(male announcer) PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR RARE VISIONS AND ROADSIDE REVELATIONS HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY... (male announcer) THE DE BRUCE COMPANIES, PROUD TO SERVE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST WITH HIGH-SPEED GRAIN HANDLING FACILITIES, FERTILIZER, AND FEED INGREDIENT DISTRIBUTION TERMINALS.

(male announcer) AND BY FRED & LOU HARTWIG, GENEROUS SUPPORTERS OF KCPT AND PUBLIC TELEVISION, URGING YOU TO BECOME A MEMBER TODAY.

(man) ♪ WELCOME TO A SHOW ABOUT THINGS YOU CAN SEE ♪ ♪ WITHOUT GOING FAR, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE FREE.

♪ ♪ IF YOU THOUGHT THERE WAS NOTHING ♪ ♪ IN THE OLD HEARTLAND, ♪ ♪ YOU OUGHT TO HIT THE BLACKTOP ♪ ♪ WITH THESE FOOLS IN A VAN.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT; THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT ART IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ ♪ RANDY DOES THE STEERING SO HE WON'T HURL.

♪ ♪ MIKE'S GOT THE MAP, SUCH A MAN OF THE WORLD.

♪ ♪ THAT'S DON WITH THE CAMERA, ♪ ♪ KIND OF HEAVY ON HIS SHOULDER.

♪ ♪ AND THAT GIANT BALL OF TAPE, IT'S A WORLD RECORD HOLDER.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT; THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT ART IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ ♪ LOOK OUT; THEY'RE DRIVING HARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT THE WORLD IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD, ♪ ♪ CHECKING OUT THE WORLD IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.

♪ WE'RE GONNA NEED THIS OUT IN DEATH VALLEY.

(Don) DEATH VALLEY?

WELL, YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES OUT THERE.

(Don) DEAR TV MAILBAG, MIND IF I SAY THE ICEMAN COMETH?

HI, DON THE CAMERA GUY HERETH, POISED ON THE EDGE OF SOME SERIOUS DESERT DRIVING WITH A PAIR OF PRODUCERS WHO HAVE JUST ENOUGH SENSE TO PACK SOME ESSENTIALS.

HOW WILL THE BIG BALL DO IN DEATH VALLEY?

(Don) THAT WOULD BE THE WORLD'S LARGEST BALL OF VIDEOTAPE, WHICH ACCOMPANIES US ALWAYS AS WE ROAM BACKROADS IN SEARCH OF THE ODD AND AMAZING-- THOUGH SOMETIMES, WHEN WE FIND WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD ABOUT, IT'S WORSE FOR WEAR.

CASE IN POINT: CATHEDRAL CANYON-- OR WHAT'S LEFT OF IT.

THEY'RE SCULPTURES, SORT OF.

DON'T FALL INTO CATHEDRAL CANYON.

(Mike) WHOA!

(Randy) IT'S KIND OF MINIMALIST INFORMATION, BUT I THINK THERE'S AN ATTORNEY FROM PAHRUMP, WHICH IS KIND OF OVER THERE, PROBABLY.

AND HIS DAUGHTER DIED YOUNG, AND HE WANTED TO MAKE A TRIBUTE TO HER SO CARVED OUT GROTTOS.

THERE'S STATUES.

AND SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER, IT BECAME KNOWN AS CATHEDRAL CANYON, SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER.

WELL, THIS WAS A LAWYER.

HE WASN'T TRAINED IN ANY OF THIS, AND HE MADE LITTLE INSETS INTO THE WALLS.

(Mike) BOY, THERE'S AN ECHO HERE.

(Randy) I KNOW YOU GET THAT-- (Don) ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR.

NOW, WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE GUY WHO WROTE STEVE CANYON?

(Don) MILTON CANIFF.

ON THAT NOTE, PERHAPS WE SHOULD BE LEAVING THE CANYON AND RESUME RACKING UP MORE MILES IN THE MINIVAN, PASSING THROUGH THE OCCASIONAL TOWN LIKE PAHRUMP, WHERE HUMANS STILL CAN BE SEEN, UNLIKE RHYOLITE, WHICH IS AS GHOSTLY AS IT GETS, THOUGH BACK IN THE DAY, WHEN GOLD WAS DISCOVERED NEARBY, RHYOLITE WAS HOME TO THOUSANDS, AMONG THEM A MINER NAMED TOM KELLEY.

HIS HOUSE OF BOTTLES IS STILL STANDING TODAY MORE OR LESS INTACT, A PRIME EXAMPLE OF HOW TO BUILD WITH RECYCLABLES.

I GUESS BOTTLE HOUSES WERE, LIKE, SOMETHING OF A TRADITION IN MINING TOWNS.

