20+ flies just flew into my car) ... so pay attention to the surrounding or you won't have a pleasant drive later. read more

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I've been coming to the IBM for the past 4 years and it continues to be an awesome stop on my trips to So Cal. The collection of banana collectibles is second to none and the owner Fred and his family are the absolute sweetest folks! My wife and I always try to find banana stuff to add to the collection whenever we're out and about. Don't pass up a banana shake during your visit (you can't go wrong with any of them but my personal fav is the chocolate banana shake). If your all about the Salton Sea, Fred has a wealth of knowledge about the area being that he grew up watching the heyday and it's eventual downturn. If you find yourself in the Imperial Valley and want to check out a place unique and eye-catching, look no further than the IBM. Heck, if you live anywhere in So Cal, make a day trip out of it and come see what has made it a worldwide destination! You will not be disappointed! read more

More like 4.5/5 stars. Gwen Stefani loves this place and everytime she comes here she screams outloud... "Let me hear you say, this shit is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S! This shit is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S! Again this shit is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S! This shit is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S!" We stopped by this place after checking out salvation mountain, and I'm glad we did. It's a small shop, but they hold the Guinness Book of World Records of most banana collection in the whole world. You'll see slot machines, plush toys, stickers and everything in between... Anything that's related to bananas, you'll find it here. They charge you $1 just to enter the place, but If you buy anything they'll wave the fee. I highly recommend the chocolate covered bananas or the banana shake to help you cool down from the desert heat. I heard the owner has to take a leave of absence, since he was fighting cancer. I hope he's feeling a lot better now. The two people working here are the husband and wife. They have had this place opened for four years now and apparently the dude has been collecting banana related items for the past 7-8 years. Just a heads up, if you purchase anything that's under 7 bucks you'll get hit with a 50 cents fee. You're free to take pictures, but they don't allow you to take videos inside. Respect their wishes and just go bananas. read more

Loved it. - Small museum (more like a shop) that's filled with all sorts of banana-themed items. I was amazed at how much unique stuff they had crammed behind glass. - $1 admission per person OR a purchase (they have little things like magnets and pens as well as smoothies and chocolate covered bananas). - Won't eat up too much time but will add a splash of color to your day. - I wouldn't drive too far out of the way for the museum but it's definitely worth the stop if you're traveling to the Salton Sea or Salvation Mountain or Palm Springs. - Small parking lot. - We came on a Saturday afternoon and it was open. I read that some people had issues with unexpected closures during posted hours. Call ahead if you're driving out of the way. - Super friendly staff. You can tell they really love their bananas! read more

Serious people need not come here. If you are a closed minded a-hole, keep driving. This is the fun stuff of life. While checking out Slab City and Salvation Mountain down the road, this is the coolest spot to stop. We really enjoyed the museum and the drinks. Our group had banana shakes in every style they had, Also, the frozen chocolate dipped and nuts covered banana was out of this world good. Think of it as Willy Wonka Gone Yellow. read more

International Banana Museum - Everything banana flavored - Museums Near Me - Mecca, California

I know, WTF right? LOL...did you see any banana trees or farms on the way here? Didn't think so. My friend is like, "Do you want to go to the banana museum?" and I responded, "I could pass, it's fine." We had just hiked Painted Canyon and all I wanted was a restroom where I could pee and wash my hands and a beer. I was pretty grumpy and annoyed when my friend decided to bring us here anyway. I ordered a bananas foster shake and looked around and took a Snapchat video and was quickly scolded for recording a video. UGH!! LOL...The lady that runs the place is annoyingly nice and the bananas foster shake was delicious and on point. My friends got the frozen banana dipped in chocolate with nuts and said they've got that recipe down! So, if you're in the mood for a shake or ice cream then this loony place is the spot to get your fix. read more

