I-80 around Reno Nevada may be one of the more interesting roadways in America. Desert consisting of gypsum surround the area. Ghost towns dot the exits as you drive past, knowing that civilization is far off. If there is one thing to see though, it is Thunder Mountain Monument.
As you pull off the freeway and drive down the dirt access road, you come upon an empty parking lot. Across the street stands a fence and inside it is a monument that is part sculpture garden, part automobile graveyard, and part landfill, disguised as a monument to American Indians. How did this place come to be? Well, it’s an interesting story.
The story starts 50 years ago with a World War 2 vet named Frank Van Zant. He had spent time moving from odd job to odd job, dabbling in careers ranging from being a Forest Ranger to Sheriff to Methodist Pastor. After one of his sons committed suicide, and his wife died, he showed up at another one of his sons houses with a new wife and all of his belongings, saying he was going to go make a monument to the Indians.
Frank claimed that he was a quarter American Indian and took on the name Chief Rolling Thunder Mountain. He moved to Imlay Nevada and started combining concrete and mountains from the local landscape, and sculpting his mountain.
The sculptures range from his son who committed suicide, to his Native American heroes, to Chief Thunder himself. One as him holding lightning and one with him bent down facing the fence.
Sadlyduring the 80’s, the monument got hit with a fire, demolishing the surrounding buildings, his wife left him, and in 1989 he shot himself. Today it still stands though, being taken care of by Frank’s son Dan. It is slowly withering away though. Go see it while you still can.
Sadlyduring the 80’s, the monument got hit with a fire, demolishing the surrounding buildings, his wife left him, and in 1989 he shot himself. Today it still stands though, being taken care of by Frank’s son Dan. It is slowly withering away though. Go see it while you still can.
Closest Supercharger Lovelock NV 40 mi.
150 Main St, Lovelock, NV 89419
Thunder Mountain Monument
800-804 E Star Peak Rd, Imlay, NV 89418