THIS IS THE BEST-KNOWN ONE.

(Randy) BUT THE BOTTLES THEMSELVES HELD UP PRETTY WELL.

(Richard) YEAH, SOMETHING LIKE 50,000 OF THEM, AND THERE ARE ALL DIFFERENT KINDS.

THERE'S--THERE'S EVERYTHING FROM BEER BOTTLES AND WHISKEY BOTTLES TO MEDICINE BOTTLES.

ONE THING THAT AMAZED ME: WHEN THAT PORTION UP THERE COLLAPSED, THEY TOOK THE BOTTLES AND PUT THEM IN STORAGE.

AND AS THEY WERE TAKING THE BOTTLES OUT, THE PAPER LABELS ON THE BOTTLES WERE ALMOST PRISTINE, ALMOST MINT.

(Randy) I'M KIND OF INTRIGUED, BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA THERE WAS A WHOLE MINIATURE VILLAGE.

(Richard) THAT VILLAGE, YEAH, THAT WAS BUILT BY A GUY NAMED TOMMY THOMPSON, WHO WAS A FREAK AT A CARNIVAL, A CARNY GUY.

AND HE BUILT THAT OUT OF JUST WHATEVER HE COULD FIND, A LITTLE MINIATURE VILLAGE.

HE KIND OF PROMOTED THIS AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION.

(Don) BOTTLES FOR BUILDING AND BUILDINGS FROM BOTTLES DO ATTRACT US, BUT RHYOLITE'S GOT SOMETHING EVEN MORE AMAZING JUST DOWN THE WAY: AN AWESOME ARRAY OF SCULPTURAL FORMS COLLECTIVELY KNOWN AS THE GOLDWELL OPEN AIR MUSEUM.

NATURALLY, QUESTIONS ABOUND, AND LUCKILY, THE ARTIST IN CHARGE SEEMS TO HAVE ANSWERS.

(Suzanne) ALBERT SZUKALSKI WAS FROM BELGIUM, AND HE CAME OUT HERE IN 1984.

HE CROSSED DEATH VALLEY ON THE WAY TO THE BAY AREA TO GO SEE HIS MOTHER.

HE WAS KNOWN FOR MAKING GHOST SCULPTURES, KIND OF LIKE THE ONE OVER THERE, THE ONE OF THE LAST SUPPER.

AND HE JUST THOUGHT, "OH, DEATH VALLEY, THIS IS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR THIS KIND OF THING," YOU KNOW.

AND SO HE WANTED TO SHARE THAT, BECAUSE ALBERT WAS ONE OF THE MOST GENEROUS PEOPLE THAT I'VE EVER MET, AND HE WOULD INVITE OTHER FRIENDS FROM-- OTHER ARTISTS FROM BELGIUM TO COME OUT IN THE SUMMER AND EXPERIENCE LA DIFFERENCE, YOU KNOW, FROM COLD AND-- COLD AND DRIZZLY BELGIUM.

HE HAD HUGO HEYRAM, WHO DID LADY DESERT AND DRE PEETERS, WHO DID THE ICARA, AND HE HAD FRED BERVOETS, WHO DID TRIBUTE TO SHORTY HARRIS.

SHORTY HARRIS WAS THE MINER WHO ORIGINALLY STRUCK GOLD IN RHYOLITE.

(Randy) IS THAT NOT A PENGUIN?

YES, THAT'S A PENGUIN BEHIND SHORTY.

OF ALL THE ARTISTS THAT CAME OUT FROM BELGIUM, FRED REALLY DIDN'T TAKE TO IT HERE SO WELL.

HE FELT EXTREMELY OUT OF PLACE, A LITTLE LIKE A PENGUIN IN THE DESERT, SO THAT'S HIS SELF-PORTRAIT.

HE PAINTED SOME CAR DOORS THAT WE HAVE ON EXHIBIT INSIDE THERE THAT HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT-- THIS WAS A PLACE OF HEAT AND SNAKES AND SCORPIONS, THINGS THAT ARE JUST NOT KIND TO A BELGIAN PAINTER.

(Randy) CAN WE GO TO THE PINK LADY?

(Suzanne) YEAH.

I DON'T PROFESS TO COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHAT HUGO WAS THINKING ABOUT.

I MEAN, THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS HE COULD HAVE MADE OUT OF PIXELS.

WHY THIS?

HER?

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHY DID THE CLASSICAL GREEKS DO IT?

YOU KNOW, SO WHY NOT?

THE STORY ON THIS IS THAT IT ORIGINALLY WAS DONE AT THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IN LAS VEGAS.