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This place is bananas! The only thing here that's more delightful than their milkshakes (which I do recommend getting) is the owners' enthusiasm for bananas and their mutual delight in this yellow fruit. THEY ARE FREAKIN' ADORABLE. I'd drive out to this dang desert just to have my faith in love renewed by watching them. If you have a banana allergy, you probably should avoid this place, but short of that: GET IN THERE. The entire place smells like bananas and has a bunch of odd banana themed knickknacks, art, food: basically anything and everything that could have a banana on it or in it. This is a perfect way to cap off a day at the Salton Sea, or Salvation Mountain, or Slab City. All the stars for this place! read more

International Banana Museum - This place gets me - Museums Near Me - Mecca, California

A seriously good unique museum to go to if you're in the area! We were on our way to the Salton Sea and decided to pop by the Museum. It is well worth the price of admission ($1, which could go towards a banana treat) to experience and see all of the banana related paraphernalia you can imagine. The museum is small (about the size of a good sized living room) but it is JAM packed with all things bananas. I think you could spend anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour depending on your fascination with bananas and/or knick knacks. The staff are so friendly and dole out a stunning amount of banana puns to everyone who visits. read more

Disappointed to see they either haven't reopened since the pandemic started or they are never going to open again as the only evidence of it is seen in the backyard premises. read more

The proprietor's enthusiasm makes a visit worthwhile. I visited on opening day, and I've been back with houseguests. The collection of banana-iana is extensive and silly. The puns flow freely. Order a banana shake and enjoy it in the backyard area, soon to be a "bananical garden" once the plants grow in. From your seat on the patio furniture, the Salton Sea almost looks beautiful. It's a great throwback to the roadside attractions of the past, in content and location. If you're coming from the Palm Springs area, you can stop at Oasis Date Farms on the way and drive just a moment further from the Museum to see the old yacht club. It's worth a stop if you plan to visit the Salton Sea. We like to stop at the Salton Sea on our trips to the IBM when friends are visiting. read more

I visited this place this past weekend and wanted to give it a review. Was driving along the stretch of Highway 111, and saw a sign that read 'International Banana Museum'... so... ya know, I had to stop. We pulled up to the building and saw the yellow banana Volkswagen outside. Upon entering the door I was blinded by banana yellow, overwhelmed by the scent of banana, and without a doubt had entered a world of pure devotion to the curved yellow fruit. Every single inch of this room is covered in banana paraphernalia. This is a display of a private collection of banana related everything. Candles, toys, figurines, pictures, chairs, food items, clothing, glass beads... everything... all in the shape of, or featuring, the banana. I will say, it is certainly nice to look through the collection, some things are pretty interesting and neat to see. The building is not too big, the collection takes up a few walls, but it's still fun to look at! The guy who runs the place is obsessed with bananas, and the collection is his own. He is worth a chat as he is quite in to what he has here and loves the concept of opening this place. For those wondering, yes, he does have a banana phone. He does offer a couple food items to enjoy while sitting at the 'bar' inside... upon entering, he did provide us with some complimentary banana chips, and for $3.50 he offers banana floats (made with banana soda!). The float was light, but pleasantly flavored... he also offers banana shakes and they're undoubtedly great! He does charge $2 to come in ($1 for kids)... but... how often can you say you've been to the International Banana Museum? Something like this is just what this area needs... a kitschy museum with such devotion behind it is perfect, and the owner certainly cares about showing people all and everything banana. If for whatever reason you're taking a trip down this side of the Salton Sea, and want to spend a few minutes observing the result of an obsession for a particular fruit, it's definitely worth a gander! read more

International Banana Museum - International Banana Museum Interior (from facebook) - Museums Near Me - Mecca, California

