SALVATION MOUNTAIN
Faith, belief, hope, and creed are a set of words that give us comfort and pleasure. “Oh my God, can you believe he made all this with his bare hands?” These are the words that utter out of an elderly woman’s mouth as she whispers into her beau’s ear. She gazes intently at the celestial beauty of Salvation Mountain.
As you drive into this city, you realize how close to Mexico and Arizona you are. My nifty GPS tells me I’m 15 minutes away from my destination, and I’m thrilled. I’m so hungry! (Surprise, surprise) I keep going and drive into town. Everything looks abandoned and vandalized. It resembles the Wild West. Not a soul around. I stop at the only restaurant I see that appears to be a taco place only to discover it is closed. “Well wonderful, I guess I’ll just gnaw on my hand.” I thought. Anyone that knows me personally knows that I can’t stand being hungry. It literally feels like my stomach is crying. And then I look across the street to my left and AAAAAAHHHHH!! (Cue angelic music) that diner’s sign couldn’t shine any brighter.
I walk into Buckshot Deli & Diner off of Hwy 111, and Vickie the lovely waitress greets me. This place isn’t the nicest restaurant. There are holes in the bright orange seats, and the décor exhibits the late 1960’s. I expect greasers will walk in at any second. I am even surprised this place has air conditioning. It was god sent! There isn’t much to pick from I thought, while going through the menu. There’s breakfast, hamburgers, sandwiches, or soup. I was so indecisive, and Vicky told me that they could also make Mexican food if I’d like. So, I order a carne asada and large lemonade. It is affordable and not much to look at, but it tastes oh so good!!!! It comes with guacamole, which I manage to spill all over myself, and they are nice enough to bring me a fresh batch. I leave and take a LARGE water to go.
There aren’t any signs that point you to the mountain’s direction, and I am low on fuel so I stop at a gas station. While I was pumping gas, I overhear someone getting directions for Salvation Mountain and take note. The road that leads the way is desolate with trailers sparingly here and there. Flat, bare land make the colorful hill hard to miss even from a distance. The bright and vibrant colors at the main entrance will bring joy and light into your very soul. The words “ GOD NEVER FAILS… SALVATION MOUNTAIN” on a part wood/adobe sign excites me.
When I researched this holy place I thought it was a painting. I couldn’t fathom how a man could make such a gorgeous, colorful, and mystic place. It’s called Salvation Mountain, and before I visited I envisioned an actual mountain, but upon arrival it actually is a man made hill. A very impressive man made hill that is. Leonard Knight was the man behind this extraordinary place making it all possible. It all started with him accepting Jesus into his heart at age thirty-six. “Jesus, I’m a sinner, please come upon my body and into my heart.” Knight repeated. He believed that we needed to love God more, and that it is the strongest force out there. “Hate is going to get smaller, and love is going to get bigger!” He said. What an optimist, right? We could learn a thing or two from this spiritual fellow.
What does faith mean to you?
“Faith is a grand cathedral, with divinely pictured windows standing without, you can see no glory, nor can you imagine any, but standing within every ray of light reveals a harmony of unspeakable splendors.”
- Nathaniel Hawthorne
"Faith is daring the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see."
- William Newton Clark
"Faith is reacting positively to a negative situation."
- Dr. Robert Schuller
These quotes from various people sum up Faith. Believe and you will achieve. Faith allots things to take place, and with a fearless and open heart miracles can happen. Now I know that not everyone will agree, but this is the way I choose to live my life. This is how I deal with everyday struggles, knowing that no matter what life throws my way God will always take care of it for me. Everything has worked out for me so far, so I will continue to believe and allow my faith to grow stronger by the day.
You’re probably wondering how this place came to be? While traveling to Nebraska, Knight created a massive hot air balloon that read, “God is Love” in 1980. The balloon would eventually rot out, and there is where it all began! He created Salvation Mountain in 1984 near Slab city in Niland, California. To make the “trees,” Leonard put large tires from tractors, cars, and trucks, then stuck tree limbs through the middle of them and covered them in adobe. Leonard used the clay from the ground for many of the things he made. You’ll see plenty of building materials including straw, tree limbs, tires, windows, and paint lying around. What fascinates me is all the work and creativity he put into this divine site. The waterfalls, rivers, and the Sea of Galilee will leave you amazed.
The first mountain he constructed collapsed, but this determined man started rebuilding it again, and said “Now God, you build it.” I’m astounded by his persistence and faith. We should take his example, and apply it to our lives. When you get knocked down, pick yourself up and keep going. Such passion doesn’t seem to exist now days. If that wasn’t enough Imperial County tried to have the mountain tore down, but instead it actually became a National Folk Art Site, and was named in the Congressional Record of the Unites States.
This place is truly peaceful. I feel that God is there. I even have a rare moment of tranquility. I felt it as soon as I stepped out of the vehicle. While I walk around and observe I take notice of the family that arrived shortly before I did. They have twin girls, and one looks to be very ill and has a walker. Her brothers and sisters are running and playing, and climbed to the top where the cross stands. She sits there quietly observing and then looks at her father and asks him to take her to the top of top of the mountain. He picks her up and carries her to the peak. They ascend to the top and sit, and instead of admiring the view like her siblings did the father and daughter interlock hands and begin to pray. I watch them and become completely overwhelmed and lose it. It touched my heart. I feel as if time stopped, and that moment was the only thing happening in the world. When all faith in humanity is all but lost things like this restores it. These moments are rare, and I don’t want to be the weirdo staring, but I can’t help myself. They come down shortly thereafter and explore the rest of the mountain for a few minutes and then leave.
Now, this wasn’t just this man’s playground, but his home as well. You will see old abandon trucks, cars, and carriages on the site. All of them beautifully painted and worked on.
Each one has a specific message or bible verse; everything on the site meant something to this man. The couch still sits where he would lie in his free time.
Inside the rear of a carriage style truck an actual bed still remains along with his clothes and debris. Not much has been moved.
This is great because it gives you an authentic feeling. Unfortunately, He spent his last days in a senior care facility in San Diego and passed in 2014, but his collection of work lives on and was formed into a non-profit group. This is music to my ears as I feel that Mr. Knight’s endeavors should be recognized and conserved forever. It is starting to get dark, and I don’t want to leave but should since I have the long trek back to Los Angeles. I then realize that it’s the night of the blood moon, and I should stay and take some pictures.
What better place to see it then in the middle of the desert? Now I’ve never been out in the desert so late at night, and it is so gorgeous. I’ve never seen so many stars, and so vivid that you feel that if you stretch out your hand you can touch each and every one of them. I know that I should be paying attention to the blood moon, and I do, but the clouds are screwing it up for me and I want to scream, but do not and stay calm. I finally get my picture, and sit on the hood of my car and gaze at the stunning desert sky for bit. What an amazing experience that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. I get in my car and take off. I’m about 10 minutes into the drive, and all of a sudden I see a border patrol station. Shit just got real. I have never stopped at one before. All right, go ahead and unload on all the brown jokes. Finished? Thanks! Like I was saying, I slow down and get my driver’s license ready, and before I even come to a complete stop the border patrol agent motions me through. REALLY??? I could have five illegals in my trunk. I chuckle and crank up the music all the way home. Overall this trip was definitely a 10 for me. If you can go do it! It’s an artist’s haven. There’s just so much history, faith, and creativity at that spot. Make sure to have plenty of gas because there are not many gas stations in the area, and bring water and snacks as there isn’t a gift shop on site. Until next time!