YOU KNOW, IT HAD A LOT OF FOUND OBJECTS ON IT, AND OVER TIME IN A CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, THEY ALL GOT PRIED OFF, AND THE THING FELL INTO TERRIBLE DISREPAIR.

SO IT WAS JUST SITTING ON, LIKE, THE LOADING DOCK, AND I'M LIKE, "NO, NO, NO, NO."

I SAID, "YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT A PERFECT SPOT FOR IT."

YOU KNOW, I JUST LOVE IT, BECAUSE IT FRAMES A GREAT VIEW.

I MEAN, WE TRIED TO PUT IT IN A SITE WHERE YOU WOULD REALLY GET A CHANCE TO GO, "WOW."

YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY COME HERE FROM EUROPE TO SEE THIS SITE.

(Mike) THERE'S THIS ONE LADY WHO LIKES TO COME HERE A LOT, I HEAR, AND SHE SEEMS TO BE STRANGELY DRAWN TO IT.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF HER?

I THINK SHE FEELS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THIS IS THE WORK YOU'RE GIVEN TO DO, DO IT.

I MEAN, IN MANY WAYS, I'M LIVING OUT MY DREAM HERE.

YOU KNOW, I'VE TOLD YOU HOW MUCH I'VE LOVED FOLK ART ENVIRONMENTS, AND I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE THAT FREE OF AN ARTIST TO JUST DO THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, MY PARENTS SENT ME TO SCHOOL.

SO THIS IS KIND OF THE NEXT BEST THING TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH CARING FOR SOMEBODY WHO WAS OFF-THE-WALL ENOUGH TO JUST SAY, "I'M GONNA GO DO WHAT I WANT TO DO."

AND ALBERT WAS DEFINITELY THAT KIND OF PERSONALITY.

HE WAS JUST LIKE, "ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA DO IT, AND THERE'S NO PAPER I HAVE TO FILL OUT."

(Don) PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING'S IN SHORT SUPPLY OUT HERE, BUT AT LEAST THE BARN DOES OFFER SHELTER AND A PLACE FOR GOLDWELL'S ONGOING ART ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS FURTHER PROOF OF HOW MUCH FUN THE BOYS FROM BELGIUM HAD OUT HERE IN THE FORM OF THESE PANELS SALVAGED FROM A BAR IN BEATTY, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE WHERE WE'RE HEADED NEXT, ONCE THESE WEASELS ATTEND TO MY MEDICAL NEEDS.

[groaning] NOT TO WORRY; IT'S MERELY A FLESH WOUND.

I'LL BITE THE BULLET AND BE BACK TOMORROW.

NOW, THAT'S A BAND-AID, BOY.

(Randy) WOW, WE'RE AT EDDIE WORLD, DONNY.

WE'RE NOT JUST ANYWHERE GETTING GAS, BATTERIES, WATER, AND COFFEE.

(Mike) WE ARE AT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GAS STATION IN, I MEAN, MAYBE IN AMERICA.

(Randy) I HAVEN'T REALLY CHECKED THE BATHROOMS YET.

(Mike) NO, HAVEN'T CHECKED THE BATHROOMS, BUT HAVE YOU CHECKED THE BRICKWORK OUT ON THESE?

EVERY POST IS DIFFERENT.

EVERY POST?

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

LOOK AT THE LOVELY WATERFALL.

(Don) YOU KNOW WHAT'S NOT BEAUTIFUL?

THOSE PRICES UP THERE.

CAN'T BLAME EDDIE FOR THOSE, WHOEVER HE IS.

SO AS LONG AS WE'RE HERE, WE MIGHT AS WELL STOP AND-- YOU KNOW THE REST-- THEN HEAD FOR THE SPLENDOR, COMBING EDDIE'S AISLES FOR ALL KINDS OF EXOTIC EATS THAT VIEWERS LIKE YOU WANT US TO HAVE TO SURVIVE IN THE DESERT.

IT'S NYE COUNTY.

YOU COULD ALMOST GET EVERYTHING HERE, YOU KNOW.

EVERYTHING'S LEGAL.

EVERYTHING'S LEGAL IN NYE COUNTY.

(Don) AND SPEAKING OF THAT... JUST KIDDING.

BESIDES, IT'S CLOSED ANYWAY AND WE'RE DUE SOON IN GOLDFIELD, ANOTHER OLD MINING TOWN WHOSE HEYDAY HAS LONG SINCE PAST.

MORE BOTTLE HOUSES HERE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DISREPAIR AND A GRAND OLD HOTEL WITH A CINEMATIC RESUME, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THAT DRIVE-IN CLASSIC VANISHING POINT.

BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY, AND WE WON'T HAVE TIME-- NOT IF WE'RE GOING TO SLIM'S.