Words cannot prepare you for what to expect. Nothing about the International Banana Museum makes sense, but going there is quite a fun and unique experience unlike any other! Now, I wouldn't drive hours to go there, but if you are ever passing through, or are in the vicinity of Palm Springs, Indio or Coachella, it definitely warrants a visit. Here's the skinny . . . This place is in the middle of the desert, in a city called Mecca (pretty hilarious name for this no-man's land). There is absolutely nothing around it, except for a tiny store next door. You might want to call ahead to see if they are open. It is run by a dad and his daughter, and I'm not sure they stick by the posted hours. You will definitely want to open your mind to having an atypical experience. Try to understand the star of the show is someone's life collection of, well, bananas. The place is fairly small, there is a little snack bar and some tchotchkes for sale, and the bananas are the star. Nothing more, nothing less. However . . . bananas there are! Big bananas, little bananas, bananas from other countries and cultures, banana signs, banana advertising, banana kitchen utensils, banana drinks, banana baskets, banana holders, banana memorabilia in cases, banana paraphernalia on the walls and ceilings. Holy plantains, Batman, there are bananas everywhere! We spend a little over an hour there, which is way more than enough time to have a complete experience. We probably spent 20 minutes just talking to the dude who runs the place and his daughter. Most people probably spend less than a half hour there and split (rimshot!). So you know, there is an admission fee of $1, but if you buy anything, it is waived. We bought ice cream and delicious shakes (yes, banana) from the tiny snack bar area. The place is well worth $1, as long as you are cool just chillin' with the biggest bunch of bananas in the world and don't set your expectations too high. read more

International Banana Museum - Lots of bananas! - Museums Near Me - Mecca, California

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This place is closed. The sign says until further notice. As of right now it is definitely closed but was worth shot. There is a liquor store with bait open though. read more

We stopped by there after 2 hours journey to visit salton sea and salvation mountain . Such a cool place. Welcomed us with a smile , so many banana related collections posters to small toys to many more . Tried banana mango milk shake such a perfect drink for cold weather . Both the museum and the other shop is ran by same family . Additional you can try their banana costume and take photos . It's $1 per person , it's free if you buy anything from there . Please stop by and encourage such people's small business. We requested them to place holdings near the highway so that they can get more customers. Limited souvenirs , t shirts and other banana toys available there read more

International Banana Museum - Museums Near Me - Mecca, California

Arrived at 12:30 but no one was there. Very Nice lady next door told me she didn't know when he might show up. Left and came back at 1:30 and it was open and there were 2 young people working there that were both friendly and helpful. Lots to see inside. Banana everything everywhere. I had the banana shake and it was delicious! Easy place to miss. We passed it and had to turn around and come back. Check it out if you are near the Salton Sea. read more

International Banana Museum - Museums Near Me - Mecca, California

Such a cute little museum and the chocolate banana shake was amazing!

Best place ever..if you love eclectic & eccentric like I do! Genis world record for most banana everything lol.. owners are great & super friendly! We had the banana shake & chocolate covered frozen banana ! Delicious! Worth the stop! read more

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A very interesting place on objects that are banana themed. The place is quite small and has numerous tiny objects in the thousands.The $1 admission is fine and it gets waived off with any purchase and everyone does buy either an ice cream, muffin or the banana shake. We loved the cold shake and that is the one that takes the most time. You just look around and notice the objects while you are waiting. Interesting how we have created so many banana themed products. read more

Boo...it was closed! I emailed the owner before we went out there and was told that it may open in September, which is fine, but we still wanted to get out there to Salton Sea and check out history and look for some gems. It's sad to say that I was disappointed at almost everything. The parks were all closed, the town just looks so dead. I really hope they can bring it up to life again so people can have interesting destinations to seek. Like finding real treasure out there. Good luck. read more

This was recommended by a friend of a friend to check out when we went to Salvation Mountain. Let me tell you, this is the most random museum I've ever set foot in but I'm glad I did. The guy that owns it is dedicated to anything banana- plushes, jewelry, decorations, pictures, etc- crammed into a garage-sized room. I think he said he has over 20,000 banana items. There's a small fee to go in but if you buy something it's waived. TRY ONE OF HIS SHAKES!! The banana nut bread shake was bomb! A nice little desert gem! read more

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Not sure what I really think. It's a huge collection of banana related paraphernalia. From alcoholic beverages to pipes, from Keychains to large plush toys this place has a huge collection of all things banana. Would I come back? Yes I would. The guy who runs the place is super nice. Next time I find some bizarre banana item at a garage sale I'm going to snatch it up and bring it here to set of free. This place really is in the middle of nowhere, the liquor store next door has cold beverages and that's about the extent of it all. . read more

