I came around to the back and the place was deserted.

He looked quickly about him, but the whole place was deserted.

The place was almost deserted at this hour of the day.

Except for the four of them, the place was deserted.

After making sure the place was deserted, he walked to the back of the car.

The place was nearly deserted at that time of night.

Save for one or two children, the place was deserted.

The place was deserted, but it had not been that way for long.

From there it looked as though the place was deserted.

When exactly, this place was deserted is difficult to say due to want of evidence.