Gone To Tell It On A Mountain

Salvation Mountain is far from secret. It has been featured on television and it has been used as a location for major motion pictures. It has long been considered an icon of The Salton Sea and has beckoned visitors from around the world. With that said I must admit I had never been until last Summer.

It was 115 degrees outside when I decided to drive down but during those slow days of Summer I couldn't think of anything better to do. So off I went to Niland, a small town on the southeastern banks of The Salton Sea which from the highway looks like nothing more than a couple of mini marts and eating spots. It's about 2 miles off the highway where the treasures can be found.

Arriving at Salvation Mountain it was everything I expected it to be. It looked exactly as I imagined it - no bigger - no smaller. A huge tribute to God and Jesus, Salvation Mountain is built from spare tires, hay bales and tree trunks all held together by mud and smothered in acrylic paint. It is the life achievement of Leonard Knight.

Leonard, as you might imagine, is the real story of Salvation Mountain. When I got out of the car it seemed as if no one else was around. As I walked about I took pictures of various abandoned vehicles that had also been covered in paint and religious quotes. As I started walking the path at the base of the structure I noticed an older frail man heading in my direction. He introduced himself as Leonard Knight and I knew that he was the architect of Salvation Mountain.

Leonard volunteered to give me a personal tour and as we stood in his museum, he explained that Salvation Mountain began 29 years ago when he decided to spend a week creating a tribute to Jesus. Once he started though he said he heard the voice from deep within that he was to continue. And continue he did as even today Salvation Mountain is a work in progress. Looking up the tree and tire structure from inside I noticed the natural light was possible thanks to vehicle doors and windshields which had been incorporated during construction. Leonard said every element was a gift from God.

It doesn't take long before you start to look at the structure through his eyes. His passion is contagious and I found myself a little envious of his sense of purpose. He's not done yet and on the day I was there he was sending off the letter and forms necessary to protect Salvation Mountain as a national monument. It should definitely be considered a federal treasure and I hope the government agrees. There was a time when the government declared Salvation Mountain toxic and had ruled to destroy it but thanks to a small army of supporters, Leonard perservered and the icon remains.

It doesn't matter if your religious or not - if you believe or don't. Leonard welcomes all to Salvation Mountain and likes to make sure everyone leaves with a token of remembrance. I scored three DVD's about Leonard, a stack of refrigerator magnets and a pile of postcards which are going to become my holiday cards this winter.

He is an amazing man, Leonard, and although Salvation Mountain is a site to see I'm more enthralled with meeting the artist. His message of conviction and facing challenges is life changing and my world is different now thanks to our short time together.

Salvation Mountain is located just outside of Niland on the way to Slab City - another attraction all its own and definitely worth a tour. There is no admission charge and everyone is welcome. Leonard does accept cash donations as well as acrylic paint donations in every color. Stop by with an open mind and enjoy! You'll be a better person for it - guaranteed.