SLIM SIRNES, THAT IS, AN ART CAR PIONEER AND ALUMINUM ARTIST WHO PASSED AWAY IN 2005, BUT CAROL, HIS WIDOW, SEEMED HAPPY TO SEE US.

(Randy) WELL, NOW, WAS SLIM MAKING FOLK ART WHEN YOU GOT MARRIED IN 19... (Carol) YEAH, HE HAD STARTED A FEW YEARS BEFORE, 'CAUSE HE HAD GOT IN WHEN THEY MOVED, HIM AND HIS OTHER WIFE, IN '77.

EVENTUALLY, HE WENT TO WORK ON THE ALASKA PIPELINE.

AT THAT TIME, HE WAS A MILLWRIGHT.

HE WOULD GET CALLS FOR JOBS OUT OF DENVER.

(Mike) OH, WELL, HE WAS THE EARLY RECYCLER HERE.

(Carol) OH, YEAH.

NO, HIS BRAIN WAS ALWAYS GOING AROUND IT PROBABLY IS OVER THERE.

I LIKE HIS GATE.

LIKE THE GATE.

THOSE WERE OLD TWIN BED FRAMES.

NOW, ANOTHER LITTLE THING, HE WAS ALWAYS INVENTING.

HIS BRAIN WAS ALWAYS GOING.

SEE THAT STUFF ON THE HILL?

THAT'S A TOILET SEAT ON TOP.

HE WAS ALWAYS TRYING TO BE FUNNY, AND HE WAS ALWAYS TELLING JOKES AND STUFF.

HE WAS ALWAYS COMING UP WITH THIS STUFF.

MAN, IS THAT BRIGHT.

DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY INTO THE TRAILER.

(Carol) OKAY, HERE'S ONE OF THE LOOMS.

YEAH, HE WAS WEAVING; I CAN SEE THAT... (Randy) WOW, THIS IS AMAZING.

(Carol) HIS PARENTS CAME HERE FROM SWEDEN, AND, OF COURSE, IN THE OLD DAYS, THE OLD COUNTRIES, THE WOMEN DID ALL THE WEAVING.

HE INHERITED THIS FROM HER.

(Randy) THESE ARE... (Carol) THEY'RE CANS, ALL CANS, YES.

(Randy) YOU CAN'T WEAVE WITH BUDWEISER CANS, CAN YOU?

(Carol) YES, WE CAN.

THIS STUFF WOULD JUST COME IN HIS BRAIN.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS LIKE DAY AND NIGHT.

AND THEY'RE CALLED CRITTERS.

WHATEVER YOU WANT THEM TO BE, THAT'S IT.

PEOPLE LOVE THE VASES.

AND, OF COURSE, HEADBANDS.

I'VE GOT HEADBANDS GALORE.

WELL, THIS...

THIS, HE WAS TRYING TO DO A TAKEOFF ON A FIREMAN'S HAT.

NOW, THIS, HE STARTED OUT FOR BOXING SHORTS.

THERE'S ONE BY YOUR ELBOW.

(Don) OUCH.

(Randy) I LIKE THIS ONE.

THIS IS A BURNING MAN EMBLEM HERE.

THAT'S VERY NICE, '98 AND '99.

COLLECT THE WHOLE SET.

VERY COOL.

(Mike) SO HE WAS INTO CANNED LAUGHTER?

(Carol) OH, YEAH.

[laughs] ONE THING I DO MISS ABOUT HIM: EVERY MORNING, HE WAS ALWAYS UP AROUND 5:30 OR 6:00, BRING ME MY FIRST CUP OF COFFEE IN BED.

THEN HE WOULD SIT OUT IN THE FRONT ROOM WITH HIS COFFEE AND DESIGN WHAT HE WAS GONNA MAKE THAT DAY.

(Randy) SO YOU WERE-- YOU WERE HELPING HIM?

(Carol) OH, I HELPED, YEAH.

YEAH, I DID THE HAIRDO.

[laughs] (Don) NOW, OVER THE YEARS, SLIM'S ART AND ART CARS BROUGHT HOME LOTS OF HONORS.

AND IN HIS HONOR, ON THE WAY OUT OF GOLD FIELD, WE PULLED OVER TO PAUSE AND REFLECT ON MORE OF THE STUFF THE BIG SWEDE LEFT BEHIND.

THEN, BEFORE YOU CAN SAY "AREA 51," WE'RE BACK IN THE VAN AND DRIVING 95-- THE HIGHWAY, NOT OUR SPEED-- PAST TEST SITES AND MISSILE RANGES AND LAND WHERE POPULATION DENSITY DOES NOT EXIST.

