A Special Place
While driving on the Oatman Highway just past the Seatgraves Pass, you will arrive at a large pullout area that looks towards the West. You can see Arizona, California, and Nevada from here. After parking, you will walk up to the top of a mound and see dozens of crosses and memorials for loved ones. The first time I came here I really wondered what the backstory was for this location. Something special is going on here.
On my latest visit, I was surprised at how many new memorials had been added in the last couple of years. I made it my mission to find out what was going on here when I got to Oatman. I went into a store to get my "Ass Family" shirt. (There are a lot of wild Jackasses that roam the town.) I asked the clerk about the memorial site and she said go to the store across the street and talk to Leanne. And of course, I did. Leanne told me that she is the keeper of stories for Oatman and the surrounding area. Here is what she told me:
She started by telling me that the land is privately owned and doesn't have a specific name. People have been using the site for memorial services for over 40 years. During Covid when we were supposed to be social distancing and not congregating in large groups, people in the area started doing their memorial services here in the outdoors with this amazing view. She told me that she has been to a few memorial services where the remains were also scattered, and every time, the wind was calm, and the weather was perfect during the memorial services. Even when it was really windy earlier in the day.
It was hard to keep a dry eye while walking through the mound and reading some of the messages that people left for their loved ones. I could tell while talking to Leanne that this place has the same feeling for her. I've travelled all across the United States and I think this is the most sacred place I've ever experienced. I'm sure I'll be back again in the near future on my way back to California. Happy exploring!
Here is a link to a touching memorial at the site:
www.flickr.com/photos/35900399@N07/54981414497/in/photost...
A Special Place
While driving on the Oatman Highway just past the Seatgraves Pass, you will arrive at a large pullout area that looks towards the West. You can see Arizona, California, and Nevada from here. After parking, you will walk up to the top of a mound and see dozens of crosses and memorials for loved ones. The first time I came here I really wondered what the backstory was for this location. Something special is going on here.
On my latest visit, I was surprised at how many new memorials had been added in the last couple of years. I made it my mission to find out what was going on here when I got to Oatman. I went into a store to get my "Ass Family" shirt. (There are a lot of wild Jackasses that roam the town.) I asked the clerk about the memorial site and she said go to the store across the street and talk to Leanne. And of course, I did. Leanne told me that she is the keeper of stories for Oatman and the surrounding area. Here is what she told me:
She started by telling me that the land is privately owned and doesn't have a specific name. People have been using the site for memorial services for over 40 years. During Covid when we were supposed to be social distancing and not congregating in large groups, people in the area started doing their memorial services here in the outdoors with this amazing view. She told me that she has been to a few memorial services where the remains were also scattered, and every time, the wind was calm, and the weather was perfect during the memorial services. Even when it was really windy earlier in the day.
It was hard to keep a dry eye while walking through the mound and reading some of the messages that people left for their loved ones. I could tell while talking to Leanne that this place has the same feeling for her. I've travelled all across the United States and I think this is the most sacred place I've ever experienced. I'm sure I'll be back again in the near future on my way back to California. Happy exploring!
Here is a link to a touching memorial at the site:
www.flickr.com/photos/35900399@N07/54981414497/in/photost...