So call us crazy but yesterday we decided to drive out from L.A. to the banana museum. We finally make it to Satans ass crack, I mean North Shore/Mecca. It feels like 200* (it was 110*) with high humidity. We walk in and its $1 admission per person but if you end up buying anything inside they take a $1 off your purchase. This is a tiny museum (was an abandoned bar) that's next to a liquor store) and it has thousands of banana items inside. We looked at everything in about 5 min but spent about 20+ min talking with the owners and eating ice cream. Which was the best part, I loved the banana ice cream it is made while you wait. The owners are a lovely couple, were super friendly and funny and they make this place 4 stars. We will come back but we will wait till it cools down. Pros: BANANAS!!!! Lots of parking Friendly people Good place to stop and cool off Prices were reasonable. 1 scoop of ice cream is $1.50 - $1 adm. = 0.50 They named their car the Banero! (Yellow camero) Cons: HOT!!!! bathrooms smelled like port a potties cooking in the heat. Guys side had no tp and huge spiders in the corners. Girls smelled just as bad and be warned the door sticks real bad, I was pulling with everything I had and couldn't open it so I had to scream for my husband and he came running to kick it open. Spiders also in the girls side. (I get paranoid with spiders now since I've been bitten by a recluse before, so now we all panic with them) read more

This place was awesome! The International Banana Museum is run by a couple who definitely shows their love for bananas. It is a small little shop that has everything banana from sunglasses to stuffed animals to telephones to hats to trinkets, they have it all. I came here with my friends and we got frozen chocolate covered bananas. They were delicious! It was $2 per banana. It costs $1 to visit the store or you can buy something. I would definitely recommend coming here to visit and take pictures. The owners are super friendly. read more

International Banana Museum - Chocolate covered banana with nuts at the international banana museum - Museums Near Me - Mecca, California

Get in your car and drive to Hwy 111, North Shore. Steal a car if you have to, bring the kids. This place is down home cool and fun. It's not big, but it's jammed pack with banana stuff that just brings a smile to your face. Hey, they have great banana ice cream, another smile on your face, and any possible hostages you have in the trunk. It's a bit of California Americana to the max. read more

International Banana Museum - Museums Near Me - Mecca, California

The international Banana Museum is literally what it is: a banana museum. For what it's worth, this is a nice stop on your way back from, or towards Niland/Slab City. However, don't expect too much from this museum. Though it's a nice pitstop, there's not anything too spectacular except some cool novelty items and cheap plushies. Of course, given that it's a banana museum the first thing you're going to notice is that the walls are all green and yellow and everything is banana themed. There was just one guy working there when we stopped by and he was pretty nice. You're allowed to take pictures as long as you donate a $ or purchase something. We all decided to try the banana desserts. I got the chocolate covered frozen banana while my friends got the sundae and the banana bread al a mode. Not sure what I was expecting in terms of a dessert, but I definitely liked the banana bread w/ ice cream better than what I got. Anyway, this place is a nice rest stop from the long trip ahead/behind, but as I said, don't expect too much. It's not a huge museum you usually get in a city; it's more like a small shop, but it's worth going once in your life. Just don't expect to keep coming back. Have fun and prosper, read more

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Awesome frozen Bananas. As for the museum, you will not be dissapointed. Nice people too. The owner and his daughter were friendly and like what they do. Don't let the exterior look fool you. For a small space they filled it with EVERYTHING bananas. OH!!! They wash their hands before serving you. I'm a germophob and I was so relived when I saw that they follow proper food service procedures. I'll stop here anytime. read more

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Such a cute place to visit, the owners are great and everything looks so cool. Love the banana soda, banana split and smoothie.

I definitely recommend stopping at this gem on your way or from Salvation Mountain and/or East Jesus. My friend ordered a banana split and they were out of bananas which we found odd considering it's a banana museum. However, the owners are lovely people and we ended up enjoying a frozen chocolate dipped banana on a stick and a banana milkshake made with their homemade banana ice cream. Yum! read more

International Banana Museum - Museums Near Me - Mecca, California