IN FACT, THEY CALL THE STRETCH OF U.S. 50 UP HERE THE LONELIEST ROAD, WHICH IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE.

BUT ONE THING IT DOES HARBOR IS A HECK OF A SHOE TREE, PROMPTING US TO STOP AND SEE IF SOME QUICK CATCH WOULD BE GOOD FOR OUR SOULS.

FIRST CATCH AT A SHOE TREE.

FIRST TIME.

FIRST TIME.

WE COULDN'T PLAY IN ARKANSAS.

OOH.

(Randy) SO THE STORY, AS WE'VE HEARD IT... (Mike) WELL, THE COUPLE DOWN THE STREET GOT INTO A FIGHT, AND SHE SAID, "I'M LEAVING YOU," AND HE SAID, "YOU'RE GONNA WALK BAREFOOT IF YOU DO," AND THREW HER SHOES UP IN THE TREE.

I DON'T KNOW, WE'VE HEARD THAT SAME STORY AT EVERY SHOE TREE WE'VE EVER STOPPED AT, SO... (Mike) ALL RIGHT, TIME FOR A SHOESTRING CATCH.

OH!

OKAY, CALL IT.

DON!

[laughter] (Don) KIDS, DON'T TRY THAT AT HOME.

AND, HEY, WHILE WE'RE DROPPING THINGS, HOW ABOUT THAT POSTCARD, THE ONE THAT SAYS WE'RE DONE FOR THE DAY?

SO YESTERDAY IT WAS EDDIE.

TODAY WE'VE GOT SID.

THIS FUEL STOP IS RUMORED TO HAVE SOME OF ELVIS' JEWELRY AND GUNS, INCLUDING, MAYBE, THE FIREARM HE USED TO SHOOT THAT TV.

WE SENT MIKE IN TO VERIFY, AND HERE'S HIS VERIFICATION.

(Mike) IT'S DARK; IT'S SMOKY.

IT'S A CASINO.

(Randy) HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO HIS WART?

I THINK THE WART WAS WAY MORE EXCITING.

(Don) LOOKS LIKE THE WART HAS WON, SO BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, WE'RE ROLLING INTO DOWNTOWN RENO, GAWKING AT SOME OF ITS GAMING GLORY AND THIS GIANT ROOFTOP ARACHNID.

TURNS OUT THE BUG MAY BE A PORTENT OF THINGS TO COME AS WE ROLL THROUGH RENO AND ON OUT TO GERLOCK, THE TINY, BLACK-ROCK DESERT TOWN NOT FAR FROM THE BURNING MAN SITE.

IT'S ALSO THE HOME OF GURU LANE, WHERE THE LATE DWAYNE "DOOBIE" WILLIAMS DISPENSED WISDOM IN A MILE-LONG DRIVE-THROUGH ART SHOW THAT'S GUARDED TODAY BY A BIBLICAL PLAGUE OF NEVADA NO-SEE-UMS.

(Metric) WE'RE AT GROUND ZERO.

THIS IS MEANT TO DEPICT A NUCLEAR BOMB BLAST.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT HE'S A FORMER MARINE WHO WAS IN NAGASAKI AFTER THE BOMB BLAST.

AND HE SAID HE WANTED THIS TO STAND AS A REMINDER THAT WE SHOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT AGAIN.

HE DID THIS FROM 1978 TO 1993, I BELIEVE, AND DIED IN '95.

(Randy) SO HE REALLY LIKED IT IN THESE PARTS?

(Metric) HE DID.

HE WOULD WALK HIS DOGS ALONG HERE, AND HE WOULD PUFF ON A JOINT.

THAT'S WHY THEY CALLED HIM "DOOBIE".

HE CALLED HIMSELF THE GURU OF GERLOCK, I GUESS HE JUST WANTED TO IMPART HIS VERSION OF POP WISDOM ON PEOPLE.

WE'RE GETTING A CLOUD OF BUGS, I'M TELLING YOU.

(Randy) SO THERE REALLY ARE BUGS, RIGHT?

WE'RE NOT JUST HAVING SOME WEIRD DOOBIE-ISH MOMENT OF IMAGINING BUGS?

(Metric) NO, NO, IT'S NOT PART OF THE HALLUCINATION.

DOOBIE WOULD USE THESE WHITE ROCKS AND MAKE A RECTANGLE AND THEN FILL IN WITH THE RED DIATOMACEOUS EARTH.

AND IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE INDIVIDUAL LITTLE GRAVE SITES, EACH OF THESE ROCKS, YOU KNOW, WITH A, LIKE, A TOMBSTONE COMING UP OUT OF IT.

(Randy) IT'S TIPPI HEDREN, RIGHT?

(Don) TIPPI HEDREN.

