rjadams55
Embedded car.Thunder Mountain, NV. July 20, 2012(2)
I-80 is in the background.
Many times I've driven from California to Utah, and every time, I went past this bizarre, multistory building and sculpture collection about 30 miles west of Winnemucca near the town of Imlay. I finally decided to stop and explore and am extremely glad I did.
This is Rolling Thunder State Historic Site. It was built by Frank Van Zant, also known as Chief Rolling Thunder. It was a exorcism of inner demons and a monument to the attempted extermination of the American Indian by white settlers and the continued racism he experienced on a regular basis. As part of his statement, he built this house entirely from garbage and refuse found around where he lived. According to the current caretaker and friend of Chief Thunder's son, Fred Lewis, he took a great deal of pride in building a home (that couldn't be ignored) from the trash of those who would prefer to see him go away.
We are very grateful to Fred Lewis for sharing a great deal of personal information with us and allowing us into the buildings,where we were able to appreciate the incredible interior architecture as well. Everywhere you look, you see the passions of a man driven. What I thought of initially as a quirky roadside stop left me in quiet awe. I strongly recommend anyone passing by to stop and explore (and give a donation for its upkeep). They get nothing from the state and weather and vandals have taken their toll.
For more information on this amazing place, the website is:
Embedded car.Thunder Mountain, NV. July 20, 2012(2)
I-80 is in the background.
Many times I've driven from California to Utah, and every time, I went past this bizarre, multistory building and sculpture collection about 30 miles west of Winnemucca near the town of Imlay. I finally decided to stop and explore and am extremely glad I did.
This is Rolling Thunder State Historic Site. It was built by Frank Van Zant, also known as Chief Rolling Thunder. It was a exorcism of inner demons and a monument to the attempted extermination of the American Indian by white settlers and the continued racism he experienced on a regular basis. As part of his statement, he built this house entirely from garbage and refuse found around where he lived. According to the current caretaker and friend of Chief Thunder's son, Fred Lewis, he took a great deal of pride in building a home (that couldn't be ignored) from the trash of those who would prefer to see him go away.
We are very grateful to Fred Lewis for sharing a great deal of personal information with us and allowing us into the buildings,where we were able to appreciate the incredible interior architecture as well. Everywhere you look, you see the passions of a man driven. What I thought of initially as a quirky roadside stop left me in quiet awe. I strongly recommend anyone passing by to stop and explore (and give a donation for its upkeep). They get nothing from the state and weather and vandals have taken their toll.
For more information on this amazing place, the website is: