Dear God, I come in peace, I mean no disrespect.

Roughly twelve minutes after leaving my family at Donner Lake, I entered into Nevada ("Wide Open" or "Battle Born" Either one works for me) and soon found myself in "The Biggest Little City In The World:" Reno.  I think there is a $1 a minute cover for Reno, because I dropped $30 in just as many minutes while there.  And it wasn't on gas or food.

That being done, I continued east

Somewhere on the 166 mile stretch of I-80 between Reno and Winnemucca, there is a little known gem called Thunder Mountain.  Trust me when I say this, folks.  There is pretty much nothingness surrounding me here.  But as I was tootin' along, out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a building, looking sad and in disrepair and surrounded by a high wire fence.  Now, I've seen some things in my life, but this was one of those that takes you off guard.  There were tall white dome-ish things on top and statues all around.  And some sort of sign on the fence that I couldn't read at 75+mph.  Of course, this is something that I can't just pass up, so I resolved to pull off at the next exit and turn around.

Fifteen minutes later, I get to the next exit... which isn't looking too promising if I'm seeking large populations of safe looking people.  So I pull into to the gas station/cafe/general store looking place, complete with some sort of animal skull painted on the sign, and go on in to ask what the Hell that place was back there. 

"It's a strange little place, that is.  There's a brochure 'round here somewhere"

And popular too, it seems?

The brochure didn't tell me much so I just headed back towards it.  It stated that it was some sort of American Indian memorial, but that's about all I got from it.  Once off of the exit, all you see is little dirt roads.  What they are leading to, I have no clue.  But a rusted little sign directed me to follow one of them onto some property with a ramshackle structure or two, and led me through another gate.  Every inch that you struggle down, you feel that you are trespassing even though this is where you have been guided to go.  I started feeling unsettled, but ignored it and went on.  I parked in a dirt parking area and made sure to lock my car.  There is not a human in sight as far as I can see.  I really was starting to feel strange.  The building area, if I may call it that, was surrounded by a fence made out of random wood posts and wire, complete with a sign that stated "Enter At Your Own Risk."

Yup.  Feeling REALLY good right now.

The wooden gate was somewhat closed when I walked up, but as I got closer, 

*creeeeeeeeeeek* 

it opened up for me.  Weird.  I walked through and (I kid you not)  

*creeeeeeeeeeek* 

it closed behind me.  At this point, I'm in rapid prayer mode. "Dear God, I come in peace.  I mean no disrespect. Dear God, I come in peace.  I mean no disrespect.  Dear God, I come in peace.  I mean no disrespect."  This coming from a girl driving a gas guzzling SUV, and carrying a gnome prop for pictures.  

But I stopped by the Visitor Center,  AKA four posts in the ground covered by a corrugated tin roof with some yellowing pages on a cork-board and a donation box.  I deposited my measly offering in the box as I continued to pray and headed towards the building.... which is surrounded by yet another tall, barbed wire fence.


The lack of any sound whatsoever, besides my footsteps (and prayers, of course) in the dry climate is unnerving.  But not as unnerving as how palpable the air is.  There is someone here.  I know it and can feel it.  He is male and I don't know if he means me harm or not, but he's watching my every move.  There may even be more than one.

The building is a hodgepodge of stone and bottles and other materials held together by cement.  It's truly astonishing, but I couldn't take the time to take it all in because I was so rattled.  How I didn't wet myself, I'll never know.  Besides the main building there are statues and brik-a-brak all around the area.  Pieces of automobiles, animal skulls, dolls and a smaller building to the side that I couldn't go near.  I've never toured any place so quickly in my life.   There was one part of the compound that caused me so much anxiety, that I turned around and went back the way I came, quickly.  I mean, I was damn near running to get out of there.  I peeled out on the dirt road as I flew back towards the highway.  I was left reeling for a good half hour after leaving there.  Maybe it was just a very powerful place and in my state, I couldn't handle it.  I hope that's the case, I really do.  Maybe it was just so forgotten and crude that it made me feel that way.  I found a link to the site once I was stationary.  It looks more welcoming in their pictures and I understand it a bit better.  It's worth a look-see if you have time.  Maybe you can get a better feel for the place through their words and photos.

http://www.thundermountainmonument.com/ 

Dear God, I mean no disrespect.  I come in peace.

Onward-Ho!  Winnemucca is calling my name!  

Or not.

All I'll say is the city welcome sign is on the same plot of ground that the cemetery is on.  The entire place is run down and long ago left to die.  But it won't, it seems.  Poor little Winnemucca.  Seriously, from what I saw, all that's there is ancient casinos, fried food and drag races.  But it's where you stop on your road trip because there isn't much out there in Nowheresville.