[laughter] (Mike) "ROCKIN' THE ANGELS".

(Metric) "ROCKIN' THE ANGELS", AND IT USED TO SAY "THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH" ON THE CANS.

(Randy) SO HE WANTED PEOPLE TO SEE THIS?

(Metric) YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S WHY WE-- YOU KNOW, I MEAN, FIXING THE ROAD TO ME WAS PARAMOUNT, REGARDLESS OF FIXING ALL THE STUFF, 'CAUSE THE STUFF CHANGES OVER TIME.

BUT IF YOU CAN'T DRIVE THROUGH TO SEE IT IN A REGULAR CAR, THAT KIND OF DESTROYED THE EXPERIENCE, NOW.

[groaning] BETTER.

NOW WE'RE APPROACHING WHAT'S CALLED THE BIG MEDICINE TEPEE.

THERE USED TO BE A CHAIR, AND YOU SIT IN THE CHAIR, AND THERE'S A ROCK THAT SAYS "ARE YOU READY FOR ETERNITY?"

AND SO THAT WAS MEANT TO BE CAUSE FOR CONTEMPLATION ABOUT ALL THE LITTLE HANG-UPS THAT WE HAVE IN LIFE IN THE FACE OF OUR OWN MORTALITY, THAT THEY'RE VERY SMALL INDEED, AND WE SHOULD LEAVE THEM BEHIND.

NOW, THIS IS A TUFA.

THESE ROCKS ARE FORMED BY GEOTHERMAL ACTIVITY.

YOU CAN SEE THE TUFA KIND OF APPROXIMATING BREASTS AND A BIG PREGNANT BELLY.

BUT HERE'S A BIG, LONG SAYING RIGHT HERE.

"TRY THIS FOR SIZE.

"YOU MUST LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, "THE KEY TO IT ALL.

"KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING: "A STRAIGHT SHOT TO THE PROMISED LAND, WHERE YOU FIND A NEW YOU."

(Randy) KIND OF BURMA-SHAVE-ISH.

(Metric) YES, YEAH, IT DOES KIND OF HAVE A BURMA-SHAVE QUALITY TO IT.

(Don) ARE WE, A QUARTER OF THE WAY THERE NOW?

UH, WE'RE PROBABLY CLOSE TO FURTHER ALONG THAN WE WERE.

(Randy) YEAH, THERE'S MORE THAN I REALIZED.

(Metric) IT'S--IT'S LIKE I SAID, IT'S ABOUT A MILE, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE.

YEAH, IT TAKES TRUE GRIT TO DO THE DOOBIE LANE TOUR.

WHOO!

THE DESERT BROADCAST SYSTEM: IMAGINATION STATION IN DOOBIE VISION.

NOW, YOU COME IN, AND AS YOU SEE, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF WEAR AND TEAR HERE.

BUT THE IDEA IS, YOU'RE MEANT TO LOOK THROUGH AND SEE THE CHANNEL, UNBIASED CHANNEL.

THEN OVER HERE WE GOT "THE PRESS: ONLY WHAT THE RICH WANT YOU TO KNOW."

(Randy) NOW, IS THIS HD DOOBIE VISION?

(Metric) I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GONNA DO THE UPGRADE.

(Don) NOW, DOOBIE'S BROADCAST HUD IS A JOY TO BEHOLD AND NOT JUST BECAUSE IT'S AT THE END OF THE LANE.

THE BAD NEWS, HOWEVER, IS, NOW IT'S A MILE BACK TO THE VAN.

ADVANTAGE: NO-SEE-UMS.

[dog barks] [sheep bleat] (Randy) THIS TOWN, WINNEMUCCA, HAS THE MOST BASQUE RESTAURANTS PER CAPITA OF ANY TOWN IN THE COUNTRY.

(Mike) WOW.

(Don) THAT'S A REGION IN SPAIN, YOU KNOW.

WE LOOKED IT UP.

BUT IT'S NOT LIKE THERE'S TIME TO EAT ANYWAY.

WE'RE AMUCK IN WINNEMUCCA BECAUSE IT'S CLOSE TO IMLAY, WHICH IS CLOSE TO THUNDER MOUNTAIN-- NOT AN ACTUAL MOUNTAIN BUT A GENUINE, JAW-DROPPING, GRASSROOTS ART SITE THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT FOREVER.

AND TODAY WE'RE FINALLY GOING TO SEE IT WITH TOUR ASSISTANCE FROM THE SON AND GRANDSON OF THE MAN WHO MADE IT HIS MISSION.

(Dan) WELL, HE NAMED THIS THUNDER MOUNTAIN.

AND THEN HE CHANGED HIS NAME FROM-- HIS LEGAL NAME WAS FRANK VAN ZANT.

HE CHANGED IT TO ROLLING MOUNTAIN THUNDER, LEGALLY HAD HIS NAME CHANGED.

HE STARTED IN 1968, AND I HELPED HIM LAY THE FIRST CORNERSTONE OVER HERE.

AND HE ACTUALLY HAD-- THERE'S A TRAILER HOUSE, AN OLD 1940s VINTAGE TRAVEL TRAILER ON THE INSIDE OF THE MONUMENT THAT HE LIVED IN.

AND HE JUST STARTED BUILDING AROUND IT.

(Mike) SO HE HAD RETIRED IN '68?

HE RETIRED IN '68 FROM-- WELL, HE WAS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR A LOT OF YEARS, AND THEN HE HAD HIS OWN PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS BUSINESS.

BASICALLY, HE BUILT THIS MONUMENT TO THE AMERICAN INDIANS OUT OF WHITE MAN'S REFUSE, WHITE MAN'S CASTAWAYS, THINGS THAT THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE ANY USE FOR ANYMORE.

AND HE'D SCAVENGE IN THE DESERT AND BRING IT ALL TOGETHER HERE.

AND THERE ISN'T ANYTHING IN THERE THAT HE PURCHASED OTHER THAN CONCRETE.

THE ONLY THING THAT HE DID BEFORE HE CAME OUT HERE WAS, HE WHITTLED THINGS OUT OF WOOD.

HE JUST MADE FIGURINES.

BUT HE NEVER DID ANYTHING BUT CONCRETE.

NOW YOU CAN SEE FACES ON THE WALL HERE, HERE, AND HERE.

SEE, THERE'S AN INDIAN BOY WITH A BLANKET OVER HIM HERE.

THIS IS A LIKENESS OF SARAH WINNEMUCCA, AND SHE WAS CHIEF WINNEMUCCA'S DAUGHTER.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE GOT THE STORY ENTIRELY STRAIGHT, BUT THIS IS THE WAY I REMEMBER HIM TELLING IT WAS, 'CAUSE I'D ASK HIM: WHY THE ARCHWAYS AND THE HOOPS?

HE SAYS THAT WHEN THE WORLD COMES TO AN END, THE GREAT SPIRIT CAN COME DOWN HERE AND GRAB THIS LIKE A GIANT BASKET AND TAKE IT OFF TO SAFETY.

HE USED TO ENJOY JUST SITTING UP HERE AND WATCHING THE TRAFFIC GO BY.

AND FROM THIS POINT, HE COULD KIND OF KEEP AN EYE ON ALL OF HIS PROPERTY AND THE VISITORS THAT ARE WALKING AROUND LOOKING AT THINGS.

HE CALLED IT A MUSEUM, YOU KNOW.

AND A LOT OF TIMES, PEOPLE WOULD SAY, "WELL, WHERE'S THE MUSEUM?

WHERE'S THE ARTIFACTS?"

AND HE'S SAYS, "JUST LOOK AROUND YOU.

"THERE'S ARTIFACTS EVERYWHERE.

ALL THIS STUFF IS OLD."

SO THIS BUILDING WAS HIS MUSEUM.

THIS ROOM WAS WERE HE ENTERTAINED.

THIS IS WHERE HE'D HAVE HIS GUESTS.

YOU CAN SEE THE BENCHES ALL THE WAY AROUND AND CHAIRS.

AND THEY'D HAVE, IN THE WINTERTIME, THEY'D HAVE A NICE FIRE GOING IN HERE.

IT WAS A VERY COMFORTABLE ROOM.

WHEN HE'D HAVE VISITORS COME IN HERE AND VISIT AND HE DIDN'T WANT 'EM TO GO INTO THE OTHER PART OF THE HOUSE, HE CONSTRUCTED THIS AS A HIDDEN DOOR.

IT LOOKS LIKE A CABINET, SEE.

AND YOU SEE FACES IN THE WALL OVER HERE.

LOOK AT THIS ORNERY-LOOKING GUY.

HE'S GOT A BEARD, AND HALF OF HIS BEARD'S GONE.

YEAH, WATCH YOUR HEAD UP THERE.

THIS WAS ACTUALLY THE LIBRARY.

SEE ALL THESE BOOKCASES?

THEY WERE LINED HERE, AND THEY WERE BACK OVER THIS WAY, AND THERE WAS JUST BOOKS ALL OVER HERE.

AND THIS IS WHERE HE'D SIT.

IT WAS KIND OF A NICE AND OPEN AREA, AND HE'D READ BOOKS.

(Randy) SO HE HAULED ALL THESE STONES?

(Dan) BUT CAN YOU IMAGINE?

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS.

ONE STONE BY ITSELF PROBABLY WEIGHS 150 POUNDS.

NOW, YOU'RE GONNA HOLD THAT UP THERE AND CEMENT IT IN PLACE?

THIS ONE IS KIND OF INTERESTING, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A FACE HERE, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT A BODY HERE WITH ANOTHER FACE.

NOW, AT ONE POINT, I ASKED HIM, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, GET INSIDE HIS HEAD, AS TO, "WHY ARE YOU REALLY DOING THIS?

"I KNOW YOU LOVE THE INDIAN CULTURE AND SO FORTH, BUT IS THIS REALLY GONNA MAKE YOU HAPPY?"

AND HE SAYS--HE SAYS, "THERE IS NOTHING ELSE IN THIS WORLD I WOULD RATHER DO, "AND I ENJOY THIS MORE THAN ANYTHING, AND THIS IS MY PASSION."

(Randy) DID HE THINK OF HIMSELF AS AN ARTIST?

(Dan) HE CALLED HIMSELF A BUILDER OF NOTHING OUT OF NOTHING.

(Randy) OF NOTHING OUT OF NOTHING.

(Dan) YES.

HE WAS KIND OF HUMBLE IN THAT REGARD OF, "I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN CALL MYSELF AN ARTIST, BECAUSE I JUST DO WHAT I LIKE TO DO."

BUT PEOPLE WOULD CALL HIM AN ARTIST, SO... (Randy) WAS HE DONE HERE, OR DID HE STILL HAVE MORE THINGS IN MIND?

(Dan) NO, HE ENVISIONED MUCH MORE.

HE REALLY WANTED TO DO MORE THAN WHAT HE DID, BUT HE JUST RAN OUT OF ENERGY, GOT TOO OLD.

HE PASSED AWAY IN 1989.

I TRIED TO GIVE IT TO THE STATE OF NEVADA, AND THEY DIDN'T WANT IT.

I TRIED TO GIVE IT TO A COUPLE OF INDIAN NATIONS, AND THEY DIDN'T WANT IT.

SO I THOUGHT, "WELL, OKAY.

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?"

I CAN'T DO ANY OF THIS STUFF; I'VE TRIED IT.

I MEAN, I CAN LAY SOME STONE, BUT I CAN'T MAKE FACES AND DO ARTISTIC THINGS.

I DON'T HAVE ANY TALENT FOR THAT AT ALL.

(Randy) BUT YOU'VE DECIDED TO HELP SE E IT THROUGH, IT SOUNDS LIKE.

WELL, SURE.

YEAH, I THINK IT'S WORTH PRESERVING.

(Don) NOW, THUNDER BUILT HIS MOUNTAIN WITH NO PLANS WHATSOEVER AND ONLY OCCASIONAL HELP FROM HIPPIE KIDS WHO WANDERED BY.

DAN SAYS SOME OF 'EM STILL DROP IN TO SEE IT, AS DO THE NATIVE AMERICANS HIS DAD MADE IT FOR.

SEEMS LIKE THE GREAT SPIRIT WOULD APPROVE, AND I AM DON THE CAMERA GUY, SIGNING OFF.

(female announcer) DVDs, T-SHIRTS, AND A COMPANION BOOK FOR THIS SERIES ARE AVAILABLE BY CALLING: TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SITES AND ARTISTS FEATURED ON THIS EPISODE AND TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHOW, GO TO RAREVISIONSROADTRIP.COM.

Captioning byCaptionMax www.captionmax.com THAT'S HEAVENLY.

(Randy) BUT LOOK NOW, MIKE, YOU MADE A FOOTPRINT THERE.

(Mike) OH, OH, HOLD ON.

[laughter] IT IS YOUR OFFICIAL WORLD'S LARGEST BALL OF VIDEO TAPE RARE VISIONS AND ROADSIDE RE VELATIONS T-SHIRT.

NOW THAT IT'S SAT HERE.

(Don) WE DROVE THE VAN OVER THE MOUNTAINS, JAKE.

RIGHT THROUGH THAT CANYON.

THROUGH THAT CANYON THERE, THE LONELIEST RENTAL HIGHWAY.

(male announcer) PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR RARE VISIONS AND ROADSIDE REVELATIONS HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY... (male announcer) THE DE BRUCE COMPANIES, PROUD TO SERVE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST WITH HIGH-SPEED GRAIN HANDLING FACILITIES, FERTILIZER, AND FEED INGREDIENT DISTRIBUTION TERMINALS.

(male announcer) AND BY FRED & LOU HARTWIG, GENEROUS SUPPORTERS OF KCPT AND PUBLIC TELEVISION, URGING YOU TO BECOME A MEMBER